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New to Giving?

Giving money to the Church is a spiritual practice that is often misunderstood. Our culture sends mixed messages about charitable giving, how much we should give, and what the money is for.

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Giving to the Church is not contractual, nor is it necessary to donate to Emmanuel to be considered a full member of our community. You could easily attend worship every Sunday and participate in the full social and sacramental life of the parish without donating a single dollar. The priest, staff, and congregation will not shame you. We do not publish the giving levels of our parishioners, nor do we report who gives and who doesn't.

 

The day comes, however, when some feel a desire to give for the work of the Church. Once they begin to give, they realize that giving brings joy in the face of fear, and celebrates God's abundance in the face of the world's scarcity.

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  1. Why give? When we take stock of the blessings in our lives, we often feel a desire to share what we have. Imagine you have a garden which yields a bumper crop of squash, cucumbers, and beans. You would immediately think, Who can I share all of these extra vegetables with?  In one way, giving to a church is like that, sharing from our abundance. On the other hand, despite a desire to give, we may not feel like we have any abundance or wiggle room in our budget. Giving during the lean times in our lives expresses our trust in God's generosity, trusting that God will provide for our needs. Many of us find that when we share from our "gardens" even when the harvest is small, not only do we have more than enough to live, but we turn our attention away from our own worries and toward those whose needs may be more extreme than our own. We feel a sense of fulfillment and dignity, knowing that we, too, are helping those in need. We can give fearlessly knowing that the community of the Church has got our back.

  2. ​Why give to a church? There are many, many charities--religious and secular--doing good and necessary work. Giving to a parish church, however, is different from other charitable giving. When we give to a church, we ensure that the ministries of the Church--worship, sacraments, community, counseling, and more--remain available to all who need them, free of charge.  Anyone can wander in off the street and experience God's abundant goodness. A parish church serves and supports the community around it (in fact, the word "parish" comes from the Old French for "neighborhood"). The Church's members gather together their communal wealth, to distribute to each according to need. Giving to a parish expresses not only our faith in God, but faith in our community. Not giving to some other community...

  3. How do I start giving? Start by planning to give a percentage of your income, rather than a specific amount. Some people get into the habit of giving by placing dollars or a check in the collection plate on Sunday mornings, or they make an online gift occasionally for special causes. These “loose offering” gifts are an important part of our church's ministry planning, as we budget out what we can accomplish for the community in any given year. Others give with a "pledge," a regular payment to the church.

  4. Why pledge? At some point, we start to feel that giving only from our abundance is not helping us grow spiritually. Pledging a certain amount for the coming year is a commitment, and a leap of faith. Instead of giving from our leftovers, unplanned and uninspired, we move toward giving from our "first fruits." We decide to plan our giving for the year, and hold to our commitment. Each fall, everyone--including clergy--is encouraged to think about their giving for the upcoming calendar year, and commit to an amount that works for their household. You pay that pledge weekly, monthly, quarterly, or in a lump sum, as you decide. Pledging is vital for parishes, as it helps clergy and vestry responsibly plan our ministries for the coming year. The goal is for everyone to make a pledge each year, no matter the amount. You can always offer more than the pledged amount if you find yourself with a "bumper crop."

  5. How do I pledge? There are a couple of ways you can pledge. The quickest is to send an email or text message to the Treasurer or Financial Secretary (the only lay people who know who gives and how much). Detail how much you plan to give, and how you plan to fulfill your pledge, e.g., "12 equal payments, paid once per month, by check." We also have a formal stewardship drive every fall, in which pledges are made for the following calendar year. 

  6. How much should I give? The Biblical standard for giving is 10%, or the "tithe." Let's be honest--while some Emmanuel households give 10% or more of their income, not everyone is able to tithe. While it is a spiritual goal we can all work toward, we recommend that you plan your pledged amount the way one parishioner put it, saying, "I think up the percentage that would feel easy, comfortable. Then I give just a little more than that. You know, just slightly uncomfortable. That's when I feel like I'm actually trusting that God's got my back. God provides."

  7. What if I can’t pay my pledge? Believe us when we say: there is no penalty or shame. If your financial situation changes (up or down) and you need to adjust your pledge, contact the parish Treasurer. As always, this is a confidential process. And remember: if you need help with bills or a mortgage, we are here to help you. 

  8. How does the church use my pledge information? The amount of your pledge is known only to the parish Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and the Rector (at his or her discretion). Your confidentiality is strictly guarded. The number of pledging households and the total amount of pledged gifts are shared with parish leadership, but no individual details are given. The vestry use that information to plan the ministry budget for the coming year. Knowing how much we hope to receive greatly helps us as we plan our ministries.

  9. What do you do with the money I give? It costs a lot of money to run a parish church. We have facilities, staff, utilities, and other costs. Most importantly, we give away a lot of time and money to our ministries, and contribute to the wider community--those outside our membership--to support people in need. We also give money to the wider Episcopal Church which can also help us in return, as those larger networks provide a lot of support and resources for local parishes. If you ever have questions about how we are spending the money you entrust to us, we are happy to share information. Our books and budget are no secret, and are open to all members who ask. 

  10. What’s the first step? The first step is to pray. Pray for God to guide you in your desire to be generous. When you encounter internal fear or resistance, don’t make yourself feel badly. Add those feelings to your prayers and let God’s Grace lead you through it.

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If you have more questions, contact the parish office. We are happy to talk you through it--no strings, no pressure. Remember: it’s all about sharing what we have, however great or little, with gratitude and joy.

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