E-Giving

Today, the practice of “taking up a collection” is not as literal as it sounds. People donate to the church in so many financial ways, and placing your tithe in the plate on a Sunday is just one example of how this takes place. As we become a more mobile, electronic society, check writing is on a decline. Faith Presbyterian Church is taking proactive steps to encourage an alternate solution for giving.

Our suggestion is probably already on the fringe of a routine for many of you - namely, using the “Bill Pay” option through your bank. In addition to paying your mortgage, electric bill, etc. in this way - you can send funds to the church in a secure manner (for free!).

What’s in it for you?

Although all banks are different, some banks offer these services through the Bill Pay option:

•        automatic recurring payments (however, this is not required)
•        e-mail notification when the check has been made
•        e-mail notification when the check has been cashed
•        reminders of when a payment is due
•        help toward a consistent personal budget

What’s in it for Faith Presbyterian Church?

•           steady income throughout the year
•          knowledge about the congregation’s interest/ability regarding e-giving

In this technologically changing world, we joyfully accept donations that are convenient.  If you have any questions about this process, please contact Alicia Shussett.

How to set up YOUR e-giving for Faith Church:

• Log onto your banks bank account
• Select the option for “bill pay”
• Many banks have different options to choose at this point some might include:

+        Company with an account number

+        Company without an account number

+        Person

We suggest you consider Faith Church as a company.

• Simply add Faith Presbyterian Church as a “payee”.
• For account number we suggest you use your name and offering envelope number (if you have one)
• The address of the church should be: Faith Presbyterian Church

Attn: Financial Secretary

P.O. Box 507

Emmaus PA 18049

610-967-5600

• You may also be prompted to fill in a memo line. Here you can type how you would like the money dispersed (regular offering, building campaign, specific mission, etc.)
• You will also be asked to identify if it is a single payment or recurring (monthly, bi-weekly or weekly)
• A check is then generated on your behalf by your bank without charge for the date(s) you identify.
• The check is sent to Faith Presbyterian Church via the US postal service.
• At the church it then is placed with all the funds given via the collection plate for the safe processing by the financial secretary and her team of counters.
• You can even check your bank records against your quarterly church giving statements to guarantee that this works!

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:19

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Joyful Giving

TAKE YOUR EVERYDAY, ORDINARY LIFE—YOUR SLEEPING, EATING, GOING-TO-WORK, AND WALKING-AROUND LIFE—AND PLACE IT BEFORE GOD AS AN OFFERING. 

For our 2012 annual pledge campaign, we received 102 pledge cards.  We are extremely thankful for those folks willing to make a monetary commitment to the ministry of Faith Church.

If you would like envelopes but did not make a pledge, please contact Alicia Shussett and she will assist you.

“The Little Blue Envelope”

Per capita, that funny two word phrase and the little blue envelope that accompanies it…At its simplest, per capita, is how we, as members of the local church, support the work of the larger church.  So, please take the blue envelope out of your envelope box or the pew in front of you and make your per member contribution of $26.89. (2 members per household: $53.78; 3 members: $80.67; etc.).  This money is part of the glue that holds Presbyterians together.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Stewardship

Why am I asked to pledge if I give?
The many programs offered by Faith Church – the outreach to help others in the community and the world, the salaries of our staff members, the care of Faith’s buildings and grounds – all require planning. The pledge process makes it possible for the leadership of Faith Church to anticipate a revenue stream for the year, and to prepare the annual budget accordingly.

How does this budget process work?
Each elected member of the Session serves either as the head or liaison of a Ministry at Faith Church. Examples of ministries include: Worship, Christian Education, Buildings & Grounds, Stewardship, Mission, Parish Life, Membership and so on. In the early autumn, Session members, in collaboration with their respective committees, begin to anticipate what funds would be required to execute their ministries as envisioned during the following year. The Administration Committee reviews the early and successive drafts of the Session budget, and recommends suggestions. The Stewardship campaign requests that members and friends of Faith Church offer their pledge cards on Commitment Sunday – this year on Sunday, November 6, 2011. When the pledge cards have been received and totaled by the Chair of Stewardship, the Session and Finance Committee will know whether they will be able to realize their plans for next year.

What percentage of Faith’s annual revenue is derived from pledges?
During 2010, about 90% of the budgeted revenue was expected to come from pledges. It is generally considered a healthy indicator if 75% of church revenue derives from pledges.  

If only 90% of Faith’s Revenue comes from pledges, where does the balance come from?
The balance of Faith’s Revenue for 2010 (the other 10%) came from loose offerings in the collection plate and special gifts.

How much should I pledge?

This is a completely personal decision, between yourself and God. Giving to God is fundamentally different from giving to other charitable institutions. It is commanded by God in both the Old and New Testaments as an overt acknowledgement that God is the Giver of all we have. In the Old Testament, people were expected to “Tithe.” The word tithe means 10%. It is very difficult for many of us to tithe if we were not raised from childhood with the understanding that a tenth of all we have is expected to be given back. However, a good discipline is to take stock of what percentage we are presently giving, and to strive to increase our giving as a percentage going forward. Giving is supposed to hurt. If we live at the same level of affluence as someone at our same level of income, we are probably giving away too little. Sacrificial Giving means that there is something we will have to do without in order to make our gift possible. Through this practice, we honor God and acknowledge that:

“All things come of Thee, O Lord,

And of Thine own have we given Thee.”

May I revise my pledge during the year?
Absolutely. In these times of economic uncertainty, people often experience unforeseen changes in circumstances, for better and for worse. Your pledge represents your best intention, based on your estimate of the amount you plan to give during 2012. If you wish to revise your pledge, simply notify the Financial Secretary.  

Who knows how much I pledge?

Almost no one. We cannot reiterate this fact broadly enough. Your pledge is between yourself and God. It is an intensely personal decision. The Treasurer does not know the pledged amounts; neither does the Administration Committee; neither do members of the Session.

A very few people do need to know the amount of your pledge, in order to prepare tax documents for your use, and to supply aggregate revenue figures to the Session for use in the budget preparation process. These individuals include the Chair of the Stewardship Committee and the Financial Secretary.

May I contribute electronically?
Yes, see the directions at the top of this page.

If I have more questions, who can I ask?

Feel free if to contact the Chair of the Stewardship Committee if you have any questions.

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Stewardship is the grateful response to God's grace and goodness. It requires a consideration of how our choices affect others, of how we can be good caretakers of the created world, and of how we can best serve God as Disciples of Christ.

The invitation is made to all of us to offer our time, talents, and financial support to the church.  The Stewardship Committee meets monthly to help people recognize and respond to our many blessings and gifts, and to teach and live the principles of stewardship.

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Links:

• Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program: http://pilp.pcusa.org/
• Presbyterian Church (USA) stewardship homepage: http://www.pcusa.org/stewardship/index.htm
• For more information on per capita: http://www.pcusa.org/percapita/

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“As we travel, we give of ourselves along the way. We give of our time, our talent and our treasures. We give with joy, as Jesus taught. As we give, our hearts are lightened and once again, a new song pours forth.”

- From the Faith Vision Statement