Stewardship - St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Bridgewater, NJ

REGULAR GIVING OF OUR TREASURE

When we are fortunate enough to have a specific church to call “our home”, we generally give a weekly offering of a portion of our “Treasure” back to God. But our income doesn’t necessarily come to us on a weekly basis, and some might find it more convenient to give monthly - or even quarterly. Annual giving has become the practice of some - but, hopefully, their church attendance does not follow that pattern.

Of course we should spend a little time EACH DAY - while at home, or while traveling, or when taking a little break from our daily tasks - in the worship of God. And each of us should schedule ourselves to attend church at least on a WEEKLY basis.

But perhaps we can be a little more flexible in timing the offering of our TREASURE, though it is clear that a weekly offering is the most effective way to insure our weekly attendance at church and to help bring God to mind daily.

PLEDGING OUR GIVING

Two benefits are apparent from pledging how much we will give to our church each week, month, quarter, or year. First, a pledge sets a discipline in our mind that encourages us to make that regular gift to church - our “Thank You” to God.

And Second, the sum total of pledges made determines the probable income the church will receive - and can spend - during the coming year. Pledged giving allows the church to plan effectively its expenditures on missions - such as Children’s Education, Fellowship, Outreach, Evangelism, and others.

In addition, increased giving might help us develop stronger ties to our faith. As the Bible says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mathew 6:21)

Of course we all intend to fulfill our pledge, but please remember: a pledge is NOT a legal document. It can always be adjusted should your circumstances change throughout the year.

QUANTIFY OUR GIVING

How should one decide how much to give to St. Martin’s? We all have other obligations - to provide for the needs of our family, to save for emergencies, for retirement, and so on. Our ability to meet these needs - and our NEED to return a portion of our TREASURE to GOD - changes over the years. How should we quantify our giving to church? And shouldn't the FIRST obligation in our budget signify our relationship with God?

Do you know what percentage of your income you now give to church? Does it reflect your appreciation for the many gifts God provides? Should you consider a greater percentage? Perhaps you think you can’t give that much, but maybe you can try to work toward a suitable goal. These questions require careful consideration and prayer.

The Biblical Tithe is 10% of the "first fruits" of our income. If this seems unattainable because of other family obligations, a lesser amount may set a starting point as we strive to reach a more significant level in the future. Some churches have suggested that "half-tithes" are a suitable goal for some, because part of our income goes to other charities, including part of our income tax which goes toward helping the poor. So don't be discouraged if you find your current giving level unbelievably low. Work towards this "half-tithe", and once you reach that level, perhaps you can look prayerfully at going toward a higher goal.

To help compare your giving level with possible goals you might set, the following table is provided:

Annual                                                     Weekly Donation or Pledge
Income         % of Income:         1%       2%        3%        5%       8%      10%
-----------------                               --------   --------    --------   --------     --------     --------
$10,000                                    $ 2        $ 4         $ 6       $ 10      $ 15     $ 19

$30,000 $ 6 $12 $17 $ 29 $ 46 $ 58

$50,000 $10 $20 $29 $ 48 $ 77 $ 96

$70,000 $14 $27 $40 $ 67 $108 $135

$100,000 $19 $38 $58 $ 96 $154 $192