Stewardship
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Jesus' message to us about how we use our resources is one of the most challenging elements of the Gospel. The ministry of Stewardship is an invitation to take up this challenge. When we are generous, we acknowledge the abundance in our lives - and our confidence in God's bounty. And when we give to Trinity, we claim this community for our own with its rich heritage and its extraordinary potential. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If we follow the tradition of the "tithe," our challenge is to give 10 percent of our (pre-tax) earnings to support God's work. That's hard to do overnight, but many of us at Trinity start the journey by giving 2 percent and then try to increase that percentage each year. Nothing about that journey seems easy - unless we start by acknowledging the abundance of gifts and resources we have been given. Each fall, the Stewardship Committee sponsors a pledge drive, asking parishioners to make a pledge for the following year. These pledges help the Vestry build a budget, as our fiscal year is the same as the calendar year. Pledges can be paid in a single gift or transfer of stock, or they can be paid throughout the year by putting cash or checks in the offering plate in special envelopes provided for that purpose. You can also support Trinity financially through planned giving. A planned gift might be in the form of a bequest, a trust, or by naming Trinity as the beneficiary of an insurance policy or a retirement account. These commitments support Trinity in the long term and are gratefully received.  |
