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Mission
1. What is a member?
2. What is the duty of all Christians?
3. How can you become a member at Our Saviour?
4. How can you get baptized at Our Saviour?
5. Why give money or time to a Church?
6. Why give to the church of Our Saviour? Is it the same as giving to God?
7. Aren't gifts of time and talent sufficient?
8. Why fill out a pledge card?
9. Doesn't the diocese help our congregation cover our expenses?
10. Should one make a pledge as an individual or a couple?
11. What if one decides not to pledge and instead puts cash into the Sunday collection?
12. Is it true that each household that pledges gets a quarterly bill?
13. Suppose your personal financial picture varies from month to month, year to year?
14. What if you were not able to pay your pledge in full in years past?
15. How much is enough?
What is the duty of all Christians?
The duty of all Christians, and certainly church members, is the follow Christ; to come together week by week for worship; to work, pray, and give to the spread of the kingdom of God. (from the Catechism)
How can you become a member at Our Saviour?
Your name is entered on the rolls of the Church of Our Saviour by having your baptism recorded in the Parish Register in one of three ways:
- If you were a baptized member of another Episcopal Church in this country, you should write or call that church and request a transfer of membership.
- If you were a member of another denomination, you may contact them about sending us a certificate of membership. They often do not deal with paperwork between denominations. So you may want to follow instruction in point #3.
- If you were a member of an Anglican Church overseas, or were never a formal member at any particular church, upon the signing of a Record of Baptism form your name will be recorded in the Register. This form can be requested from the church office.
How can you get baptized at Our Saviour?
Baptism is the first step in becoming a Christian. Our Saviour offers baptism at least four times a year: the first Sunday after the Epiphany in January, the day before Easter, the Sunday following Pentecost in May or June, and All Saints' Day in early November. Applications for baptism are available from the church office. Please see the Rector about a suitable date. Sponsors and/or godparents should be chosen with care by the families. Please choose at least two people who you know are committed to the Christian faith: family members are often a sentimental choice for godparents but may not always be the right choice.
Why give money or time to a Church?
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship reminds us that "stewardship is not a program, it is not about raising money, and it is not here today and gone tomorrow. Stewardship is a journey. It is about life -- about a way of life." Put simply, giving is our response to what we have received. We are created in God's image, as we read in the Book of Genesis, and God gives. God gives us life and love, forgiveness and mercy. Now for our part: what will we promise to give in return? Will we walk humbly with our God? Reach out to the lonely, the troubled and the needy of this world? Will we worship and praise the God who loves us so? Let our answers be YES. Let us give back to God a portion of the blessings we have received.
Why give to the church of Our Saviour? Is it the same as giving to God?
The clear legacy of both the Old and New Testaments is that God works in the midst of the community. First, Israel; then, the Church—the New Israel. Today, there are many worthy charities doing good work. They deserve your financial support. Many of our members do not limit their giving to their local congregation. However, for nearly 2000 years, this is what we know to be true: making a decision to give back to God through the ministry of the Church is an essential way for us to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world.
Aren't gifts of time and talent sufficient?
The ministry of the Church of Our Saviour could not survive without the countless hours of donated time and the generous sharing of talents and gifts by so many of our members. For instance: some stand out in the December cold to sell Christmas trees during our annual Ministry of the Trees; others faithfully prepare the altar for weekly worship; some host coffee hour and others teach our children the essentials of the faith in church school. The gifts of time and talent are invaluable to our common life and should not go unappreciated.
Why fill out a pledge card? 2007 Pledge Form
Each year the Vestry of the Church of Our Saviour asks its membership to make a financial offering in the form of a pledge. Only when the signed pledge cards are received and totaled can the church's leadership adequately plan for the upcoming year. In a given year, almost 75% of the church's total operating budget is funded by the pledges of our members. Without a broad-based financial commitment through pledging, we would not be able to offer the kind of pastoral care, spiritual formation, support of worthy outreach ministries and the quality of worship that we have all come to appreciate.
Doesn't the diocese help our congregation cover our expenses?
No. In this country, the church is funded from the bottom up, not the top down. It is the local congregations, through the pledges of its members, who support the work of the Diocese. The Diocese in turn sends money to the National Church in support of our larger national and international mission.
Should one make a pledge as an individual or a couple?
There is no hard and fast rule. Most married couples sign one pledge card. Some people feel strongly about making their own individual pledge. Each young person who has been confirmed by the bishop is invited to make his or her own pledge, as well as those adults over the age of 18 living in the family home.
What if one decides not to pledge and instead puts cash into the Sunday collection?
All monies given to the church are offered to glory of God. However, the total yearly amount received from collection plate offerings accounts for only 6% of what is needed to fund our ministry. As Jesus said while being tempted in the wilderness, "One does not live by bread alone." Nor can this congregation flourish through collection plate offerings alone.
Is it true that each household that pledges gets a quarterly bill?
Not exactly. When a pledge is made, a number is assigned to the giver. Pledge envelopes distributed the first of the year all have the giver's number printed in the corner. Whenever you use your pledge envelope by putting it into the collection plate or mailing it to the church office, the Assistant Treasurer is able to give you credit for what you contributed. That is why it is beneficial to use the pledge envelopes rather than putting loose cash into the collection plates. Quarterly statements, not bills, are mailed out to remind members of their progress in paying off their pledge. Since the church has expenses throughout the calendar year, it is important that most members stay current with their giving. The year-end statement mailed to each giving household is an essential document for those who claim their gift as a tax deduction. It pays to use the pledge envelopes!
Suppose your personal financial picture varies from month to month, year to year?
One of the most frequent reasons people offer for not making a pledge is that they are uncertain about their overall financial picture in the year ahead. In today's economy, your personal financial picture may change from month-to-month, year-to-year. When you make a pledge for the upcoming year, should your income drop dramatically, please know that you may decrease your pledge by writing to the Assistant Treasurer at the church. On the other hand, should you experience an added bonus or dividend during the year, you are of course free to increase your pledge.
What if you were not able to pay your pledge in full in years past?
Each year the slate is wiped clean. If circumstances prevented you from fulfilling past pledges, do not allow that experience to discourage pledging for the upcoming year. Simply throw away the old pledge envelopes and begin the New Year with the new envelopes issued to you in January.
How much is enough?
In truth, we can never give back to God as much as we have been given. Each one of us needs to ask the question "how much is enough" and answer it for oneself. Some of our members have been tithing—giving 10% of their income—for years, and they speak with great passion and joy for what the discipline has meant in their lives. You are invited to make your pledge a proportional gift—a percentage of your household income. If pledging is new for you, you may want to start small. Begin by giving 2% or 3% of your household income and try to increase each year until you reach 10%.
What is a member?
A member is any person who has been baptized with water in the Name of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whether in the Episcopal Church of any other Christian church, and has requested that their baptism be recorded in a parish's records.
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