2023 STEWARDSHIP
&
ANNUAL APPEAL
2023 STEWARDSHIP
&
ANNUAL APPEAL
May I ask you a question?
What would you like your church community to look like 5 years from now?
How about 10 or 20 or 50 years from now?
We spent time in celebration this fall, honoring our 250 years of raising up disciples of Jesus and serving our community of Atkinson. While honoring our past is right and important, we must also be looking ahead.
Our stewardship theme this year From Bread and Cup to Faith and Giving encourages us to take time to be intentional about the decisions we make with our resources and gifts in light of the open invitation to share in the Lord’s Table. God is working through us and the things we do to accomplish positive change in the world. Every time we give, that gift becomes ministry and mission. In that spirit I ask you to prayerfully consider what your financial pledge to The Light on the Hill will be for 2023.
The Church Council and I thought it might be helpful for you to know our distribution of giving. In 2022 there were 53 pledges received from individuals or families – the amounts shown below are the annual total pledge:
...with many others choosing not to pledge. One trend that was noticed is that some pledgers give the same amount every year – sometimes for a decade or more.
Where are you on this pledging list? And where could you be? 2023 will be a challenging year – our fuel costs for building heat are expected to double in 2023 – to over $14,000. Electricity rates have significantly increased as well. As you look at the distribution of pledges above, I invite prayerful attention to your pledge, and the possibility of much needed additional support.
If you haven’t pledged in the past, perhaps this is the year to begin.
If your pledge amount has been the same for some time, this would be a good time to consider an increase.
I want to thank you for being a partner in the ministry and mission of Atkinson Congregational Church. Your financial gifts make a difference in the lives of many people and help our church reach them with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Beyond that, many of you contribute in other ways, with your time and talent to help make our church thrive. In my message at our 250th anniversary worship service, I noted that not one of us built our beautiful church – it was gifted to us by generations of faithful saints who made sure to pass the church to the next generation intact or enhanced. That is our calling as well.
Peace,
Pastor Jim Thomas, on behalf of the Stewardship Team
Other ways to give
God’s Word calls us to obediently “tithe” (give 10%) of what He gives us, to do His kingdom work. “Offerings” given to God are gifts above and beyond our tithes. Tithes and offerings are vital to the health of Our Church and provide for all the areas of ministry and outreach.
OUR GOAL IS 100% PARTICIPATION in giving to the Generous Future.
That might mean being lavishly generous or simply sacrificial…like sacrificing a fast food meal once a week and giving that cost to the Generous Future fund. What you give should be decided between you and God, and ask that you give in some way from a worshipful heart.
Prayerfully consider:
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart what to give, not reluctantly of under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
We are asking that you prayerfully support and sacrificially give to fulfill God’s vision for the future of our Church. Come along side and be part of the next phase of our miraculous story, and prepare to be blessed.
Thank you for partnering and investing in the ministry of Our Church and in our community as well as giving to further God’s Kingdom!
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