Your Building a Life of Stewardship gift to Sugarloaf UMC will enable us to continue to make a difference not only in the lives of those who call this their church home, but also in our community and around the world.  As we plan for another year of sharing the love of our Lord with others, please know that your pledge will help radically change lives forever for the better.

Why Pledge?

Your pledge will help us to prepare our budget for the coming fiscal year.  It will allow us to know how much ministry we can realistically plan for from July 2008 through June 2009.  Your contributions provide for all of our ministry areas including Missions and Outreach, Worship Arts, Adult and Community Life, Congregational Care, Children and Preschool, and Student Life.  Your gifts also pay for the salaries of our wonderful staff and for the operational and administrative costs of our campus (i.e. property maintenance, insurance costs, utilities, supplies, etc.).  Finally, a portion of your gifts are used to retire our outstanding debt and to purchase capital items such as computers and music equipment.

How will we pledge? 

During the week of April 20th, you will receive a Building a Life of Stewardship Financial Commitment Card in the mail.  Please prayerfully consider the amount that God is calling you to give to His church, and then complete in full the information on the card.  This Financial Commitment Card will be the statement of your pledge for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.  You can give in a frequency that works best for you… weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even yearly.  On Sunday, April 27th, we will celebrate together as we present our Building A Life of Stewardship pledges collectively in this great place we call Sugarloaf United Methodist Church.  At the appropriate time during each service, we will be called, as the body of Christ, to place our commitment cards on the altar.  If for some reason you cannot attend a service on April 27th, we have provided postage for you to return your commitment card in the mail.  A prayer bookmark was mailed to you previously, and it is our hope that you will pray for our church, our staff and our stewardship campaign during the next few weeks.

How do I know I’m giving the right amount?

While the Old Testament specifically talks about giving one-tenth of what we make to God, the New Testament encourages us to give what we can, to give sacrificially, and to give out of a grateful heart.  For many, this will mean giving far more than one-tenth.

1 Chronicles 29:6-14:  “Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you have already given us!” (New Living Translation)

2 Corinthians 9:6-8:  “Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (New International Translation)

What if I don’t know what my income will be during the twelve months July 2008 through June 2009?

Your pledge is based on an estimate of what you think you will be able to give.  If your financial circumstances change, you can alter your pledge at any time.

What if I am out of town and won’t be present to give?

You can make up your giving the next time you are present, or you can mail in your gift.  Several people in our congregation have set up automatic payments through their on-line banking accounts, and this is a wonderful way to remain current with your commitment.  We are also in the process of establishing a link on our website that will allow you to process your giving on-line at any time.  We are working towards having this in place by May 1st, and we will be sure to let you know as soon as it is available.

How will I keep up with how I’m doing on my pledge?

You will receive a monthly contribution statement indicating how much you’ve pledged, how much you’ve given to date, and the remaining balance of your pledge.  If you give to other ministry areas of the church (such as the building fund or missions), those gifts will be reflected on the statement as well.