June 11, 2024

Dear Friend and Fellow Jesus Follower,

Something is happening at First Pres. It’s in the energy of the children as they eagerly come forward for Children’s Time in worship, and in their voices when they sing together in Alleluia Singers, joined by our amazing adult choir. The sanctuary is filling up with new visitors and old friends. New bonds are being forged in the body of Christ, and deep wrestling with God’s Word is shaping our hearts. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work, building on the foundation of good ministry that has come before us.

We have come to a pivotal moment to invest in the growth and vitality of the church we love.  Your giving to First Pres always matters—to the community and to God—but there are certain times when an infusion of resources has an especially high impact. The time has come to move past the once-necessary survival mode of the pandemic, and to pursue God’s future for this church wholeheartedly.

You are a valued part of First Pres’ future. Your presence matters, and your support matters. 100% of what it takes to sustain the church comes from you, its members and friends. Like most churches, First Pres doesn’t have sales, customers, tax revenue, tuition, or dues. Your giving makes every service, every sermon, every Sunday School class, every song, and every staff member possible—all for the glory of God and the sake of the Gospel. 100% of our giving to local and international mission comes from you.

There are two specific things I am humbly asking you to do for First Pres:

• Will you make a gift before our fiscal year ends on June 30? It’s summer, and most of us aren’t thinking about year-end giving. But June is the month that determines whether the church will end its fiscal year in the black, on sound financial footing for the year ahead.

• Will you pledge? When you pledge, the church can plan. A pledge is a commitment to give a certain amount in the coming fiscal year: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. It helps us to budget responsibly. A pledge is not legally binding—if your circumstances change, your giving can change. A pledge is an act of trust in God and a spiritual commitment. You can submit your pledge online, right here.

As you prayerfully consider these requests, will you tithe, or come 1% closer to tithing? A simple, biblical way to sustain the church and its mission is tithing—giving 10% of income. The concept goes back to the Old Testament (Leviticus 27:30). The New Testament consistently calls believers to radical generosity. This challenge isn’t meant to cause stress: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7). It is meant to help us consider our priorities, because how we spend money reflects the true priorities of our hearts (Matthew 6:21). If you do not currently tithe, look at how much you do give, and ask yourself: this is 10% of what? Consider taking a step toward the spiritual practice of tithing by giving 1% more of your income than you do now.

If you need to check your giving numbers, set up easy automatic giving, or get assistance with a more complex transaction, our CPA Terri Benno is here to help. Email her anytime at cpa@firstpresrf.org.

Thank you. God gives the growth, and this is the moment for us to fuel the good things he is doing here.

Gratefully yours in Christ,

Pastor Donna Marsh