Stewardship

"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,

serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received."

1 Peter 4:10

 

Stewardship has everything in the world to do with God’s purpose for us in this time and place. Through God’s amazing grace, things of eternal significance can be done through you and your fellow travelers. As you discern your service to God through ministry here at Bethel and beyond, and consider your financial support for 2012, think first of how your commitment will serve. It is in this spirit that we can best understand one definition of a pledge: “Our thank-you note to God.” Why is that? Because nothing so gladdens the heart of Jesus than seeing our lives touch others in service!

 

For more information regarding Stewardship 2012, please see the following editions of the Bethelite:

 

October 26, 2011 : Vol 61, No 7

October 19, 2011 : Vol 61, No 6

 

It's not too late to turn in your 2012 Estimate of Giving (Pledge) Card. Please bring your completed card to the reception desk or offering plate, or send in by mail.

 

Estimate of Giving

  Estimate of Giving (Pledge) Card

 

Percentage Giving Chart

   Percentage Giving Chart

 

Simply Giving® Form

   Bethel Member Enrollment and Authorization Form

   Please also see the Simply Giving program information below.

 

Gifts to Bethel

There are many ways to make year-round gifts to support Bethel.

 

• Gifts of cash support ministry today and eliminate or reduce income tax on up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income.

 

• Gifts of appreciated stock, bonds, or mutual funds can be deductible at full market value for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income and allow you to bypass capital gains tax.

 

• Gifts from your IRA: Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) are mandatory for IRA owners who are 70½ or older.  Charitable deductions can be taken for the same amount as the gift. Continuing in 2011 is the provision for direct charitable contributions not counting toward your minimum distribution.

 

• Life income agreements such as charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts can provide income for life and then support your favorite ministry.  They can be funded in a variety of ways and may provide an annuity payment greater than the income your assets are currently producing.

 

• Bequests allow you to make a significant gift to ministry without reducing your current income.  A distribution agreement or memorial endowment fund, funded through a bequest, provides choices and flexibility on how your gift is used and named.

 

Simply Giving® Program

Simply Giving® is a reliable, safe way to move your stewardship plan into action. It allows you to share your gifts through planned giving and activates your generosity into ongoing stewardship. Because your gift is given consistently, you will not need to play "catch-up" at year-end or worry about forgotten checkbooks or missed Sunday offerings.

 

But you're not the only one that benefits. Our congregation benefits from steady, more predictable revenues throughout the year, more efficient bookkeeping and greater confidence in meeting our financial commitments.

 

Simply Giving is an automated giving program designed to help you conveniently and consistently contribute to our congregation. Through Simply Giving, your gifts are made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account. You determine the frequency of your automatic gift—weekly, semi-monthly or monthly—the option is yours. Your gift is deposited into Bethel's bank account on the same day it is withdrawn from your account—at no cost to you.

 

Please consider this increasingly popular method of church support.