You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your God in heaven.
Matthew – 5:14-16
St. Andrew United Methodist Church
Welcome home.
At St. Andrew, we believe in both giving generously and serving faithfully.
As you consider your annual giving commitment, we ask that you pray about service you’ve done in the past, and how you would like to serve in the future.
GIVE
Your generous giving supports worship, programs for students, adult classes and Bible studies, as well as, music and the arts, support groups, and outreach.
Help us reach our goal of raising $2.5 Million through 700 pledges to fund our 2019 ministries.
SERVE
In addition to giving generously, we hope that you will serve faithfully, living into our mission to be outwardly focused Christians serving the common good.
Whether you choose to serve in a new ministry or continue in one that you love, we want to make sure you are connected to meaningful opportunities.
Explore service opportunities below or pick up a catalog in the atrium.
Frequently Asked Questions
[expand title=”Q. What is the difference between the capital campaign that occurs every three years and the Shine Operating Campaign?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. The Beyond capital campaign sought three-year pledges to pay the mortgage on the church building as well as fund critical capital maintenance needs. The Shine Operating Campaign is our annual campaign to cover operating expenses in 2019, including our staff salaries, day-to-day facility maintenance, ministry programming, outreach, worship, and more!
[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. With the new tax laws, I am considering combining years, thus prepaying my pledge. How would that work?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. When pledges are prepaid the donor receives credit for the entire donation in the tax year in which the church receives the gift. Church finance temporarily restricts those funds until the year the donor designated for their use.[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. How does a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) work? Why was my gift to the church not tax deductible?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. Those who have already reached the age of 70 ½ are allowed to make a QCD from an IRA. A QCD satisfies the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) that also begins at 70 ½. When a donor makes a direct donation (QCD) from an IRA to a qualified charity like the church, the donor doesn’t need to claim that amount as regular income. Since the funds were never taxed as income one cannot claim a tax deduction for the donation. The check must be made payable to the church to qualify as a QCD.Please consult your tax advisor for other details and limitations.
[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. What are the payment options for my pledge?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. Almost 40% of church donors use a form of automatic giving like bank drafts, electronic payments, or “text to give.” Many donors also simply write checks. Of course, cash works, but to receive an income tax credit for a charitable contribution, the donation must be identifiable as to its donor. A number of donors also transfer stock directly to the church. For details or questions, please contact finance.
[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. I already give electronically; do I need to do anything?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. Yes.First, please turn in a pledge card. If you are changing your pledge amount you will also need to go online and re-enter your information; please do this after your December contribution. If you only allowed payments for the current year, you will need to go online and enter your information for the next year.
[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. When should I pay my pledge?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. Many donors give periodically – weekly, twice a month, monthly or quarterly. Some simply give annually. Regular timely giving throughout the year is most helpful for operations.
[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. Do people actually tithe? What is a tithe?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″]
A. Yes, many people give a tithe or even more.Biblically, a tithe is 10% of annual income, but how that is calculated varies widely. A tithe is a form of proportional response for the many blessings God has given us.
[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. My pledge would be so small, I’m sure it wouldn’t make a difference.” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. Many pledges and gifts to the church are small. Added together they do make a difference. More important than the church budget, though, is the difference the act of giving makes in one’s relationship with God. [/expand] [expand title=”Q. Can I enter my pledge on the website?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. Yes, click here. You will be directed to enter your pledge. Your entry goes directly and privately to the finance office. There will also be a link for your Serve commitment. If you are interested in electronic giving, please see “What are the payment options?” question above. [/expand]
[expand title=”Q. Where can I find out about the Opportunities to Serve?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. Click here to search based on your interests, or pickup a paper catalog in the atrium.[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. How do I sign up once I find opportunities I’m interested in?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. Once you find ministries that call to you, add them to your list and proceed to check out. OR you can fill out a Serve with St. Andrew commitment card and return it to the church.[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. Do I have to use the Ministry Codes?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. While we hope that everyone will use the codes to help us be accurate and efficient, we understand that this new process can feel a bit overwhelming. If you don’t know the code for your ministry, simply write in the name to the best of your ability on the blank lines and we’ll help you figure out the rest.[/expand]
[expand title=”Q. I filled out my commitment card. What happens next?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. Over the next several weeks we will process everyone’s information and a director or lay leader reach out to you with information specific to your selected ministries.[/expand] [expand title=”Q. I’m already giving generously, why am I also being asked to serve?” trigclass=”my_special_class3″] A. We believe that service is an essential part of Christian life and we hope that it will enrich your life and make you feel more connected to God, your community and your self.[/expand]