Giving
Upon uniting with this Christian community, we respond to the question: "As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?"
Each time an individual unites with our congregation, we reaffirm that commitment. All of these--prayers, presence, gifts, and service--involve giving of ourselves and our resources.
God calls each of us to share in the ministry of giving. You will find described here a few of the most effective ways to support Christ's church through your gifts.
Pledging and Tithing:
Growth in Christ begins with putting God first in our lives. One very significant way to grow in grace and love is to put God first in the stewardship of our money, pledging each month to give "off the top" to God's work through the Church. Throughout the long tradition of God's community, it has not been a fixed amount by which we plan our growth in stewardship; rather, it is the TITHE, a definite proportion of one-tenth of our income, that stands as the traditional minimum gift given back to God out of what we have received.
Gifts to Honor; Gifts to Remember:
Gifts express the love we have for others. At First Church members have found many ways to honor their loved ones, including gifts to our missionaries and other mission causes; flowers for the altar; lilies at Easter; poinsettias at Christmas; contributions to the Endowment Fund; and a variety of other special offerings. Memorial gifts honor the memory of loved ones who have died, expressing this love through the ongoing life of Christ's church.
The Endowment Fund:
The people who are First Church have established the First United Methodist Church of Austin Endowment Fund as a trust for tomorrow. It is a method whereby today's church can help to assure that tomorrow there will be a United Methodist church serving downtown Austin to meet the needs of tomorrow's world. Those who give to this fund give thanks to God for blessings bestowed, express their devotion to Christ and to his church, and honor loved ones whose lives have served as inspiration. May future generations realize that the trust they have inherited from those who have walked before carries with it the charge to serve God in this place in such a way that his kingdom may come upon the earth.
To discuss the variety of ways you may participate in the church's ministry of giving, speak with one of the pastors. For more information concerning the Endowment Fund, memorial gifts and other giving opportunities, contact our church administrator at 478-5684.
