2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "Remember: sow sparingly, and you will reap sparingly; sow bountifully, and you will reap bountifully. Each person should give as he has decided for himself; there should be not reluctance, no sense of compulsion; GOD loves a cheerful giver."

St. Nicholas Church is a community of faith: a community gathered by God, held together by the love of Christ, and empowered by God's Holy Spirit to do the work God has given us to do.  Because we are a spiritual community, our ability to pursue the vision, mission, and ministry to which God has called us is entirely depended upon the generosity of spirit of those who are a part of our community.  The time we are able to offer in service as a congregation is the combined result of the time offered to us by those who consider themselves to be a member or friend of St. Nick's.  The specific kinds of ministry we are able to offer is directly related to the gifts and skills offered to us by those same people.  And the financial resources we have to give as outreach, to support our programs and staff, or to pay for our new building, are the pooled financial resources given to us by those who make up our spiritual community. Your generous engagement with your time, talent, and treasure is what makes our ministry -- our very existance -- possible.

But even more important than our community's need for resources to do God's work is our own need to give in order to develop our relationship with and trust in God. A disciplined and joyful life of generousity reminds of that all that we are and all that we have comes from God, and that no matter how much we give of ourselves, we can never exhaust the supply of love and grace that God has already given us.  And what is more, taking a bit of God's generosity to us and "paying it forward," we get to become partners with God's Holy Spirit in the transformation of our world and get to feel just a little bit of what it feels like to God to give like God gives.

Support Via a Giving Estimate

A Giving Estimate is exactly that:  written estimate of the support you are willing to give to help carry out for that portion of the work of the Body of Christ that is carried out by St. Nick's. It includes not only your estimate of the financial support you think you can give, but also in what ministries of the church you think God may be calling engage with your time and your talent.

How do I communicate my estimate of giving? To communicate your estimate of giving for the upoming year, you need only to complete a Giving Estimate form.  Your completed Giving Estimate can then be placed in the offering plate on Sunday, mailed to the church, or submitted on-line.

Where can I find a Giving Estimate form? Giving Estimate forms are available in several places.  A Giving Estimate form may be found on the back page of the Annual Parish Report.  A Giving Estimate form is available in every New Member Packet or may be requested from the Church Office.  A "Mini" Giving Estimate form is included at the bottom of the Voice from the Pew bulletin insert. Finally, an "online" Giving Estimate form is available on this website (click on the "Make a Pledge" button at the top right).

When should I submit an estimate of giving? Most people submit a Giving Estimate form as soon as they decide to become a member of the church. In addition, every fall, Giving Estimate forms are provided for the coming year. This is part of the process the vestry uses in planning the church's mission and ministry operating budget for the coming year. For your pledge for the upcoming year to be useful in that planning, it is very important that it be completed and returned by the first Sunday in December.

How is communicating my estimate of giving helpful to the church? Each year, the vestry is required to develop a plan for mission and ministry, and approve a plan for allocating the necessary resources to support it (i.e., an operating budget for the coming church year). Almost all of the financial resources to carry out our mission and ministry plan come from the giving of those who are a part of our congregation. Submitting your Giving Estimate form on time allows the vestry to plan faithfully and responsibly for that work.

When should I fulfill my estimate of giving? Your Giving Estimate cover a specific calendar year, and should be fulfulled in that year. It would be helpful, in meeting the expenses of mission and ministry, if each of us could give toward the fulfillment of our Giving Estimate on a regular basis. And please remember that if your circumstances change, you should notify the church of any corresponding change to your Giving Estimate.

How much should I give? Your Giving Estimate is your gift to God in support of the work of the Body of Christ. It is what you choose to offer back to the One who gave you everything. Only you can decide what it should be.

Should my Giving Estimate be based on a weekly, monthly, or annual amount? Yes; that is, you should do whatever is best for you. (The vestry will translate it to an annual figure for budget purposes.)

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What is a Tithe? (And should I?) A tithe is a form of proportional giving. "Tithe" means "one-tenth." It is commended in Scripture as a standard for minimum giving. St. Nicholas Episcopal Church gives a tithe of its operating income to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. In addition, it is working toward an additional tithe for outreach (doing God's work in the world around us). Many people find the tithe (or some other form of proportional giving) a powerful spiritual discipline.

Do I have to Tithe to be a member of St. Nick's? In a word: "No." You do not have to tithe, and you do not have to make a Giving Estimate. You are a valued member of St. Nicholas Church no matter how much you give.