Q. What is a pledge?
Each year, we ask all parishioners to make a thoughtful, prayerful and intentional commitment to financially support the mission and ministry of the Church. 

Q. Does my pledge really make a difference?
Absolutely. It often comes as a surprise when people learn that First Congregational relies almost entirely on the weekly offering of its members and friends.  Nearly 70% of the revenue needed to operate and maintain First Congregational comes from pledges. Put simply, every pledge counts, and every pledge matters.

Q. Can’t I practice stewardship without pledging?
Because we depend on the weekly offering to maintain our operations, making a pledge tells us how much money we will have to carry out our mission for the year. This is critical information for making careful, purposeful decisions about church activities, ministry and maintenance. And on a personal level, pledging helps to transform your giving into a spiritual practice; you make a commitment to God and to your church family and fulfilling it becomes a regular practice just like attendance at worship, learning or prayer.

Q. How much should I give with an annual pledge?
We ask each parishioner to consider making a pledge that is both responsible and significant based on his or her financial situation.  At First Congregational, giving is intended to be “in keeping with your income” (1 Corinthians 16:2).  

Q. Doesn’t the Church have an Endowment?
Yes it does. However First Congregational’ s Endowment is still relatively modest and currently contributes less than 7% of the Church’s operating budget. 

How to Calculate Your Pledge

Different approaches for determining your pledge
It probably doesn’t surprise you that just as there are many different reasons why we each pledge to First Congregational, there is similarly no single method for determining the amount of your pledge. The following are approaches that you might consider:

• Proportional Giving: Start with your expected income next year and pick a percentage that feels right. Ask yourself, is the amount you are giving proportional to your love of God, to your love of First Congregational and reflective of your relationship with the church. If you have used this guide before, consider increasing last year’s percentage by 1% or more. 

Here’s a helpful chart for calculating a weekly pledge based on income. Amount of your weekly pledge at…

ANNUAL INCOME	MONTHLY INCOME	3%	5%	10%	15%
$10,000	$833	$6	$9	$19	$28
$20,000	$1,667	$12	$19	$39	$58
$30,000	$2,500	$17	$29	$58	$87
$40,000	$3,333	$23	$38	$77	$115
$50,000	$4,167	$29	$48	$96	$144
$75,000	$6,250	$43	$72	$144	$216
$100,000	$8,333	$58	$96	$192	$288

• The Biblical Tithe
The Old Testament refers to Tithing, pledging 10% or more of your gross annual income. The New Testament does not designate a percentage of income, but only states “in keeping with your income.”  All giving should be what you “decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

• “The Deacon’s Challenge”
Consider taking the Deacon’s Challenge and help First Congregational maintain its mission and ministries next year by increasing last year’s pledge by 3%. 

Q. How do I make a pledge?
A pledge can be made one of two ways: by completing a pledge card and returning it to the Church Office or online though our “virtual pledge card” which can be found on the FCC website. Upon making your pledge, you will receive a written acknowledgement letter. 

Q. How can I pay my pledge?
You may pay your pledge through weekly offerings received at worship services or through Vanco automatic debits by filling out the church Authorization Form. 

Q: What happens if I can’t pay my pledge?
You may change the amount of your pledge at any time. All we ask is that you let us know so we may correct your records. Please contact the Deacons of Finance if for any reason you need to change your pledge.  All information is confidential.

Where Does Our Money Come From?

Approximately 70% of our budget has to be raised from pledges and giving via the offertory plate collections.  We receive 12% of income from rents, primarily from the daycare.  Although we have an endowment fund, it contributes less than 7%. The remaining 11% comes from special gifts, holiday fair and other sources.  Therefore, we depend each week on the giving of our parishioners to maintain the ministries that comprise the Church’s daily life.

Did you know?

• 53 parishioners pledged in 2025
• Median annual pledge is $1450
• 40 parishioners gave without a pledge 

Where does our money go?

First Congregational is committed to being good stewards of what is given. Each year, our Deacons plan our budget and evaluate each expense in light of our overriding mission to facilitate Christian faith formation for individuals and families and allow that formation to find expression in the world. 

What do things cost?

• Lighting & heating $19,000  
• Salaries costs for one year: $230,000
• Facilities & maintenance: $71,000
• Parsonage costs $13,000

Legacy Gifts/Planned Giving

What is Legacy Giving or Legacy Stewardship? 
There are three types of giving:

Ordinary Stewardship – Our weekly or monthly giving or annual pledge as well as our regular giving of our time and talent or service to others.

Legacy Stewardship – Estate or planned giving through bequests, trusts or other estate planning gifts.  Through a legacy gift to the Church endowment, your estate is combined with those that have come before and after, so that together we will forever empower and feed mission and ministry of First Congregational for generations to come.

Extraordinary Stewardship – Memorial, tribute, capital gifts or other special gifts. Typically, these arise in the context of a capital campaign when the congregation seeks to take on something new or renew or refurbish its facilities, so that its ministry will be expanded and strengthened for the generations to come.  

Donating Securities/Stock

Why donate securities? 
When you donate stock or other investments held for more than one year, the donor gets to deduct the fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift, rather than the (usually lower) cost basis.  

How to make a gift of stock or other marketable securities:
The Church is grateful to receive all types of gifts of marketable securities. The church has an Ameritrade account that is used for clearing donated securities.  To arrange such a gift, please contact the Treasurer, Candy Brower.