GIVING
God doesn't need our money. What he's truly after is us. Yet, how we use money is a very accurate indicator of where our heart is and what we value. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Giving is an act of worship and an act of commitment - to the community of believers and to those in need.
FAQ ABOUT GIVING
What is online giving?
Online giving is the ability to give a donation or schedule a series of donations using your credit card or checking account via a myEoffering account.
How do I sign up?
What does it mean by "Create Your Wallet"?
A "wallet" is just your funding source. You can name your wallet something like "Sally's Checking" or "Chase Credit Card"--whatever makes sense to you.
What is a contribution schedule?
This is similar to a subscription.You can choose how often you would like an automatic donation to be made. There are many different options including one time, weekly, every two weeks, monthly or quarterly.
Why do I have to set up a myEoffering account and password in order to give online?
Setting up an account and password allows you to enter a highly secure environment for your transaction. Once your account and password are established, all your personal information, including credit card information, is safe and protected.
Are there any hidden charges or fees to give online?
No. You select the dollar amount for your gift and that is the dollar amount that will be recognized as your donation.
The church pays a small fee for each contribution which you may offer to pay if you’d like, but it won’t count as part of your giving. If you’d like to cover that fee, simply check the designated box.
If we want to help people get out of debt, why do we accept credit card donations?
Used within the parameters, credit cards can be an effective tool for payments and purchases. Many people utilize them in place of checks or cash throughout the month and then pay off the balance in full. For those people, we offer the option of using a credit card to give. However, we strongly discourage those who have ongoing credit card debt from tithing via a credit card. We suggest using your checking account instead.
Can I designate my gift to a particular fund?
Yes. Simply click on the fund you would like your gift to go to and designate an amount. If you want to give to more than one fund with the same offering, you have that option by clicking on "Add Another Fund."
Should I tithe off my gross earnings or the net amount of my paychecks?
Many people think about their giving as a percentage of their money coming in, but should you use gross or net income? The most common view is that gross earnings are the amount of God's provision, and the tithe should be based on one-tenth of God's provision. Taxes are generally considered payment for the privileges and services provided by the government. Scripture doesn’t use the literal terms “net” or “gross.” It’s more important to note that the spirit in which we give is of greatest value to God. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 9 that “each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give; not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
How can I keep a record of the amount I have contributed?
You can view your online giving record via your myEoffering account. Your giving history is immediately available for viewing and downloading. Links to past giving files are located at the very bottom of the "Offerings" tab.
When is the automatic contribution charged to my account?
You actually choose by designating a start date and a donation frequency on the “New Offering Page.” You can set up as many schedules as you would like, so it’s possible to give a monthly gift as well as a weekly one.
Note: Contributions may not show up on your bank account statement until 7 business days after your submission.
What if I want to cancel or make changes to my online giving?
Not a problem. After logging in to your myEoffering account, a list of your donations will appear. To the left of each donation are icons allowing you to cancel, edit, or skip that donation.
What if I have more questions?
No problem! Here are some additional answers or feel free to contact our bookkeeper and she will respond to your question as soon as possible.
At the end of each year, our church family is asked to fill out an Estimate of Giving or "Pledge Card" for the following year. You can also fill it out digitally using the link below. No one will see this pledge other than our bookkeeper.
Please pray about how the Lord would have you participate in our church financially and submit this form, if possible, by Pledge Sunday in December. There will also be pledge cards available at church at the table in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday in December.
Giving Through Fundraisers
How To Register
If you shop at Kroger and would like to participate in our church fundraiser, we'd love to have you on board. Kroger offers a Community Rewards fundraiser for qualified nonprofits where by donating a percentage of your purchase total to your designated organization or charity. This is at no extra cost to you. All monies donated to FPC from Kroger through this fundraiser go toward the Building Fund.
How to Participate
- Ask for a Kroger Plus card at any Kroger checkout register if you don't already have one.
- Go to Kroger.com
- Sign in if you already have a Kroger.com account or register for one if you don't.
- Click on the "Community" tab near the top of the page and select "Community Rewards".
- Click on "Enroll Now".
- Scroll down the page and click on "Enroll".
- In the box, put in "First Presbyterian Church" or you can put in our enrollment number, "XL414" then click on "Enroll".
- Every time you go to kroger and swipe your Kroger Plus card at the checkout, a portion of your purchase will go to FPC.
OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
At First Presbyterian we believe there are many ways to give. We are called to tithe but we are also called to serve.
- Volunteer to be a Sunday Greeter
- Volunteer to serve in the Nursery
- Invest in local teens during 5th Quarter
- Assist with the community Vacation Bible School
- Help with Pioneer Clubs or Pioneer Club Camp
- Donate non-perishable food to the Manna Food Pantry
- For more information about these or other ways to serve contact the church office.