a note from PASTOR CHRIS
What a joy it is to be in ministry with a congregation and community that are blessed beyond measure! The Holy Spirit has been, is, and will continue to be at work using the gifts of us all to offer good news, love, and grace to the Arlington community and the world. Far too often, we as humans live out of an un-Godly mindset of scarcity, where we become focused on what we do not have and all the problems that we face. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and paralyzed by thinking we do not have enough (time, energy, money, knowledge, abilities…), but God created us differently. God created us to be people of abundance!
Faithful disciples of Jesus Christ always see the good news and hope that is available in every situation because God is in every situation. We are called to focus on what we do have and what we can accomplish, not the things we lack or desire. As we move into 2023, I want to encourage us all to faithfully pray about living a year of abundance. Using the gifts of financial resources, time, and abilities that we do have
to share the love of Christ in as many ways as possible. God has blessed us abundantly. How can we each respond in abundance as we share those blessings with the world?
Please join me in prayerfully considering how your abundance (no matter what that might be) can be part of our collective ministries together in 2023. You have prayers to offer, you can be present in worship and ministry, you have financial gifts that make a difference in the world, you have the ability to serve and tangibly love our neighbors, and you can witness to God’s love in your relationships. We all have more than enough – imagine what God can do with it all when we faithfully live out of abundance and hope!
SENIOR PASTOR, FIRST UMC ARLINGTON
approach to GIVING
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
Thank God for your blessings and ask for guidance and discernment.
ASSESS YOUR INCOME AND GIVING
Determine your current giving as a percentage of your income using the Step Up to Giving chart.
SET YOUR GIVING GOAL
If you are not currently tithing (giving ten percent of your income), start with a lower percentage and then plan to increase the percentage each year, growing toward the tithe. The important thing is to begin the spiritual discipline of regular, consistent giving.
DETERMINE GIVING METHOD
Take a look at the ways you can give and select the option that is best for both you and the church.
WORSHIP WITH ABUNDANCE
Fill out your 2023 estimated giving card and return it in worship on November 20. As a congregation, we will express our gratitude to God and present our cards, representing our commitment to God’s ministry through our church.
Give
at
Scan the QR code with your phone's camera to give securely
Fill out the estimated giving card and return to the church office in person or by mail
an
ways to give
securely online
arlingtonmethodist.org/give
online
2% 4 8 12 15 19 23 27 31 35 38 42 46 50 54 58 67 77 96 115 Annual Income $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 4% 8 15 23 31 38 46 54 62 69 77 85 92 100 108 115 135 154 192 231 6% 12 23 35 46 58 69 81 92 104 115 127 138 150 162 173 202 231 288 346 8% 15 31 46 62 77 92 108 123 138 154 169 185 200 215 231 269 308 385 462 10% 19 38 58 77 96 115 135 154 173 192 212 231 250 269 288 337 385 481 577 12% 23 46 69 92 115 138 162 185 208 231 254 277 300 323 346 404 462 577 692 STEP 1 If you are not regularly giving to your church, make a commitment to giving at least $5 per week ($20 per month) and return a 2023 giving card. STEP 2 Commit to increasing your giving for 2023 by 1% to 3% of your income, as you move toward the goal of giving the tithe, 10% of your income, and return a 2023 giving card. STEP 3 If you are currently tithing 10% of your income, thank you for your faithfullness. Please return your 2023 giving card and prayerfully consider increasing your gift by 1% to 3% to help your church take advantage of the opportunities before us. step up to A Guide to Giving as a Percentage of Income GIVING WEEKLY GIVING
GIVING goes
where our
These are just a few examples of how your generosity impacts both our congregation and local community throughout the year! We hope to grow and expand these ministries in 2023 through abundant giving. Thank you for helping us love God and love people! donated to local charities, UMCOR, and other charitable organizations $25k+ donated to our AISD partner schools for supplies, teacher appreciation, and more $5,800 41 students and adults attended the youth mission trip to New Orleans. 42 attended Testament Choir Tour 75 average students at youth group on Sunday nights, and 35–50 on Sunday mornings 696 New Day food bags distributed weekly to AISD students (2784 monthly and 25,056 per year) 127 kids explored their faith through FUMCA camps this summer (STEAM, VBC, Mission Camp) 25 children on average in the nursery & preschool classrooms on Sundays 200+ bags of English and Spanish language books given to children at the 12th Book Carnival 117 new members have united with us in ministry since October 2021 57 students went to Glen Lake Camp with the help of your gifts (including five Emerging Leaders & Summer Staffers) 10 Confirmands completed Confirmation in May 2022 and all ten are now attending youth group 20 families with children who have special needs that receive free monthly respite care through First Fridays of hours of busy1,000s hands knitting hearts, worry worms, homeless mats and baptismal blankets