TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND OUR BUILDING PROGRAM

Tithes and offerings are offered primarily for our own sake: our sacrifice of time, talent and treasure is something that builds us up spiritually.  We don't give tithes in order to get something.  Our tithes are neither a bribe given to God or a way to make ourselves feel better about ourselves.  They are a recognition that God is the source of all life, that we depend on Him and not our possessions for our life and well-being, and that our wealth and possessions are not in control of us.

That being said, in order for a church community to exist, the bills have to be paid.  Tithing is the Biblical, God-ordained method by which this happens.  Ultimately, Christ asks for our whole lives, our whole selves, holding nothing back.  But in our lives, we offer a portion of this in order to accomplish the task of being a "cheerful giver" and one who grasps the reality of a life lived for God alone.

Consider what it means to give, both out of abundance and out of poverty:

Mark 12:41-44  "...Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood..."

Let us learn to give gladly, offering back to God a portion of His overwhelming goodness to us: our time, our talents and our treasure.

ONLINE GIVING:

For those who cannot be with us for services or for other reasons prefer online giving, we use a service called "Tithe.ly"  Through it, you can sign up and give directly from a bank card or bank account.  Be advised that each gift processed by Tithe.ly will incur a small percentage charge, which will be deducted from the amount being given to the church.