YOUR GIFTS TO THE CHURCH
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN SHARING GOD'S GIFTS THROUGH YOUR CONGREGATION
We worship in many ways at Highland Valley United Methodist Church . Our congregation's common bond is our commitment to God and the church through the continued growth of its ministries. To make a gift to Highland Valley, you may:
• Bring your gift to church on Sunday and place it in the offering plate.
• Mail your check to Highland Valley UMC, 15524 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211 .
• Set up an Automatic Bank Withdrawal:
• Giving by Automatic Bank Draft is a convenient and consistent way of supporting the ministries of our church. Electronic giving is also the most cost-efficient method of giving to the church since it reduces administrative costs and helps maintain a predictable cash flow.
The continuity of contributions coming into our church is what makes the difference between vibrant ministries and just getting by till the end of the year. When you don't make a regular contribution-maybe because of a forgotten checkbook or a missed Sunday-it becomes harder to catch up on your commitment to the ministries of the church.
When you sign up to have a monthly automatic bank withdrawal, you may designate a specific amount to the operational giving budget or the special ministries of the church. Your bank will transfer the amount(s) you have specified by your signed authorization on the 16th or later each month. You can start or change your commitment any time before the 10th of the current month. To schedule this type of giving, contact Stacie Holloway, Financial Manager, in the church office.
MAKING A PLEDGE TO THE CHURCH
Each year, members of our church family are asked to complete a "Pledge Card" showing their estimate of giving for the coming year. Giving the church an estimate of what you will give throughout the year allows us to plan the finances surrounding our services, programs and missions accordingly. The pledge is an estimate of what you think you'll give to support the operations of the church throughout the coming year. We understand that circumstances can change. You can let the Financial Manager of the church know at any time if you need to adjust your pledge.
GIVING TO THE MISSION & OPERATING BUDGET
We receive God's gifts as God's stewards to enable our participation in God's mission, and not the success of our own strategic plans or material security. When you give to Highland Valley, a portion of your gift supports the missional and operational budget which is everything the church does, including worship, Sunday school, the numerous programs and ministries, the staff and facilities needed to accomplish all of this, as well as our apportionments (see section below on apportionments).
GIVING TO APPORTIONMENTS
"...the body is a unit. Though it is made up of many parts and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. Likewise, though we are many members, we are one body." I Corinthians 12:12
By joining a United Methodist congregation, you become a member of the total United Methodist connection. We define that connection as a network of interdependent and interrelated relationships among persons in groups at the local (Little Rock District) and regional (Arkansas Conference), national and international levels (United Methodist Church).
Together, as United Methodists, we can accomplish more than an individual or single congregation. Our systematic giving to apportionments helps to establish and maintain ministries that no individual or single congregation could fund alone. These worthy causes include hospitals, colleges, rehabilitation centers, food and clothing distribution, evangelistic and educational work, and emergency relief. Through our congregations, we are the heart, spirit and hands of God's outreaching love.
Connectional giving is built upon our desire to meet the needs of God's family in our neighborhoods and around the world and our need to give in order to be spiritually healthy, complete children of God. As United Methodists, we join across our connected congregations to help all of God's children, whenever and wherever we can.
GIVING TO THE PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND
"For the righteous . . . will be remembered forever." Psalm 112:6
As Christians, we want to give back to the community that has meant so much to us. Endowment Fund gifts offer the Church an opportunity to minister in a perpetual way beyond our current annual support. The goal of the Permanent Endowment Fund is to help Highland Valley and its members in the continuation of existing mission and outreach programs and in the development of new programs.
Through a charitable legacy, you would make it possible for these needs to be addressed both now and in the years to come. Only the annual income of the Fund can be distributed for use. The principal of the Fund cannot be invaded. Permanent endowment funds strengthen the Church so that it may continue to perform its ministry even in difficult economic times. It helps us be the people, and the congregation, we want to be.
Donations to the Fund can be given through outright gifts of cash or stock, bequests in a will or living trust, real estate, bonds, mutual funds, personal property, life insurance, etc. Memorials or tributes are a wonderful way to remember a family member or beloved friend. To learn more about the various ways to give to the Permanent Endowment Fund, contact the Financial Manager in the church office or the Chairperson of the Permanent Endowment Fund Committee.
GIVING TO HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF ANOTHER
IN HONOR OF...
"Love one another with mutual affection, outdo one another in showing honor."
Romans 12:10
When you give a gift over and above your regular giving to honor a friend, family member or group, you are expressing a great act of love. Furthermore, your gift honors your church by helping to provide for the various needs and missions of Highland Valley UMC. Gifts are often received in celebration of a Baptism, Confirmation, Graduation, Weddings, Anniversarys, Birthdays, Friendship, Retirement, etc., as well as gifts to recognize special service or dedication to a ministry or mission by a person or group.
IN MEMORY OF...
"crown them with Glory and Honor" Psalm 8:5
Giving a donation in memory of a deceased friend or family member is one way to acknowledge their inspiration to you or others and continue the legacy of faith they left behind. A gift in memory of a friend's family member honors the deceased as well as your friend and their family by recognizing their loss.
HOW TO DESIGNATE A GIFT
To give a gift in honor or memory of someone, please include a note with your donation showing the name of the person being honored and who the gift is from. (This information may be put on the Memo Line of a check if space allows.) Our commitment to you starts with a prompt acknowledgement to the person or family named. Your gift and dedication is then listed in the Highland Valley UMC newsletter. If the gift is from someone outside of our church family who does not receive the newsletter, then an acknowledgement card is also sent to let them know the gift was received and the family notified.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OR ABOUT MAKING A CONTRIBUTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FINANCIAL MANAGER IN THE CHURCH OFFICE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURES
YOU GIVE IN SUPPORT OF
HIGHLAND VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH .
THANK YOU FOR BEING A CONGREGATION
THAT STRIVES TO PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIVES.