A little history

Believe it or not, our church — First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Jacksonville, Florida — first took shape 134 years ago. This church is older than the Statue of Liberty, the Wall Street Journal, the Eiffel Tower, and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

In this time of transition, it’s easy to forget the breadth and depth of our community’s roots. Change can be difficult and frightening, but it’s also inevitable and, more importantly, nothing our church hasn’t gone through many times before.

This longevity is not an accident. It is the direct result of good stewardship.

What is stewardship, anyway?

Stewardship is the management or care of something. When we talk about stewardship within the church, we generally talk about it in the Biblical sense: the intentional management of resources (all living things in and of the earth and everything they produce) on behalf of the rightful owner, who is God.

Your church leadership practices stewardship with the resources that come in throughout the year. When we presented the proposed budget at the congregational meeting on Sunday, we showed you our plan for the management of any of God’s resources that come to the church.

You practice stewardship, too, when you determine how to use the resources you accumulate.

Why pledge?

God calls us to give back a portion of that which he’s given to us. Giving to the church is an easy and effective way to do just that. Our church participates in many ministries across myriad communities, including:

• First Christian Preschool
• Second Saturday Arts & Farmers Market
• Food drives for the Mandarin Food Bank
• ICARE
• Bear Ministry
• Angel Giving Tree
• Tailgate Market
• Caring Meal Ministry
• Health Ministry
• Meeting space for AA, NA, and Alanon groups; Boy Scout troops (and Girl Scouts in the past); and other local groups like the line dancers

By making a pledge, you help church leaders plan effectively for the coming year. We use your pledges to determine what to expect on a weekly and monthly basis so we can make better decisions about how to operate within our means throughout the year.

Without a pledge, we have to estimate, based on past giving, what the church might receive in offerings throughout the year. This is much less accurate, and it makes effective planning very difficult.

How much should I pledge?

Only you know what you can give. Remember: the dollar amount is not the most important detail of your pledge, and your pledge is not a contract.

We are called to give sacrificially. For some people, giving 10% is not a sacrifice. For others, giving 10% is impossible. How much you can pledge is between you and God.

What if I can’t give as much as I pledged?

While your pledge is a commitment to God and to your church family, it is not legally binding. If your circumstances change, you may certainly change your pledge, no questions asked. If you’re blessed with unexpected extra income, you’re always welcome to increase your pledge as well!

How do I pledge?

Complete the online pledge form at www.firstchristianjax.com/pledge, or complete a pledge card (available in the Narthex) and put it in the offering plate or turn it in to the church office. We need your pledge by November 12.

Then what?

The following Sunday, November 19, the Board will present a revised proposed budget based on the pledges we receive. The congregation will vote on that proposed budget in congregational meetings after each service.

Is it really that important that I make a pledge?

The short answer: yes. It really is.

For 134 years, members of FCC have committed and recommitted to sustaining the church. That ongoing cycle of commitment is what this time of year — our annual stewardship campaign — is all about.

In the face of looming changes, and on the tail of another year of growth for our church family, we have the opportunity to say, as our congregational ancestors did before us, that we intend to stand with our community.

Today, you are the members, official and otherwise, considering the commitment. So here’s the question:

Are you in?