Newsletter Help for your Church
| A STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE FOR YOUR CHURCH | HELPS FOR THE STEWARDSHIP CHAIR |
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#274 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me. January is the season for New Year’s resolutions. We want to start out the New Year on the “right foot,” taking care to improve ourselves and our habits. Getting out of debt and saving money are generally two of the top ten resolutions made each year. Cuts in income seem to be the norm these days, so how do we remain faithful and generous as we set priorities in the New Year? It seems counter-intuitive but it begins by giving. Generosity breeds a positive, “can-do” attitude in us. It’s good to say thank you, even in tough times. Therefore as you make moves toward financial freedom from debt, consider:
Some folks find that giving 5% of their income to the church and saving another 5% each week or month in an emergency fund can be a helpful spiritual tool as they take responsibility for their finances. If you’d like help in meeting your financial New Year’s resolution, sign up today to attend the two-hour Freed Up From Debt Workshop sponsored by the Foundation on January 29th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, or January 30th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm in Room 305 of the Conference Center in Sun Prairie. Cost is $8.00. Everyone is welcome! Call us to register and to get more information. |
Growing in Generosity with Children A Quart of Coins We keep a quart jar in a prominent place in our bedroom and put our loose change into it on a regular basis. When it’s almost full we take it to the bank and are surprised to discover there’s about $100 that has magically accumulated! It’s also amazing to me that for just over $100 per member/year we are able to fund the worldwide mission and ministry of the entire United Methodist Church! We may have loose coin offerings for a number of very worthy ministries in our local churches throughout the year. But what are we teaching our children, if we don’t meet our primary commitment to the ministry done in our name here in Wisconsin & throughout the world through our apportionments? I invite you to start now–at the beginning of the year–to find a way to fund your share of the church’s apportionments. Maybe you can write a check for the full amount upfront. Or you may be like many folks who are struggling to make ends meet, and the most you can give are a few coins each week. Start now, and when that jar is full you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve saved! If you don’t have children or grandchildren at home, invite a child or two from your church to help you count it. And if you wish, involve those children in giving the gift the following Sunday in a special envelope marked for apportionments. For many wonderful stories of how these gifts are used for the ministry of Christ and the glory of God, go to: www.umcgiving.org. For more resources to help you meet your financial goals this year visit: www.sharesavespend.com – Family Money Talks, Mind Your Money-for adults, and Money Sanity Solutions Book and DVD |
#275 Giving is an act of Love. Protect yourself against the least little bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” Luke 12:15 The Message Valentine’s Day is around the corner. When I was in college, living in an all-women’s dorm, Valentine’s Day was “the” holiday of the year! There was more activity at the front desk on February 14th as retailers and beaus brought in a steady flow of flowers, candy, cards and other goodies to be delivered to various residents. Flowers were definitely the gift of choice, the gift of “true love!” And every woman who thought she would (or should!)receive flowers, stayed close to the phone waiting and hoping that at least a single rose or a few carnations would arrive in her name. What a different view I have of Valentine’s Day now. That’s not to say I won’t accept flowers from my husband, but I certainly don’t wait for them with baited breath! This year Valentine’s Day is still in the season of Epiphany, when the love of God is made real and known to us in concrete and “ah-ha” kinds of moments. How do we as God’s people make this love known to the world? For some, it’s done in gifts for present need. Others feel called to make gifts to Endowment funds, which Webster defines as a “permanent fund or source of income.” What a wonderful way to make the love of God in Christ known to the world through the church forever! The principal is invested and the income may be used for further investments and supplementary expenses. Endowment income is often used to match ordinary income and giving from parishioners, to meet unexpected and extraordinary expenses, or to provide for new and creative ministries. Endowments are often used to provide matching funds to help a congregation meet unexpected building expenses or begin a new ministry. For more information on how you or your church can establish an Endowment fund, contact us. |
Growing in Generosity The Challenge of Ten Apples
God gave them the second three apples to trade for a shelter from the sun and rain. They traded the second three for a shelter from the sun and rain. God gave them the third three apples to trade for clothing to wear. God gave them the last apple so that they might have something to give back to God to show their gratitude for the other nine. But the man and woman looked at the tenth apple, and it seemed bigger and juicier than the rest. They reasoned that God had all the other apples in the world. So they ate the tenth apple and gave back to God the core. God has given you enough apples to supply your needs – plus one with which you may show your gratitude to God. The choice is yours. Will you return to God the largest and juiciest of your apples – or only the core? |
Once upon a time there was a couple who had nothing, and God gave them ten apples. God gave them the first three apples to eat. They shared each apple and ate all three.#264 “Give each what would keep (them) above want, and bestow all the rest in such a manner as would be most for the glory of God.” - John Wesley Don’t let this happen to you! A few years ago Karen inherited shares of stock from the estate of a family friend. All the paperwork was completed by the estate lawyers and Karen received notice when the shares had been transferred to her name. When her church was in the process of a building campaign, Karen entered on her pledge card that she had stock she would like to redeem in order to pay her pledge. No one from the finance committee or church office contacted her to help her gift the stock to the church! She didn’t know who to contact in the secular world either so she left the stock invested. Years later she read in her church newsletter that the Wisconsin U.M. Foundation could process gifts of stock, which meant she could avoid paying capital gains taxes. She also could avoid paying a selling fee or commission. She was amazed! By following the Foundation’s simple procedure, she could actually make a larger gift to her church than if she had sold the gift of stock herself and written a check to the church for the proceeds. In 2010, the Foundation assisted 73 people in giving $529,811 in stock gifts to 42 different churches and ministries. That’s an average gift of $12,614 per church, or over $1,000/month! By making these gifts through the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, these individuals made sure that 100% of the proceeds from the sale were used for ministry. For more information on how you can make a gift of appreciated stock to your favorite church or United Methodist ministry, please find the most current securities processing form on our website at Instructions for Gifting Stock. Be sure to call us or send us a copy of the form so that we can process your gift as quickly as possible. |
Giving for the Glory of God “Imagine the President of the United States and the Committee on Ways and Means sending out jugs, mugs, boxes, barrels, eggs, and buttons with their pictures on them to catch pennies to meet the fiscal needs of the great government of the United States! Imagine the different states and counties holding fairs, festivals, concerns, and ice cream socials. With women cooking, sewing, and acting so that each community may meet its apportionment! This would disgrace any earthly government in its own eyes and the eyes of the nations. Yet this is what Christians are doing year by year to finance the Kingdom of God!” -from Gems of Thought on Tithing, published 1911 ------------------- The early Hebrews mentioned only crops and herds in their base for a tithe. Later when the people settled and started raising olives and grapes, products such as oil and wine were included in the base. A generation or two ago people could not conceive of anything but cash as the base for a tithe. But with more people investing in the stock market, and in real estate, people can now consider tithing other assets as well. For more information on giving with assets other than cash, please contact our office! |
#265 Giving means thinking positively. “Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times.” (Ephesians 5:16 The Message) Tax time is upon us. Aside from the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year for many people. For many it means paying at least a bit more to pay that bill in full. Still others are excited to finish the task because they’ve been planning and looking forward to the “gift” they’re receiving with their refund. The number one reason for marital breakdown is financial conflict. Therefore, tax time is also the time to take extra care in your relationships as you review receipts, checkbooks, and 1040 forms. Even if you didn’t lose your job in the recession, chances are you’re worried about the economy and how it may affect you and those you love. What about your church? How are those in your church weathering the financial storm of the last few years? Has the recession provided new opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry? Or, has it encouraged conflict and “blaming” to run rampant in meetings and parking lot conversations? Remember that when finances are tight, tempers tend to be short. How can we be care-full in our ministry? Let’s remember that the primary mission of the church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Strive to proclaim the good news we proclaim on Easter Sunday, “He is Risen! Christ is risen indeed!” Perhaps in these difficult times, we might do as Paul instructed the Ephesians to “make the most of every chance we get” to live the love that is ours through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are “desperate times,” so let’s outdo one another in love when we’re tempted to give in to the “crabby bug.” Pastors and leaders can only work with the resources at hand. Whether you still have a well-paying job, you’re unemployed, retired, or you’ve settled for a lesser-paying job, together let’s find a way to give our time, talent, and treasures to say “THANK YOU” to God for the blessings we’ve received. |
Former Wisconsin Governor, Lee Dreyfus, is pictured here next to his 7-foot-tall monument, carved in the shape of Wisconsin. The simple epitaph etched into the red granite stone is, “Tithe Your Time.” Dreyfus died on January 2, 2008. He was raised with the expectation of public service. In 1980 he said, “You gave time to the church, you gave time to the needs of the public. It was absolutely taught by my mother and father that you give, and if you had more capability, you were obligated to give more.” Many people ask how they might give in times like these when the giving gets tough. Some ideas for “tithing your time” include
For more year-round stewardship ideas, feel free to contact the Foundation.
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#265 Giving means thinking positively. “Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times.” (Ephesians 5:16 The Message) Tornados in the Midwest, tsunamis and earthquakes around the world, spring floods on the East Coast and along the Mississippi River, state and national budget controversies, rising gas prices … the past few months definitely feel like desperate times. The apostle Paul writes, “Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times.” How will we as United Methodists make the most of every chance we get during these desperate times? For one thing, we’ve just come through another tax season. I’m always amazed that no matter what kind of a year we’ve had – good or bad – we always find a way to pay our taxes. If you examine your tax return and you wish you had given Jesus a bit more so that you could give Uncle Sam a bit less, we invite you to consider starting now for next year. “Resurrect your finances” during the Easter season. Here are some suggestions:
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A Story of Two Seas There are two seas in the Land of Israel. One is fresh and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it, and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters. Children play along its shores. The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And people build their homes near to it, birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is here. The River Jordan flows on south into another sea. Here there is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, and no children’s laughter. The air hangs heavy above its waters and neither people nor animals will drink here. What makes this mighty difference in these seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not the country “round about.” This is the difference: The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure. The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps. The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. There are two seas in the Land of Israel. From ”The New Mahzor " for Rash Hashanah and Yom Kippur |
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#267 Giving is an expression of love and gratitude. -- “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul…there was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold…and it was distributed to each as any had need. When my son was a toddler, he had a favorite song about all the pockets on his overalls. Whenever he lost something, we always checked all five pockets on his bib overalls and, eventually, we’d find the missing treasure! If the Sunday offerings in your church aren’t quite enough to meet the ministry challenge Christ has given you, don’t give up! Keep looking! Have you checked all the potential pockets of income? Our annual income is one “pocket.” It may be that up-front pocket that’s most visible. But, what about the other “pockets” we might check? Have you ever considered checking the “pockets” that hold your non-cash assets when considering gifts to the church? Did you know you can make gifts of appreciated stock to your church? By processing gifts of stock through the Foundation Office, you can avoid paying any commission or selling fees, allowing you to make a larger gift to the church! You also avoid paying any capital gains taxes when you use stock to make a gift. Have you considered donating “obsolete” life insurance policies that might have been purchased long ago for a reason that no longer exists? What a wonderful hidden treasure! Would you consider giving the cash saved in a Certificate of Deposit to establish a Charitable Gift Annuity? By making a gift with a CD, you can receive a guaranteed annuity payment each year for the rest of your life. Call our office for the current rates. Another “pocket” often overlooked is real estate. You can turn assets of property or stock into a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. The trust will pay you 5-8% of the market value of the fund each year for the rest of your life. And, the church and any other qualified non-profit charities you designate will receive a significant gift at the time of your death. Call us for details on how we can help. That’s our ministry! |
Biblical Stewardship Principle: Giving is an expression of love and gratitude. Quotes for Bulletins/Newsletters: “The measure of our commitment is not in how much we give, but in how much we hold back.” Bradley Call “Giving is the lifeblood of happy living.” Todd Parrish “The joy of giving is often overlooked as the giving of joy.” David Barton “Giving is an investment in pleasure.” Cecil Green
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#268 To give is to Respond Gratefully. This summer is shaping up to be a roller coaster ride of temperatures, with at least two weeks so far where we have a 40 or more degree swing in the temperatures. Unfortunately, the summer also tends to be a roller coaster ride of church attendance and income as well. Our church giving shows our priorities as well. If we plan to put God first, let’s choose to say thank you to God with the first check we write each week, month, or pay period. If we give 5% or 10% or more of everything we have back to God, we still have 90-95% to care for our needs and wants. When the weather is too hot for comfort, we can rest assured that the offerings we make in thanks for God’s love are changing lives. They are helping bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of children and youth who participate in our conference camps. They are helping countless children and leaders know the love of Jesus whether it’s hot, cold, or just right during Vacation Bible Schools in June, July and August. And they are offering a helping hand to those in need who are suffering from tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and wild fires. So even if you are busy with family, fireworks and food on July 4th this year, take the risk of putting God first in your life this summer. Make the first check or payment you write payable to the church to help you say “thank you” for the blessings you’ve received. You might also consider making your gifts through online banking or setting up an automatic payment through your church. Or go to our website at www.wumf.org and make your donation online. We’ll send 100% of your donation to your church or any other ministry you choose. |
Biblical Stewardship Principal: To give is to Respond Gratefully. My dad would sit down at the kitchen table on Saturday evenings, write a check, and put it in the envelope. Then he would set it on the corner of the kitchen counter next to his car keys. That’s it. He never said anything to my brother and me about stewardship, about giving to God, about the importance of sharing. He just did it. He never missed. He still does it every Saturday night. It’s a powerful memory, and it continues. I did not inherit my dad’s organizational skills, nor more honestly, his faithfulness. I have been known to search my purse for a pen while the ushers were coming down the aisle, or to fill out my check for the offering while the pastor was recapping the Gospel lesson. If by some chance the plate went by before I finished – more times than I care to admit – that week’s offering never made it anywhere. But I still remember that envelope sitting by the car keys. And some weeks I lay my own witness on the kitchen counter for my kids to see. I might even write a bigger check to “catch up.” It’s not a have-to it’s a want-to something from my past that allows me to be faithful. - Barbara DeGrote From The Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry, Vol. 3 by Donald Joiner and Norma Wimberly, page 170.Copyright 1997 by Abingdon Press |
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#269 “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21-28) We’ve often heard that generosity is contagious! On May 22, 2011 an EF-5 tornado, the single deadliest tornado in more than 60 years, struck Joplin, MO killing 150 people and leaving total devastation in its wake. When Andy Steger of Waupun, WI saw the images on the news he said, “It looked like an atomic bomb went off in there. I was sobbing and I’ve never gotten that emotional about an event like that... I think it was God calling out and saying ‘Hey Andy, you need to do something here buddy.’” Andy and his wife, Amie, were inspired by God’s call to do something for these people. Andy made several arrangements, including finding a relief agency that would accept the various donations they secured. Originally they planned on taking a U-Haul down to Joplin. Instead, they collected enough to fill a full-size semi with clothing, bedding, water bottles, toys, soap, and other supplies as well as $7,500 in cash donations. Andy and Amie never imagined their efforts would result in such a miraculous outpouring of hope. Yet from the beginning they trusted God would bless their gifts and use them to perform miracles of Christ’s love. How is God calling you to give and serve? What is your passion? What moves you to tears and pushes you to the point of knowing you just have to make a difference? Never underestimate what Christ can do through you. And if you feel called to give a gift to assist the Joplin Tornado Relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (or 2011 Flood Relief), you can make a gift through your church or go to www.wumf.org and click the DONATE button now. 100% of your gifts will go to assist persons in need. Remember… Generosity is contagious! |
A growing congregation needs so many things. Just like toddlers or teenagers who keep growing out of their clothes and need bigger shoes. We need updated equipment for study, a variety of experiences for spiritual growth, and opportunities to reach out to the world around us. Sometimes we hear folks say, “The church should do that!” or “The church will take care of that!” But who is the church? We are. When it moves forward, we are a part of that movement. When it stalls, we are part of the slow-down. When it achieves victories, we are victorious. The church is not “they”. The same fact applies to the church’s financial strength. Our financial commitments and gifts are the primary tools and resources the church has for doing the ministry of Christ in the world today. We… You and I… All of us together are the church. What is God calling us to give so the church can grow? |
#270 The amount you give should be in proportion to what you receive. “Teach your children right from wrong and when they area grown they will still do right.” Pr. 22.6 School has started, again, and children everywhere are learning the wonders of addition and subtraction. These are lessons that begin in the earliest grades and carry us through the rest of our lives. They are also lessons we use as we live our faith through our financial giving. Do you teach the children around you about how to say “thank you” to God by giving a portion of everything you have back to God? Consider: Do you manage your finances or do your finances manage you? One of the keys to becoming a good steward is learning to manage your money. Call it a budget or whatever … you must plan how you spend, or you will continue to be a victim of marketing, commercials, and impulse purchasing. Good stewards start by setting aside “God’s Share”, then the necessities of life, and finally discretionary items. Poor stewards do it in the exact opposite order. Good stewardship brings peace and contentment. Poor stewardship leads to chaos and crises. Listen and pray. Try to find out what God is calling you to do and model for the children around you! |
Ten Rules for Happier Living I wish I knew who penned these rules for happier living. They’ve been repeated often, but they are wise words for us as we seek to live in the spirit of generosity.
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#247 Giving involves your whole self; including all you have and all you accumulate in your lifetime. “Zaccheus said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’” Zaccheus quickly learned the meaning of the teachings of Jesus is that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.” Like children who “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF”, he experienced the joy of being able to give to others who are in need. Donors who establish a Charitable Gift Annuity through the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation also experience this joy. A Charitable Gift Annuity allows you to make a gift to your favorite United Methodist ministry or local church and receive a fixed annuity payment for the rest of your life, or for the duration of your life and the life of your spouse. The payment you receive is a fixed percentage of your gift and is based upon your age. You can also receive a charitable deduction for a portion of the gift you make. At the time of your death, 80% of the remaining funds in your account will be sent to the church or charity you designate. Examples of the 2011-2012 single life rates are:
Charitable Gift Annuities can be established with gifts of as little as $2,000. For more information, please call our office. Please have information regarding your age, the age of your joint annuitant (if applicable) and your income tax bracket ready to share, in confidence, with a member of our staff. |
Giving Is … sharing. Getting ready for Halloween usually means finding a costume, appropriate make-up and the biggest goodie bag ever. Halloween celebrations can also be a time to teach children (and adults) about giving, when you invite them to “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” Children become very excited about this opportunity to help less fortunate children to have clean water to drink, medicine, and warm blankets. Once they’ve been invited to turn the rather greedy tradition of trick-or-treating into a way to help “the least of these”, children seem grateful for the chance to give. And those they visit on Halloween tend to respond with enthusiasm and gratitude as well. Let’s not overlook the ways our children can be encouraged to be good stewards and leaders in living the gospel of Christ among us, throughout the upcoming holiday season. In order to make Halloween count this year, visit the following website: youth.unicefusa.org where you can order collection boxes, or to print out a canister wrapper to create your own collection container. Then go door-to-door on Halloween and “Trick or Treat for UNICEF”, or create your own fundraiser. Ask everyone to help you raise money for kids around the world! Once you've collected the money, send it to UNICEF to help save kids’ lives. Print out a donation form off the website and then send it with a check or money order to: Giving Is … sharing. “God's gifts and God's call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29 NIV |
#272 Giving breaks the temptation of greed. “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7a) Are you 70-1/2 or older?
If you are, what ministries are you most passionate about? Don and Sandi always wanted to see a youth minister in place at their church. When they learned they could make a distribution directly to their church from their Traditional IRA to provide the seed money to start this ministry, they decided to tithe their IRA. A few other members of their church joined them in this effort, and now the youth ministry position is funded for the next five years. The IRA Rollover is a special giving option that is only available through December 31, 2011 to persons 70-1/2 and older. Call your IRA administrator today and request to have your Required Minimum Distribution for 2011 (or a gift of your choice up to a maximum of $100,000) sent directly to your local church (or other charity). This gift will benefit the ministry you have designated and will NOT be included in your gross income for tax purposes. What types of IRAs qualify?Only Traditional and Roth IRAs qualify. When? Now through December 31, 2011. Where can I make Qualified Charitable Distributions from my IRA? Only to qualified public charities. All United Methodist Churches and United Methodist Ministries are qualified public charities: UMCOR, any of our Health and Welfare Ministries, UM Camps, or Advance Specials. You may make an outright gift or make a gift that establishes a permanent endowment fund. For more information, see the sample letter on the reverse side or contact the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation. |
Sample Letter/Email to IRA Custodian – Valid through Dec. 31, 2011 Date Dear IRA Custodian, The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, effective from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011, permits a rollover directly from an IRA to a qualified public charity. As the owner of IRA account #________________that is in the custody of your organization, I request that you transfer from that account the sum of $________to __________United Methodist Church located at: It is my intention to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to _________United Methodist Church from my IRA. It is also my intention that this distribution ___ will / ___ will not (choose one) fulfill part or all of my IRA required minimum distribution for this year. This letter is sufficient authorization for you to make this QCD gift. However, if you require any further documents, please promptly send those to me. Cordially yours, Name of Donor
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#273 Give to Grow Spiritually – "For a child has been born -- for us! ... and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings." (Isaiah 9:6-7, The Message.) Jesus is counting on us – all of us – to care for all the children of the world this Christmas season. How do we as United Methodists do that best? A) By ringing bells in our community for the Salvation Army red pots. B) By providing items for the food pantry. C) By paying our apportionments in full this year… or, D) all of the above are great ways to live our faith this holiday season! When we place our holiday gifts in the church’s offering plates, 84.6 cents of every dollar, on average, will remain in our local church to provide for utilities, building maintenance, pastoral and staff salaries, children’s and youth ministries, etc. Another 12.7 cents out of every dollar we give will provide signs of hope to children, youth and adults who participate in the ministries of Northcott Neighborhood House, United Methodist Children’s Services, Harbor House Crisis Shelters, our United Methodist camps, Jr. and Sr. High Youth CONVOs and campus ministries on ten different campuses. Signs of hope are shared through over 1,000 mission personnel supported through the General Board of Global Ministries in over 150 countries, for just 2.7 cents out of every dollar given.As United Methodists we are connected. We are called to Give, Live, and Love……Beyond all Expectations! We see that vision come alive when our people respond to disastrous events and the ongoing need to share the hope and love of Christ throughout the world. Even as energy costs continue to rise and the economy remains uncertain, we have the sure and certain hope that our God is with us and gives us the grace we need to share the love of Christ with the world. As United Methodists let’s celebrate the many ways hope is shared through our connectional giving this holiday season. |
Ways to Grow in Generosity with Children During Advent, give them each a “charitable certificate” for a certain amount per day ($1.00/day = $25, $2.00/day = $50) or whatever sum feels right. Ask them to decide by Christmas what good cause to give it to. Then give it in their names. You get the deduction but they get the thank-you note. It could help them to see how fortunate they are, and to spark in them the joy of giving. Here is a sample:
As we wait for Jesus’ birthday this year, your Christmas gift to him includes a gift of $_______ per day from December 1-25, for a total of $__________. Please decide by Christmas, which good cause you want to receive this gift. We can talk about it together if you want. It is up to you how you will help others know the love of Jesus through this gift. Merry Christmas, with Love FROM:
Websites to Consider when choosing a charity – |
