 WHY SHOULD I
MAKE A PLEDGE
TO SAINT GEORGE
CATHEDRAL?
TO BE HONEST, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THIS A
PECULIAR QUESTION, BUT IT’S ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED
AND ALL OF US SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWER. IN ORDER TO
ANSWER IT, LET’S LOOK TO THE SCRIPTURES.
-
In the Book of Acts, we are informed that the New Testament community, after the Feast of Pentecost, “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)
According to the Biblical model, the Church (i.e. God’s House) is the place to which people came in order to be “fed”. It is the place where they were taught; where they socialized; where they were fed; and where they prayed. If we think about it, that description is no different than a description of what we do in our own homes. Therefore, the Church is our home!
-
“O Lord, I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwells.” (Psalm 26:8)
Having established that the Church is our home, we affirm that we love to inhabit this home, the home
where God’s glory dwells.
- In his Epistles, St. Paul frequently instructs his readers to contribute to the needs of the Saints.
In his Epistles, St. Paul uses “Saints” to mean the Churches.
When St. Paul talks about contributing to the needs of the Saints,
(Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 Corinthians 9:12) it’s a challenge
to contribute to the Church. According to the Bible, the Church is supported by the people who call it home!
HOW DO I DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF MY
PLEDGE TO SAINT GEORGE CATHEDRAL?
In
the Pledge Packet that you received in the mail, there was a table
describing how the parishioners of our God-protected community should
determine their minimum pledge amount. For your convenience, we are reprinting this table here. Let us remind you of how to use this table.
First, prayerfully ask for God’s guidance in making your commitment to
His House; second, determine the total amount that you gave in 2009 for
your Pledge and Archdiocese Assessment combined; check the table and
find your household income range in order to determine the minimum
amount that is recommended for your pledge; finally, make your pledge
accordingly, remembering that God challenges us to bring a “full tithe”
(10%) to His House.
|
Annual Income Range |
Suggested Minimum |
Compare to Tithing |
|
Under $20,000 |
$500-$600 |
|
|
$20,000-$35,000 |
$600-$1,050 |
$2,000-$3,500
|
|
$35,000-$50,000 |
$1,050-$1,500 |
$3,500-$5,000
|
|
$50,000-$75,000 |
$1,500-$2,250 |
$5,000-$7,500 |
|
$75,000-$100,000 |
$2,250-$6,000 |
$7,500-10,000
|
|
Over $100,000 |
Over $6,000 |
Over $10,000
|
What should I do?
-
If,
for example, my household income is $50,000, I should contribute in the
range of $1,500-$2,250 at a minimum, remembering that the goal is to
tithe (contribute 10%).
-
Everyone should contribute something &
everyone should contribute more than last year (even retirees, or those
on a fixed income, should contribute according to your financial
situation).
WHY? Because your increased contribution helps the Cathedral…
-
maintain the beauty of God’s House
-
eliminate the deficit that we have carried for the past couple of years
What if I tithe, but split it up between charities?
-
That is wonderful news! We hope and pray that the Cathedral and Holy Trinity Nursing Center are your primary charities!
SO…
Why should I make a Pledge to Saint George Orthodox Cathedral?
-
I should make a Pledge to the Cathedral because it is home!
How should I determine the amount of my Pledge to Saint George Orthodox Cathedral?
-
The amount of my Pledge should be determined by the extent to which I consider the Cathedral to be my home!
|
