Worship is more than what we do. It also includes why we do it. That’s the point of Matthew 6:1-4, which was our sermon passage from last Sunday. Jesus taught us not to give so that others can see it and give us praise. Instead, we give in secret because God alone is the audience of our worship.
The purpose of this post is to talk a little more about the nuts and bolts of giving while we’re unable to gather together in person.
Giving in General:
Even as much of the world closes down around us, our mission continues and that means our expenses continue too. So many of you have already stepped up and we thank you for it. Your continued faithfulness is a wonderful blessing to this church.
Even though we won’t collect an offering during service on Sundays for a while, you can continue to worship God through your giving. You can mail checks to the church office (5146 Dickerson Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22911) or drop them by during business hours.
You can also give online. As a note about online giving, the service we use charges 3% on each gift we receive but you have the option to add that 3% fee to your gift by clicking the “Cover Fees” box at the bottom. Please consider doing this if you decide to give online.
Giving to the Mercy Fund:
The mercy fund is a separate bank account that is designated to help people in need. It’s a way to care for people in our congregation as well as people in our community because we want to give to others as generously as Jesus has given to us. Every Christmas Eve, we take up a collection that replenishes this fund. But did you know you can give to the mercy fund year-round?
COVID-19 presents new challenges and struggles for our community. Some employees face a furlough if their companies don’t reopen soon. Other employees have already found themselves without work. Small business owners wonder how they’re going to get by while they consider closing their doors for an indefinite period of time. The list of needs goes on and we want to be there to help.
If you’re able to give above and beyond your regular giving, please consider contributing to the mercy fund. Your gift will help us be a blessing to others. One avenue is to mail a check to the church office with “Mercy Fund” on the memo line. You can also give to the mercy fund online. You’ll notice a “To:” box next to the giving amount where you can select the destination for your giving. One of those options is the mercy fund.
If you’re struggling, there’s absolutely no shame in asking for help. Seriously - that’s what family is for. Please reach out to any of the deacons or you can contact me and I’ll get you in touch.
We’re here to care for each other. If you have a little extra, please use it to support your brothers and sisters in need. If you find yourself lacking, come lean on your church family for help.