Annual giving, often known as pledging, is a vital part of your participation as a faithful member of St. Paul's Church. All Christians are called to contribute a portion of their time, talent, and treasure toward the work of the church. The easiest way to give to St. Paul's is to become involved with one of our specific ministries, and to make a financial pledge. Pledging is crucial in enabling St. Paul's to plan its ministries in advance and it provides a stable financial base for the support of our programs. Pledging also reflects our prayerful response to God's call to be good stewards of our material possessions.

Every fall during the Annual Operating Fund Campaign, members of St. Paul's are asked to make their pledges. Those joining St. Paul's during the year can pledge at any time by filling out a pledge card and submitting it to the church office or putting it in the offering plate.

Pledges can be paid weekly, monthly, or annually, in cash, by check, or by securities. The size of the pledge is less important than your willingness to commit a definite amount towards the support of God's work in this community.

Your pledge to St. Paul's is important. By pledging, you support our Sunday School, our worship services, the day-to-day care of our buildings, our ministries to those in need, and our ministries to each other. Your pledge goes to the formation of Christians, young and old, to the making of disciples, and to the building up of the fellowship and community of St. Paul's.

Giving to God at St. Paul's Church:
Your pledge is an affirmation of your relationship to God. It demonstrates your gratitude for all the blessings in your life, and your acceptance of the reality that all we have, all that we experience, are God's gifts to us. Our support for the ministries of St. Paul's Church returns a portion of God's gracious gifts so that the work we are called to do can effectively be accomplished, and so that our individual relationships to God can grow.

As a practical matter, your pledge enables parish leadership to prudently plan and budget for mission and ministry. Should you find yourself in circumstances that alter your ability to fulfill your pledge in one way or another, it can be increased or decreased simply by notifying Katherine Murphy in the parish office (703-549-3312).

The standard for giving at St. Paul's is the Biblical tithe of 10% of income. All parishioners are called to tithe or to be working toward a tithe.

The amount of your pledge in relation to a tithe is a prayerful decision that only you can make. As you pray and plan for your pledge, please remember the concept of first fruits: a tithe - or a percentage working toward a tithe - becomes the first item in one's budget.