Giving

We thank you for all you do to generously support our ministries at Annandale UMC. From feeding our neighbors to keeping the heat on in our sanctuary, we couldn't do it without you.

Each pledge is an act of faith—a way of casting our nets again at the Lord’s word, trusting that what we do in obedience will be met with abundance. Your giving enables us to share the Gospel that changes lives, to serve our neighbors, and to grow in grace together. This year, your pledge is especially vital as we look to expand our ministry—not only by strengthening our worship and congregational life, but also by deepening our outreach in the community through formation, mission, and evangelism.

Where does your money go when you give to the church?

Your gift is used to help fund  building and maintenance, worship and Sunday school classes, clergy and staff, office expenses and ministry programs. From turning on the lights to streaming our services on Sunday morning, your pledge makes an abundance of things happen at Annandale UMC.

Pledges allows us to plan with a degree of certainty what we can afford in next year’s budget. Pledges also represent our tangible support for God’s kingdom work here on Earth. It’s a way for us to celebrate God’s gift of grace and express our gratitude in return..

    “During one of the most difficult seasons of my life, [this church has] become a much anticipated gift-- a weekly unwrapping of grace, comfort, mercy, hope . . . . Jesus.”
— Sharon

Dear Church,
 
First a few stories:

On Sunday after worship, I listened as a relatively new member entrusted me with a story about a vision God gave him of his recently deceased wife. A miracle, he said. And Sunday was the first time he came forward for the sacrament without crying. The church has provided him an important community during his grief process.

On Sunday evening I spoke with two young adult women who worshipped with us for the first time. I confirmed them long ago and they’ve returned to the area. They expressed gratitude for the church’s hospitality on Sunday morning, and look forward to reconnecting their faith with a community.

And then there is this testimonial I received and included in my report for our annual charge conference. Sharon Hersh is a Professor of Pastoral Counseling in Colorado and joins us online every week.

A few of my friends now join me too. I am so grateful to have found a congregation that doesn’t make everything else we could discuss (debate!) the main thing. Oh, I’m glad the church doesn’t dumb down either the music or the sermons to a “seekers only “ level or jazz them up with a smoky stage show, but the leaders all thoughtfully and vulnerably proclaim what God is doing in the world and for me. In a day when it is easy to be mad at the church, I feel invited to throw my lot in with group of Methodists in Virginia. As a therapist, one of the questions that comes up most often in my office is, “Where is God?” Through the years I have told many-- the mom whose son is living on the streets of San Francisco addicted to meth, the pastor’s sons who was abused by his youth leader, the man who has got less than a year to live, the woman who has been labeled “crazy”, and even my local pastor-- branded a heretic because he believes God will actually get what he wants and save everyone: “There is this Methodist church in Virginia that actually preaches that God is better than we could imagine.

 
When we talk about stewardship— our shared ministry, our financial outlook, and the ways your giving makes all the difference— this is what we’re talking about. And it’s precisely because the gospel impacts people like those above for good that we are not afraid to talk about money in the church.

I want to thank Brad Todd for leading (again ) our annual stewardship campaign.
 
And I want to say thank you to everyone who has already made a pledge for the coming year.
 
Every pledge matters.
 
There was a season in the life of our denomination when the future seemed uncertain. But here at Annandale, uncertainty has given way to gratitude—because together, through your faithfulness, God is doing something remarkable in and through Annandale.
 
As Brad said Sunday, it reminds us of that Easter morning miracle story from the Gospel of John when the disciples, weary and uncertain, cast their nets one more time at the risen Jesus’ word. They didn’t know what the outcome would be, but they trusted the voice that called to them from the shore. When they cast their nets in faith, the nets were filled beyond measure.
 
And notice— it’s that very act of faith that enables them to see Jesus.

This season of stewardship is just such a moment for us.

Each pledge is an act of faith—a way of casting our nets again at the Lord’s word, trusting that what we do in obedience will be met with abundance. Your giving enables us to share the Gospel that changes lives, to serve our neighbors, and to grow in grace together.
 
This year, your pledge is especially vital as we look to expand our ministry—not only by strengthening our worship and congregational life, but also by deepening our outreach in the community through formation, mission, and evangelism.
 
You can submit your pledge by clicking here.
 
Let’s see if we can close out this campaign in no more than 3 weeks.
 
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we continue our series on the miracles God works among us.

Enjoy Your Forgiveness,
Jason

Q. What is Stewardship?
A. Stewardship means taking care of something that belongs to someone else. In an example from popular culture, in The Lord of the Rings, when the King of Gondor is in exile, a Steward rules in his place. In the Bible, we are called stewards of God’s creation. That means everything in creation belongs to God, not us. That includes our planet, our bodies, our fellow human beings, and our financial resources. And we are called to take care of those things for God and to wisely use those gifts for godly purposes.
Q. When I make a pledge, what will the money be used for?
A. Pledges in our annual stewardship campaign go towards the operating budget of the church. This includes all of the expenses that support day-to-day ministry at Annandale UMC. It covers things like Communion bread, livestreaming costs, local outreach, utilities, ministries, maintenance, and staff salaries The annual stewardship campaign is completely separate from capital campaigns, which raise dedicated funds for improvements and additions to our physical spaces.

Q. How much should I give?
A. Annandale UMC encourages our members to use the biblical standard of the tithe, or 10%, of annual income (Numbers 18:21). Of course, this is a decision for each household to reach prayerfully. We are grateful for all gifts. If you feel you can’t give at that level, we still encourage you to think about your giving in terms of percentage of income. If you’re retired or on a fixed income, a tithe might mean something different at this stage of life. The important thing is that God calls us to joyfully give towards the work of the church from what God has given us.