I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what you will. Rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing; put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full. Or let me be empty. Let me have all things. Or let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. Amen

-John Wesley

Stewardship

To be a steward is to exercise good care over what you have been entrusted with. As United Methodists, we are called to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our service, and our gifts.

Prayers

Stewardship includes regularly being in prayer for your church and for others around the world. There is no gift greater than our relationship with the living God. Prayer is about listening to God, seeking God's will, and pouring out to our loving God the deep longings of our hearts. It includes setting aside time to reflect on the needs of your church family and to seek direction from God about how you should respond to these needs. Take time to talk with church members about their prayer lives and share your prayer life with them. It is through prayer that we seek to know God’s will for our lives and to respond faithfully.

Stewardship Prayer
You call us to be the stewards of Your abundance,
the caretakers of all You have entrusted to us.
Help us always to use Your gifts wisely
and teach us to share them generously.
May our faithful stewardship bear witness to
the love of Christ in our lives.
We pray with grateful hearts, in Jesus' name.
Amen.

Presence

We are vital members of a community of faith, the Aldersgate UMC family. Because of that we are called to be physically present at the church and at ministries that occur beyond the church walls. We are encouraged to regularly attend worship on Saturday or Sunday, and attend other activities like Sunday school, Bible studies, and mission activities that enrich our faith. We need to keep attuned to what is going on the in the life of our church family. Some great tools for staying attuned are the monthly church newsletter, the announcements page of the Sunday Bulletin, and the church’s website.

Current Activities

Service

Stewardship includes the gift of your time and talents to the church. Each of us is unique: our talents and abilities, interests, personalities, likes and passions were given to us by our Heavenly Father so that we may serve and minister to one another. God intends for us to know and enjoy our gifts and to share them willingly. When we do so, we discover joy and peace in serving others.

Every ministry of the church depends on volunteers. To identify where your time and/or talent is needed most, talk to staff members and other church leaders. Read the church newsletter, Sunday Bulletin, and church website. Don’t hide your talents! If you believe you are short on talent, offer yourself to an area of interest and then see what God can do. Your availability and openness to learn something new is all that is required for most ministries.

Give the valuable gift of your time. Through working together, we build community and fully experience what it means to be part of a church family. Together, our ability to make a positive impact on our neighborhoods and the entire world is greatly enhanced.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Gifts

Every church depends on the financial support of its members - Aldersgate is no different. We are only able to carry out our mission because of the support of all those who contribute to it in large ways and small.

Sharing our treasure isn't simply about writing a check. It is about sharing the gifts God has given us, and it's about our spiritual need to thank God for all we have. God's gifts enrich our lives; our stewardship enriches the lives of others.

Each year, normally in the Fall, an operating budget campaign is conducted in which the church leadership asks for pledges of financial support for the coming calendar year. Your pledge to the Operating Budget of the church sustains the basic ministries of the church. If you have not pledged to the church we ask that you do. If you are a new member please don’t wait until the next Stewardship drive to pledge. Our church budget is very tight; every dollar matters!

Download a 2010 Pledge Card

Why Should I Pledge?

Pledges are vital in aiding the leadership of the church to make budget decisions. For most persons the act of pledging means that they are willing to make sacrifices for their church, because the church is a priority. Some persons who do not pledge still give sacrificially. Some people who don’t pledge simply give the church some of the money that they have left over. God calls us to give more than leftovers. It can be tough to make regular disciplined gifts to the church, yet it is a glorious act. If this is a struggle for you, ask persons in the church who have faced this struggle what it was like when they first made a gift to the church that required a significant sacrifice.

Can I Change my Pledge?

Yes! Your pledge is a contract between you and God, and is held in confidence at the church. It is not a binding contract between you and the church. If you need to change your pledge amount at any time, contact the church financial office and the church leaders will then make modifications to the budget as needed. If you have an unexpectedly good financial year, consider making a special year-end gift to the church.

Offering Envelopes

If you are sitting in a Worship Service and you want to give a cash gift, consider placing the gift in an offering envelope and writing your name on the envelope. This will permit us to credit the cash gift to your pledge and provide you with accurate tax records.

What About Electronic Funds Transfer?

You can set up electronic funds transfer at any time. Stop by the office and request an electronic transfer form or click the link below. This offers many advantages:

There is no need to write checks.
It is easy to keep track of where you are in your contributions, without having to account for being out of town or wondering whether you’ve forgotten a contribution or contributed twice.
You save paper and envelopes.

Electronic Fund Transfer Form

Can I Donate Online?

Yes! It is now possible for you to initiate an electronic funds transfer online, one time or recurring, at any time. Simply click on the "Donate" link below, or use the navigation at the top of every page.

Donate