Series Information
Series: Treasured Practices
Giving
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
WHY WE GIVE
In short, we give out of gratitude for God’s blessings. Tithes and offerings have been the primary way financial stewardship has been practiced by God’s people throughout scripture. The Bible challenges us to recognize that everything was created by God and is ultimately owned by God. We are simply the managers of these resources, and our finances are one of the key areas where we practice stewardship. Your financial generosity supports FUMC Saline’s mission to fulfill God’s work to further His kingdom and care for others.
YOUR GIFTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Of course, your giving allows us pay for things that may come to mind immediately – like lights, heat, maintenance and staff – but more importantly it makes a difference in the lives of children and adults in our community and around the world. The missions we support locally include Saline Area Social Services, the Salvation Army, and the Wesley Foundation for student ministries at U of M. Beyond our community we support missions such as Cass UMC Social Services, Operations Christmas Child, and Mobility MI Saline. Thank you for your generosity!
WAYS TO GIVE
GIVE ONLINE
We partner with VANCO for our online giving. Their system is secure and easy to use. Simply click the Online Giving button below to get started. You can set the frequency of recurring contributions in addition to making one-time special gifts. Giving methods include: (1) Automatic withdrawals from your bank account – the church is not assessed merchant fees on these transactions. (2) Credit and debit cards – you can choose to help cover the merchant fees assessed to the church on these transactions.
AUTOMATIC ACH WITHDRAWAL
This is a simple, cost-effective way to give. You designate the frequency and the amount to have withdrawn from your checking account via automatic bank/ACH withdrawal. Just complete the ACH Form below and return it to the church office to get started.
TEXT TO GIVE
Text the word GIVE to (734) 869-8052 to make a one-time or recurring contribution.
GIVE BY MAIL
You can mail your contribution to the First United Methodist Church of Saline office, 1200 N. Ann Arbor St., Saline, MI 48176.
GIVE IN PERSON
There are two drop boxes located in the rear of the sanctuary and two located in the balcony near the entrance doors where you can leave your contributions on a Sunday morning. Please use the pew envelopes if you’ve forgotten your offering envelope or don’t have one.
AUTOMATIC BANK BILL PAY
Automatic bill pay is a great way to set up recurring giving and there are no transaction or processing fees for the church. You will need to contact your bank directly for specific instructions on setting this up. Contributions should be made payable to First United Church of Saline and mailed to 1200 N. Ann Arbor St., Saline, MI 48176.
FAQ's
QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS
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If you are 70 ½ or older you can make charitable donations directly from your IRA. A direct gift from an IRA to a charity is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year, as long as certain rules are met. In addition to the benefits of giving to charity, a QCD excludes the amount donated from taxable income, which is unlike regular withdrawals from an IRA. Contact your investment advisor to initiate this transaction.
NON-CASH GIFTS
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Non-cash gifts of stocks, bonds, or other estate gift planning can provide you with some great tax benefits. Please contact our Financial Secretary, Michelle Grill, for stock giving instructions and other questions. Call Michelle at (734) 429-4730 or email her at .
OFFERING ENVELOPES
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If you prefer to mail in your offering or use the offering boxes in the sanctuary, please use our offering envelopes. You can request personal offering envelopes by calling the office or indicating your request on one of our pew envelopes. The envelopes will be mailed to you monthly. Please specify the amount and where you wish your contribution to be applied on the envelope. If nothing is checked, your contribution will automatically by applied to the General Fund.
PEW ENVELOPES
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If you forgot your envelope or don’t have offering envelopes yet, blank pew envelopes are available in every pew for your use. Simply fill out the envelope, insert your cash or check offering and place the envelope in our boxes located in the back of the sanctuary and in the balcony.
GIVING STATEMENTS
- Giving statements showing your contributions to date are issued quarterly and at the end of each calendar year. Quarterly statements are emailed to your email address on file and end of year statements are mailed first class. If we do not have your email address, your quarterly giving statement will be mailed first class. To ensure that you receive your giving statement, please be sure that we have your correct address on file.
QUESTIONS
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For further information about giving or church finances or to request a giving statement, please contact our Financial Secretary, Michelle Grill at or (734) 429-4730.
LEGACY GIVING
The Endowment Fund offers the opportunity to give a lasting bequest to the Church. In accordance with the fund charter, earnings from the fund are used for the promotion and development of religious, charitable and educational activities. Non-recurring programs and purposed (rather than regularly budgeted church expenses) are emphasized.
There are many benefits for charitable giving to the Endowment Fund. Your tax advisor, estate planner and attorney can help you determine the financial vehicle that most benefits you, your heirs, and the church. These vehicles may encompass annuities, trusts, charitable trusts, insurance proceeds, or gifts of stock, bonds and cash.
A legacy gift to the Endowment Fund offers the satisfaction of knowing your gift will continue working for God and for good forever.
For more information, contact the church office at (734) 429-4730.
FUMC Saline offers friends and family the opportunity to honor and remember a loved one who has passed away with a memorial gift. The gift is typically designated for a very special purpose and is used in a relatively short period of time. The Memorial Committee will help families find meaningful purposes for Memorial Gifts.
FUMC Saline currently offers several scholarships in recognition of academic achievement as well as church and community involvement. These scholarships are funded by endowment earnings, special offerings, fund raising and member contributions.
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The Upper Class Scholarship is awarded yearly to members or active participants of the church. The applicant must be enrolled in an accredited post high school institution and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Awards are made mid-August. Announcements of recipient(s) is made in the church newsletter and bulletin.
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The Carr Scholarship is given to one graduating senior of Saline High School who is also a member of record of FUMC Saline. The award is to assist the student in studies at an accredited secondary educational institution in the year following high school graduation. The award is announced near the end or May/early June to coincide with graduation Sunday.
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The Doub Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors enrolling in accredited higher educational institutions. This scholarship is in recognition of involvement in our church and community as well as their academic achievement. The award is announced near the end or May/early June to coincide with graduation Sunday.
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The Dorothy Bredernitz Trade School Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school students or current college or trade school students who are enrolled at a trade or professional school for the following year. The award is announced near the end or May/early June to coincide with graduation Sunday.
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The Jim and Linda Tuttle Christian Service Scholarship provides financial assistance to selected candidates who wish to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate education in preparation for a career in full-time Christian service. Whenever possible the award is announced near the end or May/early June to coincide with graduation Sunday.