One of the special gifts that God has given us is the vibrant community of St. John's Church. Through its many opportunities for worship and service to others, and through its ministries of fellowship, education, and spiritual growth, St. John's Church nurtures and sustains each of us in numerous ways. By giving back to the Church, you help to ensure that these ministries will continue to reach many people both close to home and far away.

To sustain and strengthen St. John's Church, the Vestry and Stewardship Committee ask every parishioner to pledge for the coming year. If you have pledged before, we ask you to continue your commitment to this congregation and prayerfully consider increasing your pledge. If you have not pledged before, we ask you to join in our mutual commitment to maintain and strengthen this Christian community for the future.

A pledge is a spiritual decision and a spiritual discipline. It is a joyful thanksgiving for God’s grace in our lives and our way of doing God’s work at home and in the world. Pledge income is essential to the ministries of St. John’s Church – worship, staff, programs, and the property. In 2016, pledges accounted for more than 80% of our operating budget and all annual giving combined accounts for over 90% of our operating budget.

Thinking in terms of a pledge as a proportion of your income rather than a dollar amount helps you focus on your relationship with God. Proportional giving makes it easy to see the relative importance of charitable giving in your life and also has built-in flexibility for any ups and downs in your personal situation. As you prosper, you give more at the same percentage level. If your income is lower, you give less in dollars while maintaining the same percentage.

A pledge pyramid has also been constructed below from 2016 pledges. For some, this pyramid is a helpful starting point of comparison with others who have pledged to St. John's Church. We are hoping that you consider stretching to the next pledge range this year.

Most parishioners pledge by giving money on a weekly or monthly basis, while others make a one-time gift. In some cases, pledges are pre-paid for the next year in whole or in part for tax planning purposes. Some also meet their pledges by donating appreciated stock directly to St. John's Church. You can also give electronically using electronic bank transfers or a credit card. For information on E-giving, return to the homepage of the website and look for the E-giving icon.

Our annual Every Member Commitment campaign is the primary source for providing the financial resources necessary to continue the worship, education, pastoral ministries, and outreach that mean so much to so many. Continued excellence requires greater commitment.