Stewardship 2024
Make your pledge to the Rehoboth Congregational church for the 2024 year!
WILL YOU HELP RCC GET READY?
Will you help get RCC ready?
An Interim Pastor’s Encouragement
An Interim Pastor's EncouragementYour gift, your pledge, supports RCC working to be a place where there is faith, hope, love, compassion – qualities so needed in our world of so much discouragement and pain. Your gift also supports this time of re-building and refocusing. An interim time is a time for reflection, a time to regroup, and a time for a congregation to gain greater clarity about who God calls us to be. It is also a time to prepare for what Is yet to come, largely unknown. We trust that God is indeed “working God’s purpose out”. It is an act of faith to give to a church at any time, but perhaps particularly in this interim time. I know you to be a generous church. Your Sunday School teaches Love in Action. You support each other so well. Your mission efforts are ongoing and amazing! It is for good reason you are known in the community for being a church that cares. I know you want to keep this going! As the spiritual says, “C’mon, Rise up, Get Ready”. Our faith that a new chapter is indeed unfolding has an active side to it. So please do give as best you are able… that the good work done here might strengthen and grow!
~ Reverend Helen Nablo, Interim Pastor
A Note From The Search Committee
As we move forward towards calling a new settled pastor in 2024, it is crucially important that the church is in the best possible financial situation we can be. We need to be able to offer a fair and competitive salary package to any potential top candidate, and we can only do that with a strong budget, which emerges from a strong stewardship campaign. As you think about your pledge for this upcoming year, please remember that your pledge will go beyond this year - we need to be ready, with your help, to move forward into a new era here at RCC. We are excited to think about where we are headed, and we hope you are too. Rise up, come on, and get ready with us!
RCC MONEY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ever been curious how RCC raises and spends money?
Hopefully the answers to your questions can be found here!
FINANCIAL OFFICERS
While the Executive Board recommends a budget to the congregation for approval and oversees spending throughout the year, we do have Financial Officers that are responsible for handling the day-to-day fiscal responsibilities at the church.
Chief Financial Officer - HELEN DAVIS – cfo@rehobothcongregational.org
The Chief Financial Officer oversees all our accounts, investments, and budgets. If you have any general questions about the budget or our finances, contact Helen!
Financial Secretary – TIFFANY RYAN – financialsecretary@rehobothcongregational.org
The Financial Secretary is responsible for deposits. If you have any questions about the status of your pledge, setting up electronic giving or anything else regarding monetary donations to the church, contact Tiffany!
Treasurer – Jane Williams – treasurer@rehobothcongregational.org
The Treasurer is responsible for paying bills, submitting payroll, reimbursements and providing budget balances. If you have a question about reimbursement checks or your committee's budget balance, contact Jane!
INCOME FAQS
RCC must have bills, like any other business or household. Where does the money come from to pay those bills? Most of the necessary income for our operating expenses come from pledges through stewardship campaigns, just like this one! Approximately 70% of the income for our operating budget comes from pledges, gifts and other offerings from individuals and families. The rest of the income for our operating budget comes from miscellaneous donations, fundraising and the bazaar, building usage and investments. The proceeds from the sale of the parsonage in 2018 went into an investment fund and we receive a monthly allowance that provides half of the Pastor's housing allowance. The other half comes from money re-allocated from previously budgeted parsonage expenses.
What is RCC’s fiscal year? We operate on a January-December fiscal year. Budgets for the following year are prepared in the fall and voted on by our members at our annual meeting in December.
Does the church have an endowment that can help with some of its bills? Yes; the church does have an several investments that yield income annually. But, due to restrictions that were put in place when the money was donated, most of the income is not accessible for use in our operating budget. The money is used in other areas of the church – some examples include building projects, scholarships, mission donations and special music. We do get a small amount of money (approximately $10,000 annually) that can be used in the operating budget from the Elsie Carpenter Endowment.
Does RCC receive financial support from a national or regional church or denomination? No; the national and regional United Church of Christ organizations provide certain non-financial resources to RCC, but no financial support. RCC pays a small amount to both national and regional United Church of Christ organizations to support their operations.
PLEDGING FAQS
I donate on a regular basis. Why is it important that I pledge? Pledges are crucial to the budgeting process at our church. Over 50% of the income for our operating budget comes directly from income pledged during our stewardship campaign, so we need this number to be as accurate as possible.
Does my pledge amount or donation affect my standing at RCC? No; neither membership nor opportunities to serve are contingent on you pledging a certain amount.
How much should I pledge? Is there a specific amount required or recommended percentage of income? We ask members and friends to be generous with their pledges, considering the value of RCC and the importance of its mission, along with how much they can give. There is not a required amount or percentage of income.
Is my pledge an enforceable contract? What if I am uncertain about the future and am reluctant to pledge? Your pledge is not an enforceable contract. While we ask that all pledges reflect a real intent to donate, if you have a change in circumstance throughout the year, you can change your pledge at any time during the year by contacting Tiffany Ryan, our Financial Secretary.
If I make a pledge, how often do I have to donate? It depends on what works best for you. Some people choose to make one payment annually and others donate weekly or monthly. If you would like weekly envelopes, please indicate that on your pledge form!
Can I submit a one-time gift or prepay my pledge (i.e. donate money before December 31, 2023 for tax or other reason but have it apply towards the 2023 budget)? Yes, but please fill out a pledge card so we will be directed to apply your donation towards the 2024 budget. For individual tax purposes, all checks mailed before the end of 2023 WILL be deposited before the year-end!
ELECTRONIC GIVING FAQS
I am so bad at writing checks! Is there any way I can set up automatic donations? Yes! Many of our members utilize and enjoy the convenience of electronic giving through Breeze. Breeze is a church management software that we transitioned to that includes an option for electronic giving. With Breeze, your bank information is safe and secure. If you are interested in signing up for electronic giving, please fill out the necessary information on your pledge card and include a voided check when you submit it.
I already give electronically. Do I need to fill out a new electronic giving authorization form? Yes; sorry we know that’s a pain!
READY TO PLEDGE FAQS
I am ready to pledge! What do I have to do next? Great! Either fill out the pledge form linked below or download a paper version here and mail is back to the church office (Rehoboth Congregational Church • P.O. Box 325 • Rehoboth, MA 02769) OR fill out this online pledge form which can be found by visiting our website: rehobothcongregational.org/pledge.
When are pledge forms due back? Please return pledge forms by Sunday, October 30, 2023.
“Rise up, come on and get ready! O people, rise up, get ready, your light is come.
Hear the prophet calling in the desert land, “The Kingdom of God is now at hand.” So lift up your eyes and see the sign.
Your light is coming now arise and shine!”