Stewardship

Our local congregation depends on the giving of our members and friends for our operating expenses to be met.  Each year in November our congregation meets to review the spending plan developed by the Consistory. We commit ourselves to it, but then as Thanksgiving and Christmas come, and a new year starts, we forget about it. Each month the Consistory reviews bills paid, offerings received, and struggles to make choices about what parts of our plan to keep and what parts to let go. We’d like to reach the point where our plan is fully supported through offerings, which would allow us to begin to explore additional staffing in the areas of youth and children, music and visitation.

From the Bible’s perspective, especially the New Testament perspective, giving is to be something that emerges from a grateful heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7 is an important passage in this regard:

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

At OCC we do our best to avoid pressure tactics that lead people to give reluctantly. We hope that people will give regularly, cheerfully and proportionally because they value our ministry, and see giving as part of their spiritual response to God’s grace in Jesus Christ.