To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
~ Ephesians 3:21.
We believe First & Franklin is a vital sign and community dedicated to God’s presence in Baltimore. All our gifts to the church are an expression of its place in our lives, and our commitment to the work God is enabling here. As you prayerfully consider your financial giving for 2024, we encourage you to keep in mind the following.
~1Corinthians 12:5 and Ephesians 4:12
God is at work in our church and in our community in many ways. Our mission and peacemaking work with the Food Pantry and Guns2Gardens are two examples of how we are working to heal our community. Our music and arts programs nourish souls in our community and enrich our worship weekly. Our membership committee is committed to hosting events which help bind us together as a community. Our children and adult education programs give us a chance to teach and learn about growing in our faith. These are but a few of the things that make us a vibrant community. Your pledge helps us to maintain and grow these programs, our buildings, and our community.
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
~ 2Corinthians 9:7
A pledge isn’t a contract, “sign on the dotted line.” A pledge is a covenant that we make together with God for our common life. Your pledge represents the financial side your regular gifts of care, prayer, talents and time to this congregation. The number we report to the IRS for your giving to F&F includes both your regular giving and any special monetary gifts you may make during the year. Your pledge is simply a non-binding, expected minimum contribution and helps Session set a baseline of expected revenue as it plans the budget.
Sometimes, our circumstances change and you may find that you’re living leaner than you had expected and need to adjust your pledge to reflect those circumstances. In other seasons of life, you may find yourself saying, “You know, I’m in a stronger financial position than I was when I turned in my pledge. I’d like to increase my pledge.” If you find you need to change your pledge for any reason, simply reach out to the church office.
Live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
~ Ephesians 5:2
If you choose to pledge online, please use the form below. If you would like a paper form, you can get one from an usher at church on Sunday. If you have any questions or concerns about pledging, please reach out to our Finance & Stewardship Chair, Alex Mendelsohn, at finance@firstfranklin.org. We request that all pledges are received if possible by the end of December 2023, but will continue to accept new pledges through January 2024.