Season of Giving

Article for your reproduction:   The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation gives full permission to reproduce this article in any United Methodist Church publication, newsletters or websites in the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Conference. For an electronic version of this article, please email the Foundation at Director@RM-UMF.org. 

October 31, 2012
By Kristi Kinnison, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation, Inc.

I have seen the red and green signs of Christmas, right next to the black and orange signs of Halloween. Let the holiday shopping season begin!

My very best friend, Jesus, needs a birthday present, too. He even has a gift registry for me to consult, in case I don’t quite know what to get. It is called the Bible, and with the help of my pastor and church, I can find gift ideas in there. Did you know words about giving appear more than 2,000 times in the Bible? Here is my favorite one, especially in remembering the reason for the season:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Gifts given to God through our church and to our loved ones are a way of letting His light shine through us. Gifts are symbolic of our commitment to Him, a way to follow the commandments and a way to say thank you to God for the abundance we enjoy. Gifts to our church will help continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Here are some ideas for you to give this year:

1.       Make a commitment to give to your church and/or favorite charity in 2013; weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. (It is never too late to make a pledge.) Pay it forward – you can prepay all or part of your pledge by December 31, 2012 to receive tax benefits in 2012.*

2.       Give property (real estate, bonds, stocks or mutual funds.) By donating these directly to your church or charity, you will avoid capital gains taxes AND you can deduct the full market value on your income taxes. The Foundation can help you process these donations through its brokerage account.*

3.       Make a gift in honor or in memory of someone special who touched your life this year.

4.       Consider a gift to your church’s endowment fund either today or in your will. This type of gift keeps on giving because it helps build a financial foundation for your church. The church will be able to use the interest income from your gift for many years to come.

5.       Making a commitment to your favorite charity doesn’t necessarily mean giving money – you can also pledge to give some extra time to help out wherever your skills and passions may best be used.

Everything comes from God – our time, our talents, our money, our resources; we are simply stewards of the gifts that God provides. “I will bless you so that you may be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2) Take some time this season of Advent to reflect on what that means in your life.

*consult your tax advisor for details about tax deductible gifts.

ABOUT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION, INC.:

The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation provides financial services to churches, institutions, and agencies, as well as provides tools and resources to individuals seeking to be faithful stewards. Contact the Foundation at 303-778-6370, info@rm-umf.org or www.RM-UMF.org.