We, the Restoration staff and Vestry, are grateful for you. We are also grateful for our church’s faithfulness to God and to each other. As we come to the end of 2024, there are many things for which we’re thankful. There are a lot of good things growing at Restoration.
Many of us pause at this time of the year to consider how we will use our giving dollars and to whom we will be generous. I encourage you to include Restoration in those gifts. The Vestry, David, and I are grateful for your generous giving during this past year. Our financial health remains strong. Thank you. We don’t yet know all that 2025 will hold, but we continue to trust in God’s provision. We appreciate your continued commitment of time, talent, and treasure to the work God has for us in the coming season and we look forward to seeing what will grow in and through our church.
Sincerely,
Kat Downs, Executive Director
The following is a message from our treasurers that provides answers to frequently asked questions about year-end gifts to Restoration.
Dear Restoration,
We wish you a peaceful and expectant Advent. We are Meaghan Maguire and Karen Wrightsman, and we serve on the vestry as the co-treasurers for Restoration Anglican Church. You are a generous church! Because of you, our congregation has been able to support the work of Jesus Christ locally, regionally, and around the world. If you are a member of Restoration, thank you for making an annual financial commitment to our life together. Over the years, God has provided all that we need to do the work to which He calls us, and we are grateful for your faithfulness to Him as you give to Restoration.
We know that many of us use the end of the year to complete our financial commitments. Would you keep Restoration’s operating budget in mind as you consider your year-end giving? The Restoration operating budget supports the daily, ongoing work of our church, as we depend on the Lord to guide our Clergy and staff, ministries, pastoral care, small groups, outreach, and more. We thank God for the good things that are growing here as we expectantly ask Him to show us what He is up to in our midst, both now and in the year to come! As you plan your regular giving in 2025, we invite you to set up an automatic withdrawal, which can be done by visiting Church Center.
Below are some answers to questions about giving that we frequently get at this time of year:
Can I give at the Christmas Eve service? Absolutely! Since our first Christmas Eve, all Christmas Eve offerings are given to an organization outside of Restoration that is doing good and beautiful work for the sake of the vulnerable and those on the margins. This year, we hope people will give generously to support The Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF), an organization that connects the resources of churches with the needs of the world. Our nation experienced crushing hurricanes in 2024. We are giving our financial offerings towards the relief efforts being provided by the Anglican Church in North America through ARDF. If you would like to use our online giving portal to make a special Christmas gift to ARDF, that option will be available as a drop-down on Church Center on December 24.
How will I receive my annual giving statement? You will receive your giving statement via email before the end of January 2025. The email will also have a small report from our Rector, The Rev. David Hanke. We no longer send them by mail, unless you specifically request it.
Where do I find my current giving total? Log in to Church Center. Look at the upper right corner and find your initials and/or picture. Click on your initials or picture. Scroll down to find the ‘My giving’ section. You can choose to view your donation history by year. Most giving is recorded by the 20th of the following month, so the statement may not reflect a payment you made within the past few weeks.
What is Church Center?It is our online platform for communications and giving. You can log in or create an account here.
Can I set up an automatic withdrawal for my giving? You can! Log in to Church Center. Select “Give” from the menu at the top of the page. Choose the amount of your gift and under “Frequency” select “regularly.” Follow the prompts to log in and/or add a payment method. ACH transfer is preferred because fees are lower, though you have the option to cover the processing fee for both ACH and credit card donations.
How do I make a stock contribution? We have specific instructions on how to transfer stock to our brokerage account. Please contact Callie Goyer for details.
I have moved. Thanks for letting us know! Would you please log in to Church Center and update your email and mailing address? Once logged in, look at the upper right corner and find your initials and/or picture. Click on your initials or picture. Select “my profile & settings” and then “contact & profile information.” While you’re at it, we’d love if you would upload a picture.
When does Restoration have to receive my gift for it to be counted towards 2024? Your gift must be received or postmarked by December 31, 2024. December 29, 2024 is the last Sunday for in-person giving in 2024. Remember, if you want to participate in our Christmas Eve offering to ARDF, please place your offering in the plate on December 24th or indicate that choice on the giving drop-down menu in Church Center, which will be available on Christmas Eve.
Once again, thank you for your generous commitment to the work of Jesus Christ through Restoration and your faithful support over the past year.
In anticipation of Christmas and the Incarnation,
Meaghan Maguire, Restoration Co-Treasurer, on behalf of the Vestry
Karen Wrightsman, Restoration Co-Treasurer, on behalf of the Vestry
