September 20, 2012
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In last week’s bulletin I invited you to participate in the upcoming Faith In Action campaign by doing three things:
- Offer prayers of gratitude to God for his many blessings.
- Give back to God a share of your blessings.
- Consider tithing this year’s PFD
- 10% for adults
- 5% for those under 18 (or in college).
In asking you to contribute to the Church, I am inviting you to imitate the first disciples who brought their first fruits and laid them at the feet of the apostles for the work of the Church (Acts 4:32-37). In the same way, I strongly encourage you to consider giving a portion of your PFD (which comes to us as a fruit of this creation) and offer it back to God and the Church – the Body of Christ.
With this letter, I am asking that you tithe this year’s PFD which will be $878. That is to say, I am asking each adult to contribute $88 to the Faith In Action campaign and for those under 18 (or in college) to give $44. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to speak to their children about the importance of giving to the Church.
For many of our Protestant brothers and sisters tithing their yearly income is a way of life. I recognize that this may be a new way of thinking for many parishioners. At the same time, I recognize that there are some who are able to give more than the 5 or 10% that I have proposed. Our contribution is to be a sacrifice to the Lord, recognizing that sacrifices indeed sting. As I prayed about writing this letter to you, I offer two promises: first, my own involvement must be a share in the sacrifice of giving to this Diocese. For it to be a true sacrifice on my part, I will contribute 50% of my PFD ($440) to the Faith In Action campaign and I invite others with the means to do so to join me. And secondly, the Diocese will always be a faithful steward of your sacrificial offerings.
I recognize the seriousness of addressing you about sacrificial giving and I am grateful to you for your contributions to the work of the Diocese. As Faith In Action commences, I assure you of my prayers and support. In turn, I ask that you offer a prayer for me as I continue to Shepherd the Diocese of Juneau and Southeast Alaska.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Edward J. Burns
Bishop of Juneau
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In last week’s bulletin I invited you to participate in the upcoming Faith In Action campaign by doing three things:
In asking you to contribute to the Church, I am inviting you to imitate the first disciples who brought their first fruits and laid them at the feet of the apostles for the work of the Church (Acts 4:32-37). In the same way, I strongly encourage you to consider giving a portion of your PFD (which comes to us as a fruit of this creation) and offer it back to God and the Church – the Body of Christ.
With this letter, I am asking that you tithe this year’s PFD which will be $878. That is to say, I am asking each adult to contribute $88 to the Faith In Action campaign and for those under 18 (or in college) to give $44. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to speak to their children about the importance of giving to the Church.
For many of our Protestant brothers and sisters tithing their yearly income is a way of life. I recognize that this may be a new way of thinking for many parishioners. At the same time, I recognize that there are some who are able to give more than the 5 or 10% that I have proposed. Our contribution is to be a sacrifice to the Lord, recognizing that sacrifices indeed sting. As I prayed about writing this letter to you, I offer two promises: first, my own involvement must be a share in the sacrifice of giving to this Diocese. For it to be a true sacrifice on my part, I will contribute 50% of my PFD ($440) to the Faith In Action campaign and I invite others with the means to do so to join me. And secondly, the Diocese will always be a faithful steward of your sacrificial offerings.
I recognize the seriousness of addressing you about sacrificial giving and I am grateful to you for your contributions to the work of the Diocese. As Faith In Action commences, I assure you of my prayers and support. In turn, I ask that you offer a prayer for me as I continue to Shepherd the Diocese of Juneau and Southeast Alaska.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Edward J. Burns
Bishop of Juneau
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