Made and donated by Jim and Holly Treadway in 2020, Pilgrim’s Offering Box stands in the Narthex, just to the right of the doorway into the Sanctuary, ready to receive people’s gifts at any time. Photo: J. Galler.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God in human flesh, paid the price for the sins of the world with His death on the cross. By God’s grace for Christ’s sake, the forgiveness of sins is distributed freely, given as a gift, to those who repent and believe. As with the faithful Church from the beginning, Pilgrim neither charges nor otherwise asks for anything in exchange for the pure preaching of God’s Gospel and the right administration of His Sacraments. Rather, God blesses His people with an abundance of resources and moves them to give sacrificially of those resources for the work of His Kingdom in this place.
The Church does not expect those outside of Her to support Her, and this page is not soliciting such support. Rather, this page is provided in response to requests for more information on Pilgrim’s website about people’s supporting Pilgrim financially. We also here make clear that offerings to Pilgrim do not earn the forgiveness of sins or righteousness before God in any way.
There are a number of ways that people can give money in support of Pilgrim’s ministry:
- In-person placing cash or checks into Pilgrim’s Offering Box: Perhaps most people supporting Pilgrim financially put their cash or checks, with or without envelopes for tracking purposes, directly into the Offering Box in Pilgrim’s Narthex (for more on the use of the Offering Box, see the July 2020 issue of Pilgrim’s parish newsletter The Pilgrimage).
- Mailing cash or checks to Pilgrim: Offerings can also be sent in to Pilgrim via the U.S. Mail (see the address in the grey widget-area to the right). You might mark the outside of the envelope so that Pilgrim knows it is an offering and can put it into the Offering Box without opening it and breaking the confidentiality between the one making the offering and Pilgrim’s Financial Secretary receiving it.
- One-time or regular EFT/ACH transactions: In addition to or instead of using Pilgrim’s Offering Box, some donors make their one-time or regular offerings by way of EFT/ACH (Electronic Funds Transfer/Automatic Clearing House transactions) from their employers or by way of Zelle.
- One-time or regular “bill pay” from a financial institution: Donors likely can set up a free one-time or regular “bill pay” through their bank or credit union, so that the institution automatically either sends Pilgrim a physical check or transfers funds electronically (EFT/ACH).
If you need help setting up one-time or regular electronic offerings, email Pilgrim’s Treasurer.
Pilgrim previously has considered but to date has decided not to pay third parties in order for the congregation to receive offerings via credit or debit cards, computer or phone applications, or text messages. Such third parties usually collect one or more of a subscription fee, transaction fee, or a percentage of the contribution.
With few exceptions (Sunday School offerings designated for Lutheran Heritage Foundation, offerings designated for Pilgrim’s Titus Fund, and LWML Mites), offerings to Pilgrim are undesignated/unrestricted and are used for budgeted expenses. Pilgrim’s Voters’ Assembly has set guidelines for when designated/restricted offerings, financial or material, may be given to/received by Pilgrim.
Those who support Pilgrim may be able to deduct their donations from their own taxes. Pilgrim sends letters of receipt to donors whose contact information is provided, and end-of-year statements are available upon request. Also, notice of donations in honor of someone can be communicated either to the individual or to his/her family, upon both request and provision of the honoree’s contact information.
If you are interested in how Pilgrim in turn gives a portion of its offerings in order to support the work of the Church at large, see our Mission Work page.
