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Guest Writer, Brian Roberts, Cape Atlantic District Superintendent

FINISHING STRONG
With Year-End Giving
Helping people give - Responding to God’s Great Gift in Jesus.
 
“Sir, you left several gifts on the table….” I heard this as I was helping a friend pack up after a family celebration in a banquet room. Can you imagine leaving gifts on the table? Many congregations do just this every year by not inviting people to year-end giving in response to God’s GREATEST gift in Jesus Christ.
 
Nearly one-third of giving to charities occurs in December and 12% of all this giving happens in the last three days of the year.  Many congregations receive 25% or more in donations to their ministry this month.
 
Is your congregation leaving gifts on the table this year?  What are you doing to maximize end of the year donations? Have you considered special efforts for stirring year-end giving? It’s not too late. Here are several suggestions:
  • Have someone share about your ministry with children and youth at the Christmas Pageant and ask for special donation. If you have media capabilities show pictures that highlight the year.
     
  • Take some pictures of the Pageant, Samaritans Purse Christmas box drive or hanging the greens and create a YouTube video to send to members and friends with an online link to donating to the church. (If your church needs online giving options…make it a new year’s resolution).
     
  • Share information with your congregation. For example, if you are age 70½ or older this year, you must take a 2016 required minimum distribution by December 31, 2016 (by April 1, 2017, if you turned 70½ in 2016). Donating a portion of this as a Qualified Charitable Distribution is permitted up to $100,000 and it can be a win/win.
     
  • Donations of stocks may be made directly to the church and can save capital gains tax and generate a charitable gift deduction.
     
  • Many large and local corporations offer employee charitable giving match programs. Invite members to check with their company to see if they offer corporate matching, thus doubling their donation to the church.
     
  • Hold a MATCHING GIFT SUNDAY. Invite those that lead in giving and serving to consider a special large gift, sharing with them that you will seek to have it matched. At a big Sunday-Christmas Pageant, Sunday before Christmas, announce ahead of time that gifts over ($25 or $50 -you set limit) given today and noted -these gifts will be matched. This works for colleges, hospitals and at least one congregation in the Southern Region.
NOTE: To take a deduction for the gift on your 2016 tax return, your gift must be postmarked or received by the church on or before December 31, 2016. 
 
Of course-keep teaching the gift of Biblical Stewardship and tithing. Use your Wesleyan resources like Wesley’s sermon #50 “The Use of Money” –“Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can!  This year send a special year-end Christmas Letter. Click here to download the letter that Dr. Scott McKenzie from Horizons Stewardship shared with us. Please feel free to customize it and use it to tell stories of lives being touched, missions happening, and disciples growing in faith. Invite people to step up and give an extra gift in response to ALL God has done with and for them this year.
 
People love to give-especially during December. Are you leaving gifts on the table? Is someone else receiving a donation that could have gone to what God is doing in and through your congregation as you seek to bless your community and care for God’s world? There is still time for you to excite people with stories of God at work, energize your people as you encourage them to respond to God’s good gifts-“wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” and offer people opportunities to give as we end the year. We’d love to hear about the surprises and outcomes of your efforts.
Revolutionizing Stewardship
A Clergy retreat led by Horizons Stewardship
Date: February 22-23, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. registration
Location: Congress Hall, Cape May NJ
Click here to register!
Revolutionizing Stewardship Action Planning and Training
Pastors are encouraged to form a team from their congregation to attend a three session training to create a year-round stewardship action plan and Fall 2017 campaign.

TRACK 1: Churches UNDER 250 in average worship attendance
(Must attend all 3 sessions)

Session One: March 25, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Session Two: April 30, 2017 from 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Session Three: June 24, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

TRACK 2: Churches OVER 250 in average worship attendance
(Must attend all 3 sessions)

Session One: March 18, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Session Two: May 13, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Session Three: June 24, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location and cost is TBD. Registration will begin in January.

Church Opportunities and Resources

Church Happenings

Click here to view all the church to church happenings on the Gateway South District! Church events and flyers are updated on a regular basis so you will never miss out. You can also visit the Southern Regional Informational page to view events that are going on throughout the region. If you would like your church event to be posted on the district events page please email gatewaysouth@gnjumc.org.  
Bishop's Day on Southern Region: Laity Session
Date: Wednesday, December 14
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: United Methodist Church of Mantua, 201 Mantua Blvd. Mantua, NJ 08051

Laity from throughout the Southern region will come together with Bishop John Schol to worship and learn how The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey is equipping spiritual leaders to make vital congregations.
Message from Bishop Schol
Mandatory clergy meeting for pastors appointed to churches
Date: January 11, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBD

Click here to read full message from Bishop Schol.
 
2017 Registration Now Open!
PaCE is an initiative to facilitate peer learning groups that help shape pastoral identity, imagination and develop leadership excellence. This program supports clergy excellence by building trust, reducing isolation, exploring ideas through shared experiences, providing multiple viewpoints, unlocking creativity and engaging in group in deep conversations.

Click here for more information. Deadline to register is January 15, 2017.
2017 Bishop's Clergy Convocation
Date: January 23-25, 2017
Location: Ocean Place Resort, Long Branch NJ
Featuring plenary and small group sessions led by author, coach and consultant Susan Beaumont and a special event presented by The Music Paradigm

Click here to register!
IGNITE Youth Leaders Day
Date: February 11, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Calvary Korean UMC, 572 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick 08816
Cost: $15.00

IGNITE Youth Leaders Day will provide practical resources and tools to help students grow in their faith. Churches of any size will leave with a better understanding of youth, youth ministry in 2017, how to organize and grow a youth ministry, and how to help students grow in their faith. Featuring Preston Centuolo, Kenda Creasy Dean, and Greater New Jersey church leaders.

Click here for more information.
Save the Date: Graceful Controversies Event
Date: March 4, 2017
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: The Mission and Resource Center, 205 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune NJ 07753
Cost: $10.00
Bishop Schol invites all laity and clergy from GNJ into a deeper conversation to develop our hopes and aspirations for the future of The United Methodist Church and send them to the Commission on the Way Forward. Click here for more information and resources.
Registration will open February 10
Wesley Heritage 2017 Tour: July 19 - July 27, 2017
Clergy and laity from Greater New Jersey will be traveling together to England on a nine day Wesley Heritage tour leaving Newark airport on July 19. Optional extensions in London or Ireland is available. There are 2 C.E.U.'s available for clergy and discounts for making registration and payment deadlines. Pastors can contact Glenn Ferguson about becoming a host for a group from your church. Click here for brochure and additional information. 
Copyright © 2016 United Methodists of Greater New Jersey, All rights reserved.


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