A
Angels_Heart
Guest
Give what you are financilly able to .
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D
driechm
Guest
I agree with this guidance and it is consistent with the teaching our Diocese offers in our Pre-Cana program. And please remember the Time and Talent portions of good stewardship!
J
julia1234
Guest
Thank you all so much for your answers!! I really appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut. Now I have some good options to consider while I plan these offerings out.
A
armywife
Guest
I think everyone’s given good advice but I would stress that we should all strive for the 10% goal. I’m not saying that there are people out there who truly can’t give more than a few dollars a week, and that is perfectly fine. I have to admit that when I look around and see people drop $1 or $5 then go out for breakfast after it bothers me.
All I’m saying is just be honest with yourself about your finances and how you spend your money.
All I’m saying is just be honest with yourself about your finances and how you spend your money.
D
DOShea
Guest
Honestly, I think this is a matter of personal decision and how well you can square what you do (or give) with what you conscience tells you that you might have. Everyone, I suppose, looks at it in a different light, but these are some things I consider when it comes time to think about what goes in the envelope:
It isn’t easy to consider things like that when you have bills up to your knees and only so much coming in. But with time and determination, as bills get paid off, a special place can be made for setting aside your own “first-fruits” to honor God with through contributing to the mission and function of the Church. It’s just a matter of priority, and giving that priority to God instead of handing Him your leftovers. How would you feel if your boss paid you like that? “Sorry, Joe, we had to buy staples and shipping labels this week, hopefully next week we’ll be able to put a bit more in your envelope.”
Participation and helping are also important, but they really are a separate, though related, issue.
- You only get out of something what you put into it. If I buy something at the dollar store, I don’t expect it to give me the satisfaction or the service of something I bought elsewhere and paid more for.
- The entire OT speaks not of monetary amounts but of things like “first-fruits” and “unblemished lambs.” To me, the concept is that God isn’t interested in your $2 for $2 sake; He’s more interested in the fact that you honor Him by desiring to give Him your best, your foremost, your first. What is it Jesus said about the widow putting 2 mites in the offering?
- We always hear the quote from Jesus when He’s being put to temptation by Satan in the desert, the part about not putting God to a test. We hardly ever hear about the only instance of God actually inviting us to put Him to the test in Mal 3:10.
If that isn’t a prophetic validation of #1, I’m not sure what ever would be.
It isn’t easy to consider things like that when you have bills up to your knees and only so much coming in. But with time and determination, as bills get paid off, a special place can be made for setting aside your own “first-fruits” to honor God with through contributing to the mission and function of the Church. It’s just a matter of priority, and giving that priority to God instead of handing Him your leftovers. How would you feel if your boss paid you like that? “Sorry, Joe, we had to buy staples and shipping labels this week, hopefully next week we’ll be able to put a bit more in your envelope.”
Participation and helping are also important, but they really are a separate, though related, issue.
A
Aidan12
Guest
This is a problem that a lot of families wrestle with. Tithing–giving a tenth of income–is an idea which comes from the Old Testament in which the upkeep of the temple and priests was born by the whole of the Israelite community. But rabbinical teaching is that the duty to give ten percent of one’s total income was only incumbent on the community as long as the temple was in operation. Now that there is no temple, there is no duty to tithe.
Even after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the spread of Christianity, tithing was used to build and maintain the upkeep of the various church buildings and institutions, and also, to allow the Christian community to take care of the poor, the widows, and orphans. Eventually, tithing was imposed by law and enforced by the civil authorities.
Today, tithing is no longer imposed by civil law in most countries, but is still preached as a Biblical act to be emulated. Some protestant churches teach it as essential, whereas the Catholic Church sets it as a model for financial conduct, but voluntary.
It is hard on a family when they are in debt, and with young children and a heavy call on their finances to give ten percent of their income to the church. (I know, I’ve been there.) What you need to do, though, is address the issue of tithing in a larger context.
Western society encourages people to go into debt–mortgages, auto loans, credit cards. Families need to recall the words of St. Paul, “Owe no man any debt but the debt of love.” People forget that they have a spiritual duty to avoid debt which is just as important as tithing. It is incumbent for all of us to learn to live within our means.
You should not feel anxious if your finances are in such straits that you can’t give ten percent of your family income. Instead, set up a family budget and include a modest percentage for your parish collection plate.
We were in a lot of debt about fifteen years ago, so we started with one-half of one percent of our family income. (It doesn’t seem like much, but it was hard to part with every Sunday.) We worked like crazy to bring down the credit cards. Once we had brought to zero one card, we upped the giving to a full percent.
Meanwhile, we started tithing our time–a full ten percent of waking hours to working for the parish. (Singing in the choir, polishing brass, helping in the church office, washing altar linens, teaching catechism.)
It took a couple of years before it was possible to give two percent. It took about five years before we could give five percent. All the while I was nervous that there wouldn’t be enough money. But God is incredibly faithful. “Test me and see,” He says, and He isn’t kidding. He really does open His storehouse.
This started fifteen years ago. Our family is now free of all debt–including our mortgage–and we can tithe ten percent of our gross income.
You need to realize that tithing isn’t for God. It is for men. God can build a cathedral like Chartres in less than a blink. What He wants you to do is to learn to trust Him as the source of your financial safety. Believe me, I still struggle with fear of insufficient funds. And there are some Sundays when I think I’m crazy to be writing a check the size of the one I sign. And, yes, my family does do without some of things we’d like to have. But every time we commit, God’s overflowing kindness comes right back like the proverbial boomerang. We’ve never been overdrawn at the bank; we’ve never failed to pay a bill on time. That’s all down to God’s kindness.
Pray for faith in God’s love for you. Pray for prudence in your finances. Pray for self-control in your spending. And enjoy giving. Have fun dropping your check in the collection plate this Sunday. Giving is actually a lot of fun, once you get the hang of it.
Even after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the spread of Christianity, tithing was used to build and maintain the upkeep of the various church buildings and institutions, and also, to allow the Christian community to take care of the poor, the widows, and orphans. Eventually, tithing was imposed by law and enforced by the civil authorities.
Today, tithing is no longer imposed by civil law in most countries, but is still preached as a Biblical act to be emulated. Some protestant churches teach it as essential, whereas the Catholic Church sets it as a model for financial conduct, but voluntary.
It is hard on a family when they are in debt, and with young children and a heavy call on their finances to give ten percent of their income to the church. (I know, I’ve been there.) What you need to do, though, is address the issue of tithing in a larger context.
Western society encourages people to go into debt–mortgages, auto loans, credit cards. Families need to recall the words of St. Paul, “Owe no man any debt but the debt of love.” People forget that they have a spiritual duty to avoid debt which is just as important as tithing. It is incumbent for all of us to learn to live within our means.
You should not feel anxious if your finances are in such straits that you can’t give ten percent of your family income. Instead, set up a family budget and include a modest percentage for your parish collection plate.
We were in a lot of debt about fifteen years ago, so we started with one-half of one percent of our family income. (It doesn’t seem like much, but it was hard to part with every Sunday.) We worked like crazy to bring down the credit cards. Once we had brought to zero one card, we upped the giving to a full percent.
Meanwhile, we started tithing our time–a full ten percent of waking hours to working for the parish. (Singing in the choir, polishing brass, helping in the church office, washing altar linens, teaching catechism.)
It took a couple of years before it was possible to give two percent. It took about five years before we could give five percent. All the while I was nervous that there wouldn’t be enough money. But God is incredibly faithful. “Test me and see,” He says, and He isn’t kidding. He really does open His storehouse.
This started fifteen years ago. Our family is now free of all debt–including our mortgage–and we can tithe ten percent of our gross income.
You need to realize that tithing isn’t for God. It is for men. God can build a cathedral like Chartres in less than a blink. What He wants you to do is to learn to trust Him as the source of your financial safety. Believe me, I still struggle with fear of insufficient funds. And there are some Sundays when I think I’m crazy to be writing a check the size of the one I sign. And, yes, my family does do without some of things we’d like to have. But every time we commit, God’s overflowing kindness comes right back like the proverbial boomerang. We’ve never been overdrawn at the bank; we’ve never failed to pay a bill on time. That’s all down to God’s kindness.
Pray for faith in God’s love for you. Pray for prudence in your finances. Pray for self-control in your spending. And enjoy giving. Have fun dropping your check in the collection plate this Sunday. Giving is actually a lot of fun, once you get the hang of it.
R
RedSoxWife
Guest
Our family made a new years resolution this year to give 10% to the Church. I volunteer in the office at our parish and volunteering and seeing how tight things are really helped me to see how tight things are financially. Right now 10% of our income is usually around $30 a week, sometimes a little less (do the math… things have been very tight). We currently live on less then a third of what we made in July '08. But we’re giving more because we came to the realization that everyone is having a tough time but the Church still needs to pay the bills (where we live unemployment is over 20%). We made the decision to trust that God will provide for us (and he has, things are tight, we barely get by, but so far, we have gotten by, week by week). I’ve found that it’s easier now that I don’t give myself the option of thinking about whether or not we can afford it, we just take 10% off of whatever he makes.
Give what you can and trust that God will provide for you, although maybe not always in quite the most comfortable way!
Give what you can and trust that God will provide for you, although maybe not always in quite the most comfortable way!
R
royal_archer
Guest
Actually I miss dropping the envelope in the basket. We used to give but my wife and I constantly argued about how much to give I wanted to give more but she had the check book. I now have direct deposit through work so the church gets paid before I do. It also makes it easier to take money from raises and give them to the church before anyone at the house gets other ideas of what to do with the extra money. Although for A while I did feel guilty passing the plate with out putting anything in.
On a side note, any opinions of how the 10% is calculated in today complex paychecks?
Does money going to welfare through taxes count?
Is it 10% of take home pay or 10% of total pay?
Do the number of children play a factor? (personal pay vs family pay)
T
takers
Guest
If you’re still feeling guilty about passing the plate without anything in it, even though you do direct deposit, maybe you can put your spare change in an envelope and give that each week? I know that it’s what we actually do that counts, and not just what people see we do, but sometimes the visual reminder helps, too.
Y
YADA
Guest
I donate time, talent, and treasure … enough time that some have thought I am parish staff … just to give you perspective … it is all three …
Lets talk dollars hereas some mention a dollar or two …
If you make $10 per hour $20,800.00 annually or $1,733.33 per month] a 5% tithe eguals $20 per week - each and every week [even the weeks you are on vacation, sick or other wise fail to attend your parish.
$10 per hour with 5% tithe = $20 per week …
NOW Pespective …
A couple of years back our diocese averaged $6 per week per registered catholic family… my parish averaged $8 … think about that … $6 per week or $316 per year per family… that is the value of what receiveing the Euchaist …
A Large Sugar free Vanilla Latte [Starbucks, Petes, blue Joe, etc] costs $3.80 … if you have one a week that equates to $197.60 per year … how many catholics have more then one per week?
And to the poster who states that catholics need to give less then Protestants … yes we have several Masses each Sunday … but we also have a Mass each and every day of the year except Good Friday - and even that day there is a Liturgy Observed [Communion Service] … and no offering is taken at the daily Masses … We have employee housing [recotories for our priests], staff and facilities that are open far more then our protestant counter parts … I volunteer with the administrative council [some parishes call it a finance council - every parish has one - they are required in canon law] that establishes the budget for the parish … and has to cut the programs and budgets when collections do not meet expectations …
Think about this … when you arrive at church you expect the lights to work, the toilets to flush, paper towels and toilet paper. You expect he garbage to hauled away, the floors to be clean, the lawn mowed, the air-conditioning/heater to work the staff to paid [and they should be paid a proper wage, with health insurance, and retirement plans, etc] … they need telephones, paper, computers and misc. supplies … you expect the the religious education rogram to have work books, trainig the catechists - snacks for the children … At Mass you expect hosts and wine for the Eucharist… there are vestments, altar linens, corporals, chalices, flowers, banners, etc …All of this takes funding - read that as money … [though many parishes depend on parishioners for cleaning the church] … even small parishes have utility bills and some staff [the priest and a praish secretary] …
So think again … how much do you make? Is it minimum wage? If $20 per week is 5% of a $10 per hour job … where is your weekly contribution? …
If God commanded the Hebrew people to tithe 10 % [for Moses, the Law, and the Prophets] THEN HOW much should we - the followers of Christ - give from the JOY OF OUR HEARTS for Moses, the Law, the Prophets, for JESUS, Salvation, the CROSS, the Church, the EUCHARIST, the New Testament - etc …
A dollar or two 
Lets talk dollars hereas some mention a dollar or two …
If you make $10 per hour $20,800.00 annually or $1,733.33 per month] a 5% tithe eguals $20 per week - each and every week [even the weeks you are on vacation, sick or other wise fail to attend your parish.
$10 per hour with 5% tithe = $20 per week …
NOW Pespective …
A couple of years back our diocese averaged $6 per week per registered catholic family… my parish averaged $8 … think about that … $6 per week or $316 per year per family… that is the value of what receiveing the Euchaist …
A Large Sugar free Vanilla Latte [Starbucks, Petes, blue Joe, etc] costs $3.80 … if you have one a week that equates to $197.60 per year … how many catholics have more then one per week?
And to the poster who states that catholics need to give less then Protestants … yes we have several Masses each Sunday … but we also have a Mass each and every day of the year except Good Friday - and even that day there is a Liturgy Observed [Communion Service] … and no offering is taken at the daily Masses … We have employee housing [recotories for our priests], staff and facilities that are open far more then our protestant counter parts … I volunteer with the administrative council [some parishes call it a finance council - every parish has one - they are required in canon law] that establishes the budget for the parish … and has to cut the programs and budgets when collections do not meet expectations …
Think about this … when you arrive at church you expect the lights to work, the toilets to flush, paper towels and toilet paper. You expect he garbage to hauled away, the floors to be clean, the lawn mowed, the air-conditioning/heater to work the staff to paid [and they should be paid a proper wage, with health insurance, and retirement plans, etc] … they need telephones, paper, computers and misc. supplies … you expect the the religious education rogram to have work books, trainig the catechists - snacks for the children … At Mass you expect hosts and wine for the Eucharist… there are vestments, altar linens, corporals, chalices, flowers, banners, etc …All of this takes funding - read that as money … [though many parishes depend on parishioners for cleaning the church] … even small parishes have utility bills and some staff [the priest and a praish secretary] …
So think again … how much do you make? Is it minimum wage? If $20 per week is 5% of a $10 per hour job … where is your weekly contribution? …
If God commanded the Hebrew people to tithe 10 % [for Moses, the Law, and the Prophets] THEN HOW much should we - the followers of Christ - give from the JOY OF OUR HEARTS for Moses, the Law, the Prophets, for JESUS, Salvation, the CROSS, the Church, the EUCHARIST, the New Testament - etc …
A dollar or two
Y
YADA
Guest
Our parish uses Parish Pay for those parishioners who like to use electronic means [pay-pal, debit card, credit card, etc]. Parish Pay includes a coupon sheet you can print out - about three or four ‘coupons’ per sheet. You cut them and place them in the evelope - it basically lets you make electronic payments AND model good behavior in ‘giving of your treasure’ to your children - the opportunity to put the envelope in the basket - to not look like a piker - whatever your motivation might be
Some people set up an automatic electronic bill pay through their credit union or bank … the checks come either weekly or monthly as you decide … you could still use your envelopes - with ‘coupon’ like Parish Pay … or a note saying that you loe christ and the check is in the mail … Using the envelope is kind of like anwering “Present” at roll call … it says “hey - I was here” …
P
PaulinVA
Guest
Well, we use the credit card option, and just pass the plate every Sunday. The parish doesn’t even send us envelopes any more, to save money.
If people want to think we are deadbeats, that’s their problem. They should be praying instead of watching who puts something in the collection.
D
dulcissima
Guest
I realized some time ago that those who probably give the biggest contribution are also those who are passing the plate. I suspect that those who donate electronically are likely those who are donating the most. So, don’t feel like everyone thinks you are a piker. 
E
Em_in_FL
Guest
We donate electronically, but still place our (empty) envelope in the collection plate (with a check mark saying we donate electronically)…
The Parish School wants to see that those who are given the discounted “Catholic” tuition are actually attending Mass (not looking at the amount, but just the attendance)…
The Parish School wants to see that those who are given the discounted “Catholic” tuition are actually attending Mass (not looking at the amount, but just the attendance)…
R
RedSoxWife
Guest
I wish we had the option of donating electronically! Our little county probably won’t have that for years!
R
royal_archer
Guest
You must be of by a decimal point on that cup of coffee.
At work I pay a dollar a week and that even includes the sugar!
R
royal_archer
Guest
My company is the member of some service that collects all of the money from all of the employees that goes to a particular charity and then sends out paper checks periodically. The church called me and asked why they got the first check so I knew it was working, I also get statement at the end of the year.
R
royal_archer
Guest
Any thoughts on these?
Also, what if one spouse wants to give but the other does not? Should it be 10% of the 50% of income?
M
Mrs_Sally
Guest
Excellent post. Thank you! We all need this reminder.
I donate time, talent, and treasure … enough time that some have thought I am parish staff … just to give you perspective … it is all three …
Lets talk dollars hereas some mention a dollar or two …
If you make $10 per hour $20,800.00 annually or $1,733.33 per month] a 5% tithe eguals $20 per week - each and every week [even the weeks you are on vacation, sick or other wise fail to attend your parish.
$10 per hour with 5% tithe = $20 per week …
NOW Pespective …
A couple of years back our diocese averaged $6 per week per registered catholic family… my parish averaged $8 … think about that … $6 per week or $316 per year per family… that is the value of what receiveing the Euchaist …
A Large Sugar free Vanilla Latte [Starbucks, Petes, blue Joe, etc] costs $3.80 … if you have one a week that equates to $197.60 per year … how many catholics have more then one per week?
And to the poster who states that catholics need to give less then Protestants … yes we have several Masses each Sunday … but we also have a Mass each and every day of the year except Good Friday - and even that day there is a Liturgy Observed [Communion Service] … and no offering is taken at the daily Masses … We have employee housing [recotories for our priests], staff and facilities that are open far more then our protestant counter parts … I volunteer with the administrative council [some parishes call it a finance council - every parish has one - they are required in canon law] that establishes the budget for the parish … and has to cut the programs and budgets when collections do not meet expectations …
Think about this … when you arrive at church you expect the lights to work, the toilets to flush, paper towels and toilet paper. You expect he garbage to hauled away, the floors to be clean, the lawn mowed, the air-conditioning/heater to work the staff to paid [and they should be paid a proper wage, with health insurance, and retirement plans, etc] … they need telephones, paper, computers and misc. supplies … you expect the the religious education rogram to have work books, trainig the catechists - snacks for the children … At Mass you expect hosts and wine for the Eucharist… there are vestments, altar linens, corporals, chalices, flowers, banners, etc …All of this takes funding - read that as money … [though many parishes depend on parishioners for cleaning the church] … even small parishes have utility bills and some staff [the priest and a praish secretary] …
So think again … how much do you make? Is it minimum wage? If $20 per week is 5% of a $10 per hour job … where is your weekly contribution? …
If God commanded the Hebrew people to tithe 10 % [for Moses, the Law, and the Prophets] THEN HOW much should we - the followers of Christ - give from the JOY OF OUR HEARTS for Moses, the Law, the Prophets, for JESUS, Salvation, the CROSS, the Church, the EUCHARIST, the New Testament - etc …
P
Phemie
Guest
Yes, in Canada workplaces often have United Way campaigns and you can direct your donation to a specific charity. Once or twice a cheque has arrived at the parish from United Way. In that case UW told us who was donating. OTOH, I’ve recently received one from them for the organization for which I’m treasurer and it was an anonymous donor. Of course someone had already advised us that he’d used that method to donate to us.
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