Annual Giving 2026

 2026 Pledge Card

Please use only one of these methods to make or change your pledge for 2025:

A. Submit a signed pledge card sent via the mail.

B. Use this secure and confidential form.

Sample Pledge Amounts

Questions about your pledge? Contact stewardship@ssecdurham.org. All communications will be confidential.

“Honor the Lord generously, and don’t skimp on the early produce you present.

Every time you give, have a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe gladly.”

(Sirach 35:10-11)

This Fall semester, for Christian Formation, Jeremy will be covering passages from the Book of Sirach. Sirach is an ancient Jewish wisdom book that teaches how to live faithfully and wisely. It’s accepted as Scripture in Catholic and Orthodox churches and valued as a useful wisdom book in Protestant traditions.

Sirach teaches us that true offerings to God are not just about ritual or amount, but about living faithfully and giving with a thankful heart. Keeping God’s commandments, showing kindness, and acting with justice are themselves holy sacrifices. When we bring our gifts before the Lord, we are invited to do so freely and joyfully, not out of duty or reluctance.

The passage reminds us that God looks not at the size of the gift but at the spirit in which it is given. We are called to give back in proportion to the blessings we have received, knowing that every gift offered with sincerity delights God. Rich or poor, each of us has something valuable to give. In our generosity, we honor the One who has been endlessly generous to us.

At St. Stephen’s, we are living out the call of Sirach by offering our gifts in ways that bring life and blessing to our community. Through generous giving, we were able to rebuild our administration building, turning a challenge into a testimony of faith and perseverance. Our commitment to service is growing with the formation of a new Mission and Outreach Committee, which is dedicated to extending Christ’s love to those beyond our walls. One of the first steps in this renewed mission is expanding our support of St. Joseph’s Breakfast Ministry, ensuring that our neighbors in need are welcomed, fed, and cared for. In all these efforts, we embody Sirach’s vision that generous offerings honor God and strengthen the bonds of God’s people.

Our ministries thrive when they are supported not only with time and talent but also with the financial resources needed to make them successful. This year, in addition to the annual pledge card that sustains the life and work of St. Stephen’s, we are introducing a second pledge card dedicated specifically to the Breakfast Ministry at St. Joseph’s. This ministry feeds our neighbors in need and is a vital extension of our mission and outreach. By offering both forms of support, we strengthen the core ministries of our parish while also stepping more fully into God’s call to serve those beyond our own walls.

I invite you to join me and the leadership of St. Stephen’s in making a financial pledge for 2026. Your contribution has a meaningful impact on our church’s ability to spread God’s love, kindness, and compassion. By making a pledge, you affirm the importance of God and St. Stephen’s in your life, committing to the spiritual practice of giving and reinforcing our faith together. Sirach reminds us that the truest offering is not just what we place on the altar, but how we live our lives in faith and gratitude. The passage also calls us to bring our gifts with joy, never empty-handed, giving back in proportion to the blessings we have received. As we consider our pledge, let us give faithfully and cheerfully, knowing that our generosity supports God’s work in this place and blesses the lives of those around us.

We consider what portion of our blessings—money, time, our selves—we might offer to further God’s work in this world.

So, as we consider our pledges of support for the coming year ahead, we ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your annual pledge as you are able. There are also many needs in our community to which God is calling us to minister. Your increased support will allow us to do the work God has set for us to do.

We  trust in God, that if we share a bit of what we have, we will not lose anything or put ourselves in a precarious position. Trust that we will be led, instead,  to the joy that giving of ourselves can bring. 

Giving as generously as God has given to us strengthens us for the journey ahead, no matter what the future may hold. We walk in faith and know that God is by our side.