Giving

The word “tithe” literally means a tenth or 10%. A tithe is the first 10% of your income. An offering is anything you give above and beyond the 10%.

The Bible says the purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your life. (Deuteronomy 14:22) Tithing is a reminder that God is the supplier of everything we have. It is also God’s personal invitation to an outpouring of His blessing in your life.

In Malachi 3:10 God says:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! This is the only place in Scripture where God tells us to put Him to the test. In other words, He is saying, “God ahead, I dare you. See if you can out-give Me.”

Online Giving
Online giving allows for a specific dollar amount to be deducted automatically from a checking or savings account. You can set up online giving as a one-time donation or a recurring gift. Online giving is not only easy, it’s also safe and secure. This option helps individuals and families remain faithful in their giving even when they are out of town or unable to attend a weekend service. To set up your online giving, click here.

Weekend Worship
If you desire to give as the offering plates are passed during weekend worship, we encourage you to use envelopes or write a check. Remember, loose cash in the offering plate can’t be recorded for your tax purposes. If you would like envelopes, contact our Director of Finance, Patrick Donofrio at 723-4673 x181.

By Mail
You may send your offering to:

Hope Lutheran Church
ATTN: Director of Finance
1301 Vintage Lane
Rochester, NY 14626

Donations go into Hope’s General Operating Fund which makes possible the day-to-day ministries and services of Hope Church. Periodically, opportunities to designate a donation to a specific ministry initiative become available. Those are considered Special Funds.

Yes. In late January you will automatically receive a statement for taxes.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. ~2 Corinthians 8:20-21

The Board of Directors and the Director of Finance give monthly accounting and many checks and balances are put in place. Hope also produces the services of Hevron and Hevron Accounting Firm to do an annual budget.

Yes. We accept stocks and mutual funds for which you will receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of your securities at the time of the donation, and you will pay no capital gains tax on the difference between your cost and the fair market value.

For a follower of Christ, estate planning may be the most important act of stewardship he or she will ever undertake. Sadly the traditional planning approach has been to find ways to pay taxes at the time of death, often making the IRS the largest single beneficiary. Hope desires to help our donors by minimizing taxes, providing for families and retirement, and increasing charitable gifts. In short, we want to help you leave a legacy. If you would like more information about how to do this please contact Ann Marie Pavone (annmariepavone@sharethehope.org or 585-723-4673 x 134).