Our church council recently struggled with a proposal to allow giving to the church via EFT and/or credit/debit cards. We ended up allowing EFTs and debit cards but not credit cards. The proposal was turned down because of a concern for credit card debt and church contributions adding to someone's debt load.
I know that neither the CRC nor the other charitable organizations to which I contribute seem to have any concerns about accepting credit card donations, and in fact they encourage it. (They get their money quickly, directly, and on time.) Does your church accept contributions via *credit card*? How did you get past the concerns that we had?
Anyone familiar with the group Over the Rhine is a fan - and this is one of my favorite songs from one of their Christmas albums, O Little Town of Bethlehem.
I've been diving into middle grade and young adult fiction. Some recent favorites include:
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary Schmidt Me (Moth) by Amber McBride The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed Just Like That also by Gary Schmidt Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds
Not the topic of an editorial, but an idea for an issue: When I was growing up in the sixties and early seventies one of the summer Banners was a "vacation Banner"...a week of devotions to use while traveling, additional Kids Pages to keep us busy in the car, and other things that I can't recall 45 years later. It was, as my Aunt Florence wrote in, "a gem".
Lindow, We have just added two more Discover Life studies (Ecclesiastes, Finding Meaning In Life and Did Jesus Say That?) to the Faith Alive website. These downloadable studies include both the leader guide and study guide in one download; just purchase as many copies as you have people in your group (including leaders.) Which study would you like to see made available next? We try to add them as we get requests for them.
Posted in: A Moving Mother's Day Video for Online Worship During COVID-19
Wow, what an amazing video. Thank you, Karen, for sharing that.
Posted in: Songs of Comfort, Shared by The Network Community
Thank you, Staci! What a gift you've given us, pulling all these together for us.
Posted in: Introductory Materials for Adult Class on the Heidelberg Catechism?
In addition, Faith Alive has a course on the Heidelberg Catechism called Body & Soul that includes a video component.
Posted in: Where can I get samples of or information about doing gift surveys at my church?
You can also check out Faith Alive's third edition of Discover Your Gifts and Learn How to Use Them. http://www.faithaliveresources.org/Products/216580/discover-your-gifts-student-book.aspx The study guide includes the gifts assessment, and there is a code in the back of the book to do the test online.
Our church has also used this online assessement for potential office bearers: http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1355371/k.9501/Spiritual_Gifts.htm
Posted in: What are some good study materials for learning about the Holy Spirit?
Faith Alive Christian Resources publishes "The Holy Spirit: Under the Influence" in our Discover Life series.
Posted in: What works best when setting up credit card and EFT giving at church?
Our church council recently struggled with a proposal to allow giving to the church via EFT and/or credit/debit cards. We ended up allowing EFTs and debit cards but not credit cards. The proposal was turned down because of a concern for credit card debt and church contributions adding to someone's debt load.
I know that neither the CRC nor the other charitable organizations to which I contribute seem to have any concerns about accepting credit card donations, and in fact they encourage it. (They get their money quickly, directly, and on time.) Does your church accept contributions via *credit card*? How did you get past the concerns that we had?
Posted in: Let's Make an Advent Playlist
Anyone familiar with the group Over the Rhine is a fan - and this is one of my favorite songs from one of their Christmas albums, O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Posted in: 2022 Reading List
I've been diving into middle grade and young adult fiction. Some recent favorites include:
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary Schmidt
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Just Like That also by Gary Schmidt
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds
Posted in: Giveaway Time! Just Say "Hi" and Be Entered to Win Best-Selling Book
Hi!!
Posted in: Let’s Play “Banner Editor for a Day”
Not the topic of an editorial, but an idea for an issue: When I was growing up in the sixties and early seventies one of the summer Banners was a "vacation Banner"...a week of devotions to use while traveling, additional Kids Pages to keep us busy in the car, and other things that I can't recall 45 years later. It was, as my Aunt Florence wrote in, "a gem".
Posted in: OK to Use Tithe for Christian School Tuition?
What if I use my tithe for someone else's tuition...a family member or friend's?
Posted in: Discovery Life Studies?
Lindow, We have just added two more Discover Life studies (Ecclesiastes, Finding Meaning In Life and Did Jesus Say That?) to the Faith Alive website. These downloadable studies include both the leader guide and study guide in one download; just purchase as many copies as you have people in your group (including leaders.) Which study would you like to see made available next? We try to add them as we get requests for them.