Pledge

Make a gift and share in the ministry and mission of our church.

God takes your money and work miracles with it. God takes what you pledge and what you put into the plate and makes it into:

• Beautiful music that brings joy and kindles hope
• Words of comfort and challenge, spoken from the pulpit, and which stay with us through the week
• Unconditional love for our children and youth in safe, supportive environments
• Green and flowering grounds that brighten our corner of God’s creation
• Outreach to over 20 local charities (10% of all paid pledges walk right out the church doors in the form of grants)
• The care and love of a community that’s always there for you

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FOR 2025 PLEDGES

There are three ways to make your 2025 pledge: You can pledge online here. You can download a pledge card, and either bring it or mail it to the church. You can also email your pledge to Kitty Wynne , our church’s Treasurer.

AND REMEMBER, ALL GIFTS TO THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF DARIEN ARE FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE, IF YOU ITEMIZE YOUR DEDUCTIONS.

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Giving and Pledging FAQ

What is pledging? Great question. But let’s back up and talk about giving first. Giving is an expression of the gratitude, the joy, the care, and the desire to be generous that all of us feel. Giving is NOT only about giving to the church. We hope that when you think about giving, you think about giving to support your college, the arts, area non-profits, and other causes you care about. You can think about pledging as the portion of your overall giving that you offer in support of the work of the church.

How much should I give? How much should I pledge? The bible teaches us to give away 10% of our income; this is called a “tithe.” Giving at this level is a spiritual “sweet spot.” It’s how we grow to be more grateful, contented, joyful, faith-filled, compassionate, and generous people. These days, most churches suggest giving 5% of your income as a pledge to support the church, and giving 5% to other organizations. 

That’s a lot of money! Well, yes. Giving is a potentially life-changing spiritual practice. It forces us to re-evaluate how we spend our money. Is how we spend our money helping us grow closer to God? Is it helping us grow into the people we most deeply want to be? It can! It should!

…But… agh… that’s a lot of money! Most of us don’t give 10% of our income away. That’s okay! We all start from where we start from. What’s a reasonable number for you to start with? 2%, 4%, 6% of your income? Every year, if you can, take another step. But please don’t feel bad or feel guilty if you can’t give at the level you’d like to! Everyone’s circumstances are different, and God knows them all. Again, start from wherever you’re starting from. Just give until it feels good. Because it should feel good!

Back to pledging. Why do you want me to tell you what I give? Can’t I just put something in the plate? Pledging – giving to the church, and TELLING US what you’re giving – helps us budget. We love surprise gifts! But we can’t build a budget on surprises. Many people like giving toward special projects. We love special projects! But we also love knowing that we can pay our staff’s healthcare premiums and the heating bill.

What if I can’t fulfill my pledge? Just let us know. Life happens. We get it.

How do I pledge? You can drop off your pledge card at the church office anytime. Or you can mail it in, if you like. You can also make your pledge online, using the QR code on your pledge card or via the church website. You’ll also have a chance to bring your pledge card forward during a special ritual of dedication in worship on Gratitude Sunday. 

What’s the deal with “Gratitude Sunday?” Giving should be fun. Giving should feel good. Being a part of the church should also be fun and feel good! So we’re having a party. We don’t want you to have to do anything, bring anything, set up anything, or clean up anything. You already give a lot to the church. Just show up. (But RSVP, please!) There will be a special service and a catered celebration to follow. And because it’s Thanksgiving, there will be pie. A lot of pie!