Week 4 — Treasure Sunday · 90-Day Stewardship Campaign

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first-fruits of all your produce."

— Proverbs 3:9

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

— 2 Corinthians 9:7

This Week's Theme

In the Orthodox understanding of stewardship, giving is not a bill to pay — it is an act of worship. When we offer our first-fruits to God, we are acknowledging that everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him. We give not because the Church needs our money, but because we need to give — as an act of gratitude, of trust, and of love toward God.

Week 4 is our Treasure Sunday. We are not asking you to give more than you are able. We are inviting every household to prayerfully consider what percentage of their income they will offer to God as a first-fruits gift — a commitment made not under pressure, but from the heart.

Stewardship is not fundraising. It is discipleship.

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Proportional Giving — A Guide

The Orthodox tradition calls us to give a percentage of what God has given us — not a fixed amount. Here are some prayerful starting points:

1% A beginning — a first step of faith

3% A growing commitment

5% A meaningful first-fruits offering

10% The tithe — the Biblical standard

Whatever percentage you choose, the most important thing is that it is intentional, prayerful, and given from a grateful heart. Start where you are and grow from there.

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Actions This Week

Homily on First-Fruits Treasure — giving as an act of worship.
Testimony from a fellow parishioner about how proportional giving changed their relationship with God and the Church.
Introduction of proportional giving percentages (1%, 3%, 5%, 10%) as prayerful starting points.
Launch of recurring online giving through Tithe.ly — easy, secure, and set-it-and-forget-it.
Distribution of the First-Fruits Giving Worksheet to help each household calculate their offering.
Complete the Treasure section of your Stewardship Commitment Card.

This Week's Focus

Giving as an act of worship — not obligation.
Recurring giving as a foundation of stability and trust for the parish.
Every household participates — not equal gifts, but equal commitment.

How to Give

You may give through any of the following methods:

Tithe.ly — recurring online giving, credit/debit card. Scan the QR code on our homepage or visit churchreno.org.
Venmo — scan the QR code on our homepage.
Zelle — send to churchreno@gmail.com.
Check or cash — place in the offering at any service.

A Word of Encouragement

Do not let perfect be the enemy of good. If you are not yet giving, start with 1%. If you are giving, consider growing by 1%. The Lord sees your heart, and He blesses faithfulness — not amount.

Our goal is not to raise a certain dollar figure. Our goal is for every household in our parish family to participate — to say together, with one voice: "Everything we have comes from You, Lord, and we offer it back with gratitude."