Giving

Our response to a generous God is gratitude and thanks.

Throughout the Scriptures, we are reminded that all that we have is a gift from God – our lives, our health, our talents and our treasures.  It is important to remember that our giving is a response to what God has so generously provided and that we do this with joy and thanksgiving.
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At Magnolia Presbyterian Church, giving can be done in several ways:  Giving In Worship, Designated Giving, Tangible Giving and Legacy Giving

Giving in Worship

Offerings are taken each week at each of our worship services. This is one way that we tangibly and actively demonstrate our hearts desire to worship God through the giving of tithes and offerings.

Weekly offering envelopes are available in the pews for your use. You may place your tithe, offering, or designated gift in the envelope and indicate on the outside of the envelope your intentions for your giving.
Numbered offering envelopes are also available through the Church Office.

Questions? Contact the office at [email protected] or call (951) 684-7200​.

Designated Giving

In addition to regular tithes and offerings, gifts may also be specially designated to a special need or ministry. Designated giving funds go directly to the ministry in question.
Here is a list of current designated giving opportunities:

• Deacons - Caring, praying, and serving with compassion, with Jesus as our example, define Deacon's Ministries. The church charges its Deacons to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond this community of faith.
• Mission Projects - Throughout the year there are a variety of mission and ministries that we support outside of our church budget (i.e. Teen Challenge, POWER Ministries).  Gifts can be designated towards these ministries that are not a part of the MPC budget.
• Christian Education - Each year, members and friends of MPC have given money to help support various ministries and programs that support our discipleship ministries to children (i.e. VBS) and adults (i.e. Growth Groups).  Donations can be designated toward these discipleship and educational ministries.
• Youth Ministries - Designated giving can be directed toward our ministries to students in grades 6-12 that supports these ministries outside of the church’s budget.  These gifs help with camp costs, camp scholarships and other discipleship ministries to our students and their leadership.

Questions about these designated gifts can be directed to the church office ([email protected])

TANGIBLE GIVING

Throughout the year, Magnolia Presbyterian Church asks for donations that go to our city’s food banks and food pantries, shoes and clothing for local social service agencies and ministries.  These tangible gifts are tax deductible but it is up to each individual to asses the value of these gifts for their individual tax purposes.

Click here for the form that can be used for tax purposes. 
​(Note, once filled out, this form must be approved/signed by a church pastor or church representative.)

Donations of cars, trucks and stocks can be made to the church as a charitable contribution.  Please contact the church office ([email protected]) on how this type of donation can be made.

Legacy Giving

Magnolia Presbyterian Church has a rich tradition of legacy giving through its Endowment Funds.  Over the years, many members and friends of MagPres have created new endowment funds or contributed to an existing fund to honor a loved one and to create a legacy in their name.

There are eight major categories of ministry to which donors can contribute:

• Capital Improvements (Building and Facilities)
• Christian Education (C.E. Resources, VBS, Bibles, Programs)
• Church Family Ministries (Financial aide to families in crisis)
• Fine Arts (Music, Drama and the Arts)
• Great Commission (Mission – both local and global ministries)
• Pastoral Needs Fund (Special needs at the pastors’ discretion)
• Youth Ministries (Ministry to students grades 6-12)
• Where Most Needed (Used for ministry needs at the discretion of the MPC Stewardship Committee)

The donor (or their families) usually determines the purpose of the gift.

Contact the church office ([email protected]) or a member of the Stewardship Committee for information about this type of giving.

Biblical Themes on Stewardship

God is exceedingly generous.

• God has already "proven" generosity by giving us Christ and then the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; John 15:26; Romans 5:5)
• We cannot imagine the extent of God's generosity (Mat 7:11; Rom 8:32-33; Eph 3:20)
• You cannott "out-give" God (Luke 6:38)

God owns everything and we are the managers (stewards).

• Paradigm shift-God owns everything (Haggai 2:8; Psalm 24:1; 1Cor 6:19-20)
• We are managers (Deut 8:18; Eccl 5:19; Matt 25:14-30)
• As managers, we are "entrusted" (Prov 10:22; Matt 25:14-30)
• Proper relationship to God is a sign of spiritual health and maturity (Matt 25:14-30)

God demands a return on investment.

• "Tithes,"-the first-fruits, 10% (Num 18:34; Prov 3:9; Mal 3:8-10)
• "Offerings"-tithes above and beyond 10% (Deut 8:18; Eccl 5:19; Matt 25:14-30)
• Although the "Sermon on the Mount" made it clear that Christ fulfilled the Law, in all cases, he "raised the bar" (Matt 5-7; 2 Cor 9:6)
• An "eternal principle" that predates the Law since Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Gen 14:18-20)

Wealth is fleeting and dangerous to accumulate.

• Wealth is "symbolic" of our attitude toward God (Luke 16:11)
• The rich are in a precarious position (Deut 6:10-12; Luke 6:24; Luke 16:25; Mark 10:25)

Giving is an antidote to greed and is freeing.

• Easy to be "good" and greedy (Mark 10:21).
• The "certain rich man" in Luke 12, could easily have been an upstanding Presbyterian-a legitimate businessman, blessed by God and a conservative investor (Luke 12:16-21)
• Guards against anxiety and produces contentment (Phil 4:6; Phil 4:12)
• Many "warnings" in Scripture to rich people (e.g., 1 Tim 6:17-19; Matt 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 12:15)

God rewards God's managers.

• Rewards are a valid motivator and most common in scripture. (Heb 11:24: Eph 2:10)
• Reminder that we are not here forever (1 Tim 6:17-19; Luke 12:33-34)
• Proportional to giving (Matt 25:20-21)