First Gift

God’s Gracious Love,

Our Grateful Response

2016-17 Mission Giving & Stewardship

John Knox Presbyterian Church

First Gift

What drives the church’s ministry? One cold and cynical view, doubtless absorbed from the culture around us, is “money.” As John Knox Presbyterian Church plans for its next year of ministry, we are clearly aware of the need for financial support. Our goals for growing, serving, and reaching out all have a cost. But the church’s financial gifts do not drive our ministry; rather, they fulfill it. Before the dollar signs there are dreams. Our vision for serving God’s glory and sharing the Good News precedes our funding. And both the vision for ministry and the funds that fulfill it come from the same source: the gracious God who gives us life. God gives us the vision for serving, the ministry by which we serve, and the funding that powers the ministry. All of our life as God’s people comes from the grace of our loving, saving Lord. How well do we understand this grace of God? It is the unmerited favor with which God beholds us, not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of Who He is. Before we took our first breath, God already knew us, loved us, and accomplished our redemption—from sins we had not yet committed! God is gracious, full of steadfast love and mercy. As we plan for our next year’s ministry, I pray that each of us does so from the deep awareness of God’s grace toward us in Jesus Christ. Without such awareness, our ministry can become frantic, self-directed busywork, and our financial commitments can become empty fund-raising. God wants more for us and more from us. Instead, let us ponder the great love with which God loves us in Jesus Christ. As God’s love becomes clearer to us, so will our serving gain clarity and power. Our gracious God deserves our grateful response. I pray that each of us will draw closer to God as we ponder the Gift that precedes our giving—the grace of God made flesh in Jesus our Savior. And I trust that Christ’s Spirit will guide each of us to a generous commitment to the ministry of Christ through our church in the coming year. Serving you gratefully,

Worshipping God’s Glory

We receive the gift of God’s Spirit, which opens our hearts, minds, hands, and voices to respond with praise. We offer this praise authentically and sincerely, in song and silence, reverently attending to God’s Word and responding through changed lives to glorify and serve the One whom alone we worship. John Knox seeks to offer God thrilling and thoughtful worship, deliberately inviting a growing community to respond with praise to God’s glory.

Worship Ministries

Chancel Choir

Chalice Choir

Children’s Choir

John Knox Ringers

Worship Video & Audio Sanctuary Guild

Ushers/Greeters A Time for Children

Growing in Faith

God’s first gift to us is love, and we meet that love in Jesus, our Lord. He calls us not just to know about God, but to join with him in the life God offers us. Jesus tells us to “make disciples . . . teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you”. Our ministries with children, youth, and adults focus on studying God’s Word and learning the practices of faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

Children’s Ministry

Nursery

Sunday School

Wednesday evening program

Vacation Bible School

John Knox Kindergarten

& Parents Day Out

Youth Ministry

Sunday School

Confirmation Class

Youth Group

Summer youth conferences

Summer mission trips

Adult Discipleship

Sunday School

Bible Study & Small Groups

Churchwide Worship/Study Wednesday evening programs

Fall 2016: Ephesians Women’s Ministry

Coming 2017: The Jesus Storybook Bible Men’s Ministry

Sent in Service Jesus invites us to serve God’s glory by joining him in serving others. John Knox supports Christ’s work in our community, nation, and world.

National & Global Outreach

Guatemala Mission

Missionary Support

Presbyterian Communities

of South Carolina

Presbyterian Disaster

Assistance

Super Bowl of Caring

Theological Education

Youth Mission Trips

John Knox supports and shares in

these local ministries: Angel Tree Boy Scouts of America Habitat for Humanity Foothills Presbytery Furman UKIRK Greenville Chin Presbyterian

Church Greer Relief Interfaith Hospitality Meals on Wheels Safe Harbor Thornwell Home for

Children Transitional Housing Triune Mercy Center United Ministries

Our prioritized response to God’s love—our first gift—is the means by which God will reach people through the ministry of John Knox. To join Christ in ministry is a privilege God entrusts to us.

Please join us in serving God’s glory by pledging your financial support for the ministry

of John Knox Presbyterian Church in 2017.

Why Pledge? Lots of people give to the Church, as well as to other good causes. Why does our church ask givers to pledge their financial commitment? 1. Pledges of financial support allow the church to plan more accurately. Our church gratefully receives gifts of all kinds, pledged and unpledged. But our budgeting for the next year is most accurate when we can depend upon the good-faith estimates of those who intend to give. Your pledges help us to staff appropriately and to equip our ministries as responsibly as possible. 2. Pledging helps givers to honor their priorities for financial

commitment. Some people are reluctant to make a pledge, fearing that they will be unable to keep their commitment. But those who do pledge their support usually find that the existing commitment reminds them of their intention. Expressing one’s commitment ahead of time reduces the chance that unforeseen events will derail one’s intended support. 3. Grateful commitment to Christ’s ministry reflects our awareness of

God’s unfailing commitment to us. Like the promises we make in baptism, our commitment to the Church’s ministry responds to God’s prior, gracious commitment to us. Established, committed givers attest to their delight in being able to respond generously to God’s grace in their lives. A pledge to next year’s ministry at John Knox Presbyterian Church can help you grow in this awareness of God’s grace.

Stewardship Dedication: Sunday, November 6 In our worship on Homecoming Sunday, November 6, we invite worshippers to dedicate

their financial pledges for 2017. We hope that you will read this brochure as an invitation

to make this kind of commitment.

After your prayerful consideration, please complete and sign the pledge card and

bring it with you to worship on November 6.

If you are unable to attend worship that day, feel free to mail your pledge to the church,

bring it in person to the church office during the week, or drop it in the weekly worship

offering some Sunday.

Your timely response to this request will help our leaders to finalize a budget

recommendation for our 2017 ministry that is both ambitious and responsible. As our

leaders are committed to a balanced budget, we are not able to depend on estimates for

unpledged giving. So we request and hope for your clear, bold, generous commitment to

the ministry of Jesus Christ through John Knox Presbyterian Church.

We strive to handle all gifts, pledges, and inquiries with the utmost fidelity and discretion.

If you have any questions or need more information about the church’s finances or your

own giving, please feel free to contact Brett Simmons (864.244.0453).

A Prayer for Our Church Generous and gracious God, show us afresh the rich treasure of your never-failing love for us and for your world. Teach us to see the wonder of your grace in every face we encounter and in every season of our living. May we claim our inheritance as your beloved children, receiving gratefully and sharing generously every blessing from your hand. And may our church grow in its capacity to love you and others, serving in faithfulness to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

35 Shannon Dr. 864.244.0543 Greenville, SC 29615 johnknoxpres.org