Stewardship in the church is often limited to meeting next year’s budget by members giving out of their current income. But stewardship is really much broader since all we are and have been given is a trust from God, including our accumulated assets.

Planned giving allows individual to respond in a more holistic and faithful way as Christian stewards - to make sound financial plans that take into account their own needs and those of family, as well as commitments to church and charities.

The primary goal of planned giving is not providing another fund-raising technique, but rather helping persons be faithful stewards in their financial planning for family and in giving to the church as part of their family.  God calls members of the church not only to be faithful stewards now, but also to join the mission into the future.

Our congregation is generous.  Our members and friends share time and talent and treasure, but our financial strength is also rooted in the gifts given by prior generations.  They considered not just stewardship as an annual gift or pledge.  They also hoped to share the gifts that they enjoyed in this place with those who would follow them.  The endowed funds that have grown from those gifts give us flexibility to stretch toward goals that we might not otherwise have risked. 

A planned gift (sometimes called a deferred gift) is a gift that is planned for during the donor’s lifetime but not actually received by church or charity until after the donor’s death. These include bequests, life income gifts, and certain life insurance arrangements.

Life income gifts include gift annuities, pooled funds, and charitable remainder trusts, and provide the donor with income for life. Following the death of the donor, the remaining principal of the gift is paid out to the charity designated in the donor’s agreement.

If you would like more information on planned giving at First Church, please contact the church office and a member of the Trustees Team will follow up (508-653-0971; admin@firstchurchnatick.org).