Early in their development, the people of God received instructions from God, delivered by Moses, to practice first fruits giving (see the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament). The name first fruits means that we are to give to God from the first and the very best of what we receive. Ancient people were asked to bring the first and best offspring of their cattle and flocks and of their crops of vegetables and fruits as an act of worship. First fruits giving recognizes that God is the giver of all good gifts. We can take no credit for how we have been blessed; even our ability to earn money is a gift from God, and God never stops giving. 

More than any other issue, Jesus addressed the importance of being generous givers. In a culture where the desire for wealth is idolatrous, being generous with our first fruits is critical to our own spiritual wellness and discipleship. To we who have been richly blessed, Jesus' words to whom much is given much is expected need to be heard. Likewise, his statement for where your treasure is there also will be your heart is key to our formation. In other words, giving generously forges faith in us and causes us to fall more deeply in love with Jesus.

As individuals, first fruits giving means that the first check we write each month or each week is to go to God’s mission through the church. It also means that the size of the offering will honor God. 

As a congregation, we practice first fruits giving as a body. At Epiphany, the first checks written each month, even before payroll and mortgage, are designated first fruits for the work of the greater church and for God’s mission through the Haitian Timoun Foundation. The amount of those checks is based upon a percentage (currently at 12%) of the previous month’s offering.

Because Epiphany has practiced first fruits giving, we have seen generosity multiplied among all of us. The amount of funds deployed for mission beyond our doors has risen to unprecedented levels. 

There are a number of ways that you can give to Epiphany. All gifts support the work of the church in our community and the world. A portion of every gift is given to ministry beyond our doors, as Epiphany's first fruits gift.

Make an online donation.You may make a one-time credit card or electronic funds transfer gift to Epiphany through a secure online connection.

Enroll in the Simply Giving program. You'll be assured that your first fruits gifts are offered, even if you are out of town for vacation and holidays or forget your checkbook when you come to worship. Or you can add Epiphany to your regular online bill paying account to ensure your regular offerings.

Send a check. Please note if your check is designated for a particular appeal. All undesignated gifts are credited to the general fund.

Come and worship with us! Offer your gift during worship with the community.

All gifts are tax-deductible; financial statements are mailed to regular donors quarterly and a yearend statement is sent to all contributors who provide a current mailing address.

See Epiphany's annual report for information about how your gifts are deployed for God's mission.

The Great News of Biblical Stewardship for Being Formed in Christ: 10 Principles  

Through the ages, God’s people have been numbered among the most generous and have found great joy in giving. To give is to follow the model of Christ. Giving itself is an act of formation into disciples. The more we give the more we are deeply drawn into the heart of God and the more peace we have with the world and our resources. In a world that calls us to be afraid and has raised wealth and materialism into idolatry, followers of Jesus have discovered another way – a priceless way. 

1.       Biblical stewardship is about raising people and not money. The relationship we have with our money is of critical importance to God. Other than the kingdom of God, Jesus taught more about money than about any other issue.   

2.       We are managers (stewards) and not owners of anything. The scriptures are consistently clear. Everything belongs to God. Being created “in the image of God” means that we act as “agents” for God. Giving is fundamental to being a child of God.

·         The scriptures give stern warnings to those who think that they actually own their resources.

·         The scriptures warn about our taking credit for what financial success we may have.

·         The Bible places much of the blame on the ills of the world and the brokenness of our relationships with God and each other on our faulty attitudes toward money.

·         The kingdom of self is a heavily fortified kingdom!

3.       Faithful and generous stewardship is the outcome of our belief. Disciples of Jesus reorder their lives based upon the empty tomb and the promises of God. Our resources are for God’s work.

·         As persons grasped by the empty tomb we are not reactive to the forces of fear in the world but respond generously because of the certainty of the promises of God.

·         We breathe the air of an ethic of scarcity in this world, but the empty tomb calls us to operate out of an ethic of abundance.

4.       The more we give, the more we are drawn into the heart of God. Jesus says, “For where your treasure is there also will be your heart” (Matthew 6:21).

5.       The great commandment is that we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. The scriptures teach us that to love Jesus is to love his church. Love is not a feeling. It is a choice and includes tangible acts of love like giving generously.

6.       The scriptures speak about tithing, which is giving to God’s church ten percent of one’s income. The scriptures also speak about “proportionate giving” (II Corinthians 8:3). Proportionate giving means that one’s giving increases as a percentage of one’s income and resources as one’s income and resources rise. This means that a tithe, for some people, may not truly honor God. This is why the church is filled with double and triple tithers and even more generosity.

7.       The scriptures teach first fruits giving. The first allocation of what we receive is to go to God’s church. It is to put first things first and an act of faith that God will make the rest of one’s resources sufficient for one’s needs.

8.       Making a financial pledge is biblical (II Corinthians 9:5).

9.       We can never out-give God! God always multiplies our generosity in ways that are not always measurable and yet are priceless (see Malachi 3:10).

10. God does not desire that we give begrudgingly or through guilt. God does indeed love a cheerful giver! (II Corinthians 9:7).