Our Philosophy
Holy Cross's philosophy of giving stems from a believer's obligation to be a wise steward of all the resources with which God has blessed him / her. From the way you serve God with your time and talents, to the attitude with which you give back to God the first fruits of your labor through monetary giving - each of us is called to worship Him with our entire life.
At Holy Cross, we understand that giving of our material resources for the kingdom of God is a significant part of our worship. We also believe that we as the church are to be meticulous in how we handle those resources entrusted to us. And so, Holy Cross provides members of our body a number of ways to give financially.
Sunday Giving
If you have attended Holy Cross for any amount of time, you will have noticed the opportunity to give your offering during our Worship Service with the passing of an offering plate. Offerings may be placed in the plate during this time.
For those individuals who have elected to give through our Online Giving Service, we provide a small card (found in our Sunday Bulletin) which reads, "I Give Electronically." If you wish to participate in online giving, but also have a spiritual desire to participate in the physical act of giving, one of these cards may be placed in the offering plate as it is passed.
Online Giving
We can accept credit cards. While we do not encourage anyone to increase personal debt through credit card payments, we understand some people utilize credit cards to earn miles or points and responsibly pay off balances each month. Please note that unlike direct bank account online giving, credit card payments cost Holy Cross on average about 3% of the total transaction amount. However, we do offer the option to offset that additional cost to the church when setting up a credit card contribution.
Online Giving FAQs
1. Why should I consider online giving to Holy Cross?
We would like to encourage all who contribute financially to Holy Cross to set up a profile and consider giving electronically. It's convenient for you and provides much-needed consistency for our church. Whether you give weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly, you will no longer need to write out as many as 52 checks a year. Even when travel, illness, or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, Holy Cross will continue to receive your contributions on an uninterrupted basis. In today's difficult economy, this is vitally important for the financial health of Holy Cross.
Online giving also results in a significant reduction in the amount of time required of our Treasurer to deposit and process many manual checks. Plus, by making contributions online, you are able to log-in to your profile at any time, day or night, and get an update on your giving history, initiate changes, or contribute to other ministries or events going on at Holy Cross.
2. What types of bank accounts can I give from?
You can give from either a checking or savings account.
3. What types of credit cards can I use?
We can accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards.
4. What fees are associated with processing the transaction?
You will not pay any fees with an online gift, unless you specifically designate that you are willing to help offset the Church's cost of providing this service. Furthermore, online gifts are a more cost efficient way for Holy Cross to process donations as compared to a handwritten check.
5. Will I receive an acknowledgement of my gift?
Yes, an end of year summary of your donation(s) will be provided to you before January 31st of the subsequent year.
6. How can I update my contact information if it changes after I make a contribution?
Please send any updated contact information to Debbie Page at treasurer@holycrosschurch.com.
7. When will contributions be taken from my account?
It typically takes 48 hours for a contribution to be taken from your account. The time frame allows for the transaction to be processed through your bank and Holy Cross's bank.
8. I have additional questions regarding online giving. Who is the best person to contact to discuss these questions?
For any questions, comments or concerns about online giving, please contact Debbie Page by email at treasurer@holycrosschurch.com or by phone at 281-633-2000.
Year-End Giving
- Designed for online processing to be received no later than December 31st;
- Postmarked by the USPS no later than December 31st; or
- Delivered to the church office by December 31st.
If you have
questions regarding year-end giving, please plan accordingly to get
those answered by contacting Debbie Page at treasurer@holycrosschurch.com.
Holy Cross Office
Contributions can by sent by mail or dropped off at the Holy Cross offices at the following address:
Holy Cross Episcopal Church
Attention: Debbie Page
5653 West Riverpark Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Receipts
You will receive a receipt of your tax-deductible gifts in accordance with IRS requirements. Please let us know if you have any specific needs regarding the timing of these notifications, otherwise you will receive only the minimum summary of your gifts necessary to meet government standards.
