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At St. Nicholas, stewardship is the foundation of parish life. It is how we live our faith by offering back to God a portion of what He has entrusted to us.
Stewardship is not only about money. It is about gratitude, faithfulness, and responsibility, offering our time, talents, and treasure in ways that reflect our love for God and His Church. Through stewardship, we help sustain and grow our parish so it can serve both this generation and the next.
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship is our faith in action, the prayerful and consistent offering of our gifts to God. Everything we have comes from Him, and as stewards, we return a portion of those blessings to His Church.
At St. Nicholas, we practice proportional giving, which means our giving grows as our blessings grow. It is not about equal gifts but equal participation, with each of us giving according to our means and out of gratitude for God’s generosity.
When we give faithfully of our time, our abilities, and our resources, we help the Church remain strong, vibrant, and ready to serve.
What is a Pledge?
A pledge is the financial expression of your stewardship - a promise between you and God to support His Church in the year ahead. It is both a spiritual and practical commitment, ensuring that St. Nicholas can meet its daily needs - from clergy support and ministry work to utilities, insurance, and maintenance.
A pledge reminds us that giving is not an afterthought, but a first priority, offered from the first fruits of what we have received. We encourage pledges to be consistent (weekly or monthly) and proportional to each household’s blessings. Together, our pledges sustain everything that makes parish life possible: worship, service, education, and community.
To be a voting member in good standing, each individual or family must submit a pledge form annually.
Our 2026 Stewardship Pledge Focus
This year’s Stewardship Pledge Program marks a shift from minimum giving to proportional giving. Rather than asking “What is the least I can give?”, we invite everyone to prayerfully consider, “What is the most I can offer back to God and His Church?”
Each pledge should be intentional and substantial enough to reflect real commitment - a gift that places the Church among the true priorities in our lives. When we give in this way, we affirm that our faith is not something extra, but something essential - at the center of who we are.
When every household gives faithfully and with purpose, our parish not only meets its needs but thrives - remaining a place of worship, fellowship, and service for generations to come.
View the 2026 Pledge Guidelines
How to Pledge
Step 1: Fill Out a Pledge Form
Forms are available in the narthex or online.
Step 2: Pay Your Pledge
Choose the option that works best for you:
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Recurring Giving – weekly or monthly payments through Tithely using credit card or bank transfer.
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Blue Envelope Giving – drop your envelope in the offering tray or hand it to a parishioner at the candlestand.
If you have questions, please contact Kyle, our Stewardship Chair at kyle.laham@stnicholasbridgeport.org
“Tithing, like praying and fasting, puts God first and teaches us to trust Him rather than ourselves, as our leader. When we tithe, God is given the first part, the first tenth of the gifts that He gave to us. When we tithe, we enter into His ministry at a serious level that will allow the parish and the Archdiocese to minister as they should. Only when the parish and the Archdiocese operate at a level pleasing to God, can the people receive the ministry that God wants them to have. Contributing tithes to the Church is different than making a pledge. Tithes are based on what God has given us, not what we think the local parish needs to operate. Tithes also represent the first part, not what is left over after we pay our bills and have our recreation. Tithing represents a significant shift in thinking. That is why tithing, like praying and fasting, is a spiritual gift that deepens our relationship with God and changes our life.”
-- Bishop JOHN, referencing remarks made by Metropolitan PHILIP
