Have you ever had to pay your dues?
Now, I’m sure that many of you – in your life and career – have had to tow the line and hunker down and work hard and “pay your dues” in order to advance to the next level, get the promotion, and succeed. But this isn’t the kind of “paying your dues” that I’m talking about.
It is very likely that – at some point in your life – you have been part of an organization that required you to pay “dues” in order to be a member.
We don’t have “dues” at Bedford Presbyterian Church. Anyone who is willing to meet with the Session and promise to be a faithful member of our congregation can join and take part – free of charge.
But our congregation does have a “Per Capita” – a per member – obligation to our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Synod of the Northeast, and the Presbytery of Northern New England. Every year, the church pays this Per Capita amount for each and every active member of our church. And, we invite each and every active member to help offset their portion of the Per Capita.
In 2025, the Per Capita – or per member amount – that Bedford Presbyterian Church is required to pay is $57.00, and it breaks down in the following way:
$41.91 to the Presbytery of Northern New England
$4.25 to the Synod of the Northeast
$10.84 to the General Assembly of the PC(USA)
$57.00 – Total
With each Per Capita contribution, the higher councils of the church are funded and, in so many ways, these funds benefit our church through publications, clergy support, disaster assistance, immigrant support, educational opportunities, and mission partnerships around the world. In other words, Per Capita contributions build up the Body of Christ by strengthening the support structure of the Presbyterian Church.
In 2025, Bedford Presbyterian Church will pay around $20,000 in Per Capita on your behalf to support and be connected to the larger church. You can help offset this.
There are two easy ways to pay your Per Capita contribution:
Simply write a check to Bedford Presbyterian Church and put “Per Capita” in the Memo line.
Go to our website, click the Give tab, select “Per Capita” and “Give this One Time” (or simply go HERE: https://bpcnh.breezechms.com/give/online).
Because you make a Per Capita contribution, our congregation (along with other congregations across the country) has a strong system of support that is not nearly as strong in other denominations. If every active member of our church made a Per Capita contribution, BPC would be that much more able to use the funds allotted for Per Capita for other important initiatives.
Thank you!
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
This Week: “Learning and Living the Way – And Be Thankful, Week 2”
Read Colossians 3:15-17
Read Luke 18:9-14
Read this interesting article about Katharina Schutz Zell: https://tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/reformation-women-katharina-schutz-zell/
Read or sing Hymn # 275 – “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”