Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville, North Carolina

A new law allows individual retirement account (IRA) owners 70 1/2 or older, who are taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), to make gifts to charity— such as Trinity Church—directly from their IRA without having the distribution added to their gross income for the year.

This option is valid for tax years 2006 and 2007 only. The distribution must be made directly from the IRA administrator to the charity (not to a donor advised fund or private foundation).

Distributions for gifts from IRAs made in this way are not added to gross income for the year. There is no charitable contribution deduction, of course, because the gift is made tax-free—which is especially important to those whose RMDs place them into a higher tax bracket, as well as to those givers who do not itemize their taxes.

If you would like to consider this type of contribution to Trinity Episcopal Church, contact your IRA administrator who will assist you in transferring funds from your IRA directly to Trinity Church.

Did you know that you can make a contribution to the Trinity Church Endowment Fund in any amount at any time? This Fund, established at the Community Foundation, is a fund whereby the principal is permanently placed in an investment account and the parish receives the income from the fund to assist with our ministries and programs. Obviously, these contributions are tax deductible and your gift will live on well past our lifetimes. Simply mail us a check, payable to Trinity Church, and note that is is for the Endowment Fund, and we will add your gift to the account. Thank you for thinking of Trinity Church when making charitable contributions.

"Why I support Trinity Church", Robert Chandler

Nearly eight years ago Jo and I made the decision to leave New York City and relocate to Asheville, her hometown. This also meant leaving St. James Episcopal Church, where both children were baptized, and our church family there. Finding the right Episcopal church and parish family in Asheville was very important to us. With Sarah being four and Henry just a baby, and with a number of options to choose from, we began our quest. It didn’t take long. The worship services at Trinity, with their inspiring sermons, beautiful music and welcoming congregants really drew us in. We were thrilled with the family-friendly atmosphere and the wonderful children’s’ program. Moreover, there were wonderful Sunday school options for us! Jo and I were quickly drawn by the hospitality, spirituality and tradition that Trinity embodied and in no time it became our new church “home”.

The kids were hooked, too. One day Jo was at a stoplight downtown with Henry, who had just started to talk, in the car. Henry spotted Father Bill and Father Morgan Gardner (Chaplain at Deerfield and friend of the family) standing on the corner. Henry very excitedly exclaimed, “Look, there’s God! And Jesus, too!” It was pretty clear Henry had been taking it all in, as best he could, on Sunday mornings. Bill and Morgan still debate which one was God and which one was Jesus! Sarah is now in the EYC program and we are more thankful than ever for the support and nurturing that Trinity provides its young people.

We pledge every year to Trinity. Many of the things that make Trinity so special require our financial support. We know our pledge helps to maintain buildings, pay the staff and carry out the many programs (including the children’s programs that are so important to Jo and me) of the church. We really feel blessed to be a part of Trinity parish and to be able to call Trinity our family’s church “home”.

Robert Chandler
Stewardship Committee

Our family joined Trinity soon after moving to Asheville from Greensboro in 1999. Our oldest daughter, Hallie, now 15, was seven. In Greensboro, at Holy Trinity, she had always admired the acolytes although she was unsure of what to call them. "I want to be a satellite!" she declared. Confident that there was no Episcopal space program, we assured her that when we joined a church in Asheville we would allow her to become an acolyte.

Under Alastair's patient tutelage and that of the older acolytes, she became a regular fixture in the procession at the 10:45 service. As parents of young children do, we looked intently for her in the line of white robes on her appointed Sundays. As one of the youngest and shortest in the procession it was not always easy to pick her from the crowd.

We soon learned that any torch she was holding had a tell-tale erratic movement. So for about the next two years we just looked for the shaky torch, and there she was: beaming, exuding unearned confidence in her prodigious torch-bearing skills. Despite a few close brushes with the near-immolation of herself, fellow acolytes, clergy and the odd chorister, her youthful self-importance gave way to real confidence and it became impossible to find her by looking for the shaky torch. Last year, the sight of her lifting the Gospel book brought a tear to her parents' eyes. And now, when she carries a torch, it shines, steady and clear.

Our family's history of church stewardship has followed a similar path. As a young couple, just beginning to attend services regularly, we would place folding money in the plate. I can't speak for Martha, but I was sure that God was proud of each and every bill we placed in the plate for His service. Years later, when we first signed a pledge card and returned it to the church office, I imagined the parish would want to honor us with a plaque for such a profound commitment. On reflection, the amount pledged that year would probably not cover the cost of a good plaque.

As time passed and our understanding grew, our financial commitment to the church has been
guided (like many of you) by prayerful contemplation in an effort to do our part. We want to support
the life of our church home, this wonderful Christian community at Trinity. I often think about the faith
and commitment it took for the early members of Trinity to erect the beautiful Gothic church in which
we worship almost 100 years later. I contemplate the music that enriches our worship and the growing numbers of children in Godly Play and in Sunday School. What is the thankful response to the richness of life and worship at Trinity? It is stewardship. We all have much to be thankful for.

From the age of 11, more than 25 years ago, I have always felt welcome at Trinity. All through my years of attending college, moving to Colorado and eventually back to Asheville, I always felt comfortable attending the Sunday service. Throughout these years, a great deal of change has occurred and, in my opinion, each time the church has moved to the next level of serving its congregation.

Having recently been asked to join the Stewardship Committee, I quickly became aware of Trinity ‘behind the scenes’. I had no idea that the entire HVAC system needs to be replaced, or that our incredibly dedicated staff - from the ministers to the child care workers – are not paid nearly enough, given all that they do. To keep Trinity on the wonderful path down which it’s guided, it needs our help.

I have so many memories with Trinity – some happy, some sad – and throughout all of them, especially in recent years, great comfort and joy has always been provided to me, as I’m sure it has to you. Whether it be your time, money or other donation, please consider giving to Trinity as Trinity has given to you.