GIVE
We worship and serve a generous God, and we are called to be generous with God’s gifts to further God’s work and mission in the world. Therefore, what we do with our money is part of Christian discipleship.
Scripture provides much freedom in how we are to give.
In Jesus’ New Covenant, the tithe is not a law. For most of us, the tithe represents sacrificial giving. Start at whatever level you have the faith to act—and then trust God. If you are interested in learning more about the tithe, please visit our “Why Tithe” information below.
HOW TO GIVE
Several safe and secure methods of giving provide convenient ways to offer tithes and financial contributions to University Baptist Church.
Sunday Morning Service
Simply place cash or checks in the offering boxes located at the back of the Sanctuary. Be sure to include your name and address on the check or envelope, so that donation credit may be provided for tax purposes.
Postal Mail
Checks may also be sent to the church through the mail at the following address:
Attn: Financial Coordinator
University Baptist Church
1223 West Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22903-2837
Text to Give
Text “GIVE2UBC” to 73256 to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
Online Giving
Online giving simplifies contributing by allowing for a specific dollar amount to be sent to University Baptist Church on a specific date, thus decreasing the number of checks you have to write. This can be done in either of two ways:
1. Set Up Your Bank’s Bill Pay Feature
You may schedule contributions directly through your bank’s website using their Bill-Pay feature. You set up the recipient to be UBC using the church’s address given above. If an account number is requested, just use your envelope number. Once setup, you may schedule a payment whenever you choose. The advantage of this option is that there is usually no charge for this service; therefore, the church receives the full amount of your donation.
Online giving is not only easy, but also safe and secure. Furthermore, these options help individuals and families remain faithful in their giving even when they are out of town or unable to attend a Sunday service.
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What is your worship like?University Baptist Church blends the best of Baptist tradition with the richness of Christian history, following the sacred rhythms of the church year. From heartfelt hymns to engaging sermons, we offer a welcoming space to explore your faith journey. We believe observing the liturgical church year is a way for Christians to orient their lives around the story of God's saving work in Christ, fostering spiritual growth, community, and a deeper relationship with God. We are an intergenerational community of believers that engage the head and heart, celebrating and encouraging the diversity of our members and community, in the worship of God. We encourage all ages to offer their gifts, exploring ways to spark the spiritual imagination and involve the whole person in worship. We believe that UBC’s worship should be a catalyst for ongoing ministry and mission beyond our walls.
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Where can I park?For guests, families with small children, and people with difficulty walking, there are two parking lots adjacent to the church. While space in those lots is limited, there is ample free parking within easy walking distance of the church. For a parking map and directions, click here.
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What should I wear?Wear what makes you comfortable! Many members of our congregation come in their “Sunday best.” But you will find people here in jeans and suits and everything in between.
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What about my children?Children are a vital part of our congregation, and they are always welcome to remain in the sanctuary for worship. At the same time, we also understand that worship is sometimes more meaningful for parents when they know their children are being cared for in a safe and enriching environment designed specifically for them. We provide a nursery on the ground floor for children age birth to five, with trained volunteers and a safe facility. Children in grades K-2 are invited to begin the worship service with their families, and then proceed together after the Children’s Sermon to room 210, where Children’s Church will provide them with age-appropriate activities to explore the Biblical stories in depth. Older children are encouraged to remain in worship with their families, and children’s activity bags are available for them at the entrance to the sanctuary. If you have any questions, our Ushers and Greeters are happy to show you exactly where your children will be. You can also contact us for more information.
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How do you meet the needs of those who are differently abled?At University Baptist Church, we strive to ensure accessibility for all members of our community. Our facilities feature handicap-accessible entrances and an elevator for ease of mobility. Additionally, we provide hearing assistance devices located with our ushers in the back of the sanctuary. Our redesigned bulletins offer larger print for improved readability, and hymn lyrics and melodies are displayed on screens during services, enhancing participation for those with sight limitations. We're committed to meeting the diverse needs of our congregation and welcome everyone to worship with us.
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What if I’m not a Baptist?Members of our congregation come from a variety of denominational backgrounds, and our style of worship draws from the broader Christian tradition. Whether you have been a Baptist your entire life or never thought you would set foot in a Baptist church, you are welcome here, and we hope you will enrich our congregation with your presence.
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Who comes to worship at UBC?We value the diversity of our congregation and are welcoming to all. Some of us have been part of this fellowship for 80 years, and some of us are here for just a few months while passing through town. We are a mixture of young families, senior adults, college students, teenagers, and anything else you can imagine. We seek to be an authentic community of Christians who love and care for each other as a family and openly welcome and include all people, regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or background. We extend a special welcome to all patients, family members, and staff from the UVA Health System, located just across the street from our church. We hope you can join us for worship, and please feel free to contact us if there is any way we can be helpful to you.
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What if I can’t be there in person?Our service is broadcast live on the radio each week on WINA 1070 AM and 98.9 FM, and you can watch live video of the service online. You can download each week’s bulletin here, if you’d like to follow along. Video of previous weeks’ worship services can be found here.
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Other questions?If you have any other questions about our worship, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Or, better yet, come visit! All are welcome!
WHY TITHE?
The tithe is traditionally considered to be 10% of your income. If you are wondering “why tithe?” there are many verses throughout the Bible which encourage us to tithe. Tithing also honors the Scriptural principles of generously giving. When you give today, your generosity enables the work of University Baptist Church (UBC). Your tithe supports the church’s budget and mission activities here and abroad. To put it very plainly, your tithe will support your ministry team, staff, provide for the buildings and grounds, and support our community missions in Virginia and abroad.
Are you interested in where the Christian tradition of tithing originates? There are many Biblical passages discussing generosity, tithing, supporting the church etc. Read on to learn more!
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
—Malachi 3:10
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
—Proverbs 3:9-10
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
—Matthew 23:23
If you are interested in continuing to learn more about the Biblical basis for tithing, many other verses and parables mention tithing, including II Corinthians 9:6-15, Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 14: 22-23, Colossians 3:1-2 and Matthew 6:19-21.
As with anything, sometimes it’s easier to talk or think about tithing than to do it. So, consider it one way to worship God, a way to remember that each of us, and all our resources, belong to God.
Consider these guidelines to make tithing a habit:
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Establish a pattern of giving (such as in line with your pay periods).
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Give to your local church and missions which are important to you and your family.
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Start somewhere you are comfortable. We welcome all contributions.
PLANNED GIVING
We thank you for your interest in supporting the work of University Baptist Church (UBC). Planned Giving is, simply put, a commitment made to provide a major gift over time or through your estate as part of your overall financial and estate planning. A growing number of individuals are choosing to include planned gifts in their estates, and we hope you will choose to work with us.
Currently, there are two major types of planned giving that UBC is able to accept or help you to facilitate:
Plans from Your Estate
A bequest from your estate can be established in a will, living trust, retirement plan, or through life insurance.
Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
From an individual retirement account (IRA)
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To make a QCD you must be at least 73.
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A QCD can count towards your required minimum distribution.
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A maximum of $100,000 per individual can be donated as a QCD annually.
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QCD’s must be transferred directly from the retirement account to UBC.
A QCD might reduce the taxes you owe while helping your church. Here’s how it works:
If you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and are 73 or older, you are required to take a distribution from that IRA each year based on the value at the end of the previous year and your age. This is called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and generally the distribution is fully taxed as ordinary income. The form of the distribution may be in cash or securities.
A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian to a qualified charity. This direct transfer can be in cash or securities, and it counts toward satisfying your RMD for the year. A QCD reduces your taxable income by the amount of such distribution since it is not included in your income.
Charitable giving is not about taxes. However, the tax benefit from a QCD encourages charitable giving and could enable you to give more money to what you love. With the recent increase in the Standard Deduction, many tax payers will find that charitable donations no longer have any tax benefit. A QCD can restore some significant tax benefits for charitable donations.
If you have questions about a QCD, please let us know.
Thank you for considering making UBC part of your financial and estate planning. We look forward to continuing our work in the community and growing our relationships with our members, neighbors, and those we have yet to meet.