Include a "Silent Night of Giving" this Christmas season

Dec. 7, 2023 by

Katie Clark

Encourage generosity without making a single announcement about it.

Encouraging a year-end gift is always worthwhile. However, traditional end-of-year gifts like stock donations or matching gifts might not speak to the hearts of those sitting in your pews during seasonal liturgies. So, what is the best way to spark generosity among those new and returning faces during the “most wonderful time of the year”?

Join the eCatholic team for a look into our favorite “silent ask” techniques that you can immediately implement this year. We highlight some not-so-traditional opportunities that provide a refreshing take on how to inspire giving and stewardship at the end of the calendar year.

Create a welcoming environment

You see so many new and returning faces in the pews between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays, but don’t forget, this is an opportunity to put their “welcome” before their wallet.

Creating an environment that welcomes during these holy days can have a lasting effect. In our video above, we offer a few ideas for training regular members to be more hospitable at this time of year, with the expectation that an open heart can be a powerful catalyst towards generosity.

And, if you’re interested in learning more about creating an environment of stewardship at your parish, check out the interview below. We sat down for an interview with Deacon John Dugan from St. Mary’s Parish in Uxbridge, MA. Deacon John has been with St. Mary’s for 13 years and is a champion for creating devoted stewards through discipleship and stewardship as a way of parish life. Watch below to learn from the experience he’s had at St. Mary’s!
 

Using “Silent Ask” Techniques (plus a free resource!)

If you’re considering creating a “Silent Night of Giving” this year at your parish, though your “loudest” efforts may circulate around building relationships, there is still plenty of opportunity for making the “silent ask”.

We walk through our six favorite Silent Ask Techniques in the video above, but for those of you who are eager to learn more, here’s a short list:

1. Always begin with prayer for God to inspire the hearts of your members and visitors.
2. Put QR codes everywhere! Here are a few locations you might consider:
   • In-pew poster, reminding members of online giving during the offertory
   • Rotating screen announcements
   • Flyers on a bulletin board
   • Worship aide or other handouts at Mass or parish events
   • Ornaments placed on a Giving Tree
   • Postcards or other mailers with holiday liturgy time reminders
3. Don’t forget to share inspiring stories of stewardship in your bulletin, for visitors to read about before holiday Masses.
4. Make sure your collection basket is clearly labeled for visitors if it is stationary.
5. If you’ve stopped passing any basket, consider passing it around during your most highly attended Masses.
6. Include more traditional ways to give in other parish communications, such as your website or an email blast.

To help streamline at least one of these “silent asks”, we’ve also created a template for an in-pew flyer that can be customized, printed, and included in each pew before the holidays arrive. Simply enter your email below and we’ll send you the download!
 

To help streamline at least one of these “silent asks”, we’ve also created a template for an in-pew flyer that can be customized, printed, and included in each pew before the holidays arrive. Simply enter your email below and we’ll send you the download!

eCatholic’s New Year’s Resolution Challenge

We know that time seems to dwindle faster and faster as Christmas approaches. So, if you don’t have time to make a change this year, consider coming back in the new year and challenging yourself to explore one of the following options to improve your tools and begin the shift to a culture of stewardship! 
 

Challenge #1: Dive into Giving Success

The Giving Success program is a complementary service for those who use eCatholic’s online giving tools. Check out what the program offers here, or if you’ve already completed Giving Success once, consider running the program again in the new year!
 

Challenge #2: Explore eCatholic’s Giving tools

eCatholic’s Online Giving and Payment + Forms tools integrate seamlessly into your eCatholic website and are mobile-friendly, too (so pairing these tools with your QR codes is a no-brainer!). See the benefits of using eCatholic or schedule a meeting with our team to get a look under the hood and see the features for yourself.
 

Challenge #3 - Refresh your eCatholic-powered website

Explore the most-affordable design services for your eCatholic-powered website. Whether your looking for a simple refresh with a Homepage Makeover or want to build from the ground up with a custom website design, our team can help turn your online presence into a hub for evangelization and communication. 

Have you ever made your own "silent asks"? We're always looking for more inspiration. Tell us about your unique culture of stewardship below!