Church attendance rises but donations fall

WEST LINN, Ore. - Donations are down at many local churches this year because of the recession, and many of them are bracing for half-empty donation baskets during Christmas services, which they said means less money to help the needy.

More people are coming to church this Christmas season and Operations Manager Steve Fivecoat of Southlake Foursquare Church in West Linn said - as he prepared for an afternoon Christmas Eve service - that a Wednesday night service was packed.
 
“We had people sitting in the window sills,” he said.

While the recession may bring people in, it also makes it harder for them to give.

The church launched a $1.5 million campaign for the holiday season to help charities, but it said it will probably only reach half that amount.

“What we do is say, ‘we trust you to do what you can,’ and that’s what people do,” said Pastor Kip Jacob. “People want to give, especially in a season of giving, and Christmas represents that.”

But some church members are making an extra effort to give, even when money is tight.

Judy Noye said she lives by herself and on a fixed income, but she said she is spending less on Christmas presents this year so she can give more to the church.

“That’s what I’m doing this year,” she said. “I haven’t before. I haven’t thought that way. If I’m buying a lot of presents for somebody else then the church needs it just as much as the people I’m buying it for - even more.”

The pastors of several other local churches said, however, they are amazed at the generosity of people during the poor economy. They said people are hungry to give.