We all are God’s children on a spiritual journey, traveling together in God’s love, enjoying the gifts of grace and love and worldly blessings that God has given us. And as we continue on this journey, giving is not a mandate, but rather a wonderful opportunity to glorify God’s son, the risen Christ, by mirroring God’s generosity to us.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:21).
Or listen to the words of Anne Frank, who touched millions with her testament to the human spirit:
Lutherans are already on the ground in the Midwest helping our
brothers and sisters in Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, and
Texas. As you pray this week, include the men and women of
Lutheran Disaster Response in your prayers.
St John’s, as many churches do, asks its members to support the
church with an annual pledge commitment. We do this on
Consecration Sunday, which typically occurs in October or
November of every year, but pledges are welcome at any time
during the year.
Consecration is the process by which time, talent or money is
devoted to a sacred purpose. The Stewardship Committee asks each
member of St John’s to think of our annual pledges as a
commitment of a portion of what has been given to us through the
abundance of our gracious God.
Simply Giving® is an automated giving program designed to help
you conveniently and consistently contribute to St. John’s
Lutheran Church. Your gifts are made through a pre-authorized
withdrawal form from your bank account or credit card. You
determine the frequency of your automatic gift—weekly,
semi-monthly or monthly—the option is yours. Your gift or payment
is deposited into the church’s bank account on the same day it is
withdrawn from your account, at no cost to you or to St. John’s.
When a contribution is given to St. John’s, unless otherwise
directed, it is applied to what is called the “General Fund.”
From this Fund we support not only the ministries of our
congregation, but also the ministries in our neighborhood and
literally around the world.
Through St. John’s Memorial Fund each of us is provided the
opportunity to give a gift in memory of or in honor of someone we
love and esteem. Usually such a gift can be long-lasting and
broad in scope.
After considering the needs of your family, you may wish to leave
all, or a portion, of your estate to one or more ministries of
St. John’s. By contributing to St. John’s, we have an opportunity
to serve people in ways which we as individuals could never
accomplish alone. Even small bequests are appreciated – just look
what our Lord did with the loaves and fishes!
Each year at Christmas we are challenged as Christians to focus
on the baby Jesus in the manger amidst the extravagance and
busyness of the Holiday season. At St. John’s, one way we focus
is through a congregational gift for the Christ Child. May this
be the first of all the gifts you give this year!
The Organ Fund exists for the purpose of completing the payments
for the construction, installation and long-term maintenance
costs of the new 56 rank Bedient Opus 80 organ completed in June,
2008. Tax-deductible gifts can be made by simply noting on the
check memo line “Organ Fund” or by contributing online.
