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Financial Summary
Stewardship
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and
first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the
law and the prophets.” Matthew 22: 37-40.
We Believe
Stewardship is a Christian’s fulfillment of the Great
Commandment. It is the recognition that there is spiritual value
in a generous life. It is the joyful response to God’s love for
us, a means for us to both “love the Lord” and to love our
neighbors as ourselves. It is both our responsibility and our
privilege as disciples of Christ.
We recognize that God created this world and all that is in it.
He created us. He gave us our very lives and our every blessing.
All that we have---our possessions, our abilities, our freedoms,
our very time on this Earth---are His gifts to us. We are
managers, not owners, of our life’s resources. The uses to which
we devote those resources reflect our gratitude to, our love
for, our God.
Scripture tells us that “from everyone who has been given much,
much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted
with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48). The “rich in
this present world” are commanded to “do good, to be rich in
good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this
way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the
life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). We recognize
ourselves in these verses.
Thus, surely, Christian stewardship is a call for us to be
generous in all ways, just one of which has to do with our
finances. And it is because of the generosity of many that First
Lutheran Church is able to minister to young and old, to men and
women, to those of both new and mature faith. Its every sermon,
program, activity, class, and fellowship opportunity is directly
owing to the faithful generosity of members and non-members
alike.
Would you like to help First Lutheran Church serve its mission,
“to bring people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and grow
in the Christian faith”? If so, here are some ways for you to
help.
Ways to Give to This Year’s
Ministry
1. A Financial Pledge: Each fall, First Lutheran
Church begins its process of assessing its finances in order to,
in turn, assess its ministry abilities for the coming year. A
vital part of that process is its invitation for its members to
make a formal pledge of their giving intentions. Please consider
making a formal pledge to First Lutheran Church. Pledge cards
are always available in the church office.
2. Cash and check: Gifts by check or cash, of course,
continue to be the method most choose to support the ministry of
First Lutheran Church. Financial gifts sent to the church
office, or left in offering plates, are not only appreciated,
but are indispensable to the fulfillment of our mission. Your
gifts may be made generally, or as a way to honor or memorialize
a family member or friend.
3. Simply Giving: The most convenient way to contribute
to the mission of First Lutheran church is through the “Simply
Giving” program. This is a program offered by Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans. It is a safe, reliable, automated giving program.
You determine the frequency of your automatic gift---weekly,
semi-monthly or monthly--- and the church is assisted by the
predictability of your gifts. Contact the church office if you
are interested in this convenient approach.
http://www.thrivent.com/fraternal/churchcommunity/simplygiving.html
Call the church office at 235-7389 to sign up for
this service.
4. Pay Pal: Pay pal is a second convenient giving method.
It permits you to make an on-line contribution to the life and
mission of First Lutheran Church. Click on the button below
to donate now.
5. Stock Transfers: Some prefer to contribute to First
Lutheran by way of the transfer of stock shares. By gifting
stock to the church, capital gains taxes may be avoided. Please
contact the church office for more information.
6. Real Estate or vehicles: The church is capable of
receiving gifts of property, such as real estate or vehicles.
Such assets will likely be sold and the proceeds will be
dedicated to the church’s ministry. Again, please contact the
church office for more information.Tithe Calculator:
[click
here]
Giving to First Lutheran’s
Long-Term Needs
First Lutheran Church Foundation: First Lutheran Church
is blessed with a separately incorporated foundation which
operates as an independent extension of the church. It receives
gifts of all kinds, which are held in an endowment fund and
managed carefully and professionally. Over the course of time,
the fund has grown considerably while, at the same time,
substantial amounts have been disbursed to support missions and
unique needs not anticipated by the church’s annual budget.
[click here for more info]
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