Immanuel Lutheran Church 9733 Olive Blvd. Olivette, MO 63132
What is Sacrificial Giving?
Phone: 314-993-2394
by Pastor Karg
Sacrificial giving is what results when we make a deliberate choice to dedicate our time, resources or life to something or someone. A deliberate choice. In 1980, my parents made a deliberate choice to send me to Japan as an exchange student for the summer. The previous summer our family had hosted a student from Japan, named Hiroshi Shinto. The following year Hiroshi’s family invited me to come for a visit. This was a great opportunity, but there was also a great cost. Farming for my family in the in the late 1970’s and early 80’s was not an easy time. The debt on our farm was great and interest rates were high. Yet, in spite of the cost my parents were convinced that this was the opportunity of a lifetime for me and they sacrificed precious resources so that I could have that international experience.
Explore the new website! www.immanuelolivette.org Visit the Grace of Giving tab
However, what we are being asked to consider goes beyond an international experience. Through “Grace of Giving”, you and I are being asked to prayerfully consider and seek God’s will as to our role in supporting this campaign. We are being asked to prayerfully consider a deliberate choice to dedicate our time, resources and life; taking a step of faith to advance the Lord’s work here at Immanuel. Sacrificial giving is not easy, at times it can hurt. Sacrificial giving is a commitment to giving even when you might rather be doing something else with your time, your resources or your life. Consider Jesus in the garden as He prays that the “cup will be taken away.” Jesus, on the eve of His ultimate sacrifice, prays for another way. Jesus is neither coerced nor forced; facing the cross He seeks the will of the Father. His sacrifice was the only way to bring redemption to mankind. St. John in his first letter reminds us that our love for God is really only a response to His love already shown us. ”This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (4:10). When we want to see a true picture of sacrificial giving we need only to look to the cross to understand the magnitude of how God sacrificed for us. May God grant that in faith we might respond with a deliberate choice to dedicate our time, resources and lives for His purposes.
The Mission of Immanuel Lutheran Church is to strengthen our church family through Word and Sacrament, to reach out with the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and to extend His love and care one to another.
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How much should I give? This question will have as many answers as Immanuel has members! Each one of us will only find our answer after deliberate time spent in prayer considering the precious gifts our loving God has provided by His grace. We have been asked to give sacrificially. A sacrifice for one member may not be possible for another. Likewise, one family’s sacrifice may be easily exceeded by another family. Our gift amounts will vary, but the important thing is that the sacrifice be given by a willing heart. This giving should be above and beyond what our offering would regularly be. The Grace of Giving campaign is a three-year or 156 week effort. Each weekly gift will add up over the life of the campaign. Please use the table below to help you visualize how much your gift can produce. Weekly Commitment $
—But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us— see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Cor 8:7 (NIV)
Total 156 Week Commitment
5.00
$
780.00
$ 10.00
$
1560.00
$ 15.00
$
2340.00
$ 20.00
$
3120.00
$ 25.00
$
3900.00
$ 30.00
$
4680.00
$ 40.00
$
6240.00
$ 50.00
$
7800.00
$ 75.00
$
11700.00
What will we accomplish?
by Pastor Rueckert
If we reach our goal of $1,250,000, the congregation will be debt-free and in a stronger position to move forward in our mission. A number of staffing needs have been identified by our leaders, and the elimination of our debt will free up resources with which to address them. For that reason, gifts to the campaign will be divided equally between debt retirement and capital improvements. In other words, half of every dollar received will go to the debt; the other half will go toward improvements. These include: worship space upgrade, parking lot repair and resurfacing; air conditioning fund; and, technology enhancements. Please continue to pray that God would grant us His “grace of giving,” that together we might move forward into the next decade with bold plans to extend the Gospel into the community around us!
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Volume 1, Issue 2
Leadership Team Campaign Director: Dick Crane 314-567-6617
Commitment Follow-Up: Kevin Carpenter 314-971-1526
Campaign Coordinator: Paul Rohan 636-530– 6160
Youth Emphasis: Beth & Zach Greatens 314-623-9663
Communications: Natalie Oleshchuk 314-872-8099
Children’s Emphasis: Karen Andersen 314-567-3414
Prayer Directors: Barb and Casey Kiehl 314-434-8930
Commitment Celebration: Cindy Bunte 314-628-9169
Initial Commitments: Bob Kiehl 636-733-9051
Fulfillment Director: Cevin Kinsey 314-452-2744
If you have any questions about Immanuel’s Grace of Giving Capital Campaign to raise $1,250,000, please contact one of us, Pastor Rueckert, or Pastor Karg. We would be happy to speak with you.
Telephone/Hosting: Marie Bretzke 314-34-7606
Please pray with us Almighty God, your love for us fills our hearts with joy. Thank you for choosing us to be your very own people. You know us by our name. You give us the Holy Spirit to guide our days and keep us close to you. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, you gift us with eternal life where some day we will be with you forever! For all these gifts of your love to us, we willingly give back to you with a Grace of Giving that knows no bounds. Our prayer is in the strong name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen. We give Thee but Thine own. What e’re the gift may be. All that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee. Lutheran Service Book 781
Thank You! The Grace of Giving Campaign requires the work of many hands. The Leadership Team thanks the people who have given their time to make phone calls, stuff and label envelopes, and other tasks. We would especially like to thank Carla Krazl for designing a logo which provides such a clear visual image of the campaign’s theme. Immanuel is certainly blessed with talented, willing workers. May it always be so! If you are contacted in the next few weeks and asked to help, please prayerfully consider joining us.
Questions & Answers Will we have envelopes for our Grace of Giving offerings? Yes. Instead of a new box of Forward in Faith envelopes, we will have new envelopes specifically for this campaign. Do I have to give my offering on a weekly basis? No. You can give a large portion at the beginning or choose your own timetable such as monthly or quarterly offerings. When do we give our first offering? December 4 will be First Fruits Sunday. If your gift enables you to provide a larger portion up front, please consider giving it at this time. It will allow us to defray campaign costs and begin the work. My budget is tight, how can I still participate? Think outside your wallet. Some examples from other campaigns include cash from the sales of stocks or bonds, antiques, inheritances, tax refunds, or collections.
Calendar of Coming Events Sunday, October 16 Grace of Giving Bible Study—all adult classes meet in the the Gym at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, October 23 Grace of Giving Special Presentation - all adult classes meet in Gym at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, November 13 Commitment Celebration—All congregation service at 10:00 a.m. during which we bring our pledges forward and celebrate God’s generosity. Join us afterward for a festive meal! Sunday, November 20 Commitment Follow-up - Those members who were unable to attend on November 13 are invited to bring their pledges. Sunday, December 4 First Fruits Sunday - Members who are able to do so give a large portion of their commitment.
