How much money should I give to the church each year?

September 3, 2010 — Angela

NONE!

But giving back to God is a good idea. We give back to God out of gratitude for all God has done for us and given to us. Saying “thank you” to God is good for us.

As you begin to give back to God, start where you can. Probably the most important part of getting started is to plan it into your budget. If you are like most of us there isn’t much money left over at the end of the month. Waiting to see what is left before we give to God means we give God little or nothing. And we don’t say “Thank you” like we want to.

If you have been giving for a while, you probably understand that giving is good for the giver. You may even feel the call to tithe. Tithing is giving one tenth of one’s income back to God to be used for God’s purposes in this world. A practical way to move toward tithing is to try challenging yourself to grow by one percent of your income.

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Are you Cheerful in your giving to God?

September 1, 2010 — Angela

By Steve Peterson

This month is the last of the six stewardship values from Mr. Charles R. Lane’s book “Ask, Thank, Tell.” Value # 6 is “Cheerful Giving.”

Mr. Lane refers to 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

In the last five months of this newsletter we have touched on a different giving value. They were intentional, regular, generous, first, and proportional. We briefly summarized Mr. Lane’s thoughts on these five giving values. In his writings for this value of cheerful giving he notes that “The key to being a cheerful giver is to practice the other stewardship values. If the first five stewardship values characterize your giving, you will be cheerful in your giving. If they don’t, you won’t. It is that simple.”

Are you “cheerful” in your giving? Do you feel good when you write your check to Zion? Jesus says, that where your treasure is, and where you put your money, that is where your heart will be. Being a “Cheerful” giver will help you grow in your relationship with God.

I hope the six stewardship values that we have highlighted over the last six months have helped you identify your giving value. Giving by these six values will lead your heart to Jesus.

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Why does Zion have an emphasis each fall on financial giving and an estimate of giving for the coming year?

August 27, 2010 — Angela

We all support God’s mission through Zion because it is deeply important to us. Our annual fall emphasis is about each of us planning and being intentional about how we respond to God’s love in our lives. We plan our financial giving to make sure that God’s love continues to flow to others through Zion Lutheran Buffalo in the coming year.

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A Note to Business Owners

August 25, 2010 — Angela

Thank you to the sponsors of Zion’s newsletter. The entire expense for printing is covered by the members and other local businesses who place ads on pages 18 and 19. Please consider these businesses when you are looking for services.

If you own a business and would like to help support the newsletter, please contact Liturgical Publications (LPI) directly at 1.800.678.4574. Bud Bien from LPI will also be on site at Zion for the week of August 30 and can be reached during that time through the church office at 763.682.1245.

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Is there any way I can give to Zion in honor or memory of someone?

August 20, 2010 — Angela

People often want to give a gift in honor of someone that has passed away or passed a milestone. Memorials are one way of doing that. Increasingly we find people requesting gifts be given to churches or organizations in honor of the loved one rather than to the family. If you intend a gift to be a memorial, please indicate that.  A list of those the gifts are given in honor of will be published regularly.

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Devotional Contributions Requested

August 9, 2010 — Angela

A Promising TomorrowMembers are invited to contribute to a stewardship devotional booklet for the “Promising Tomorrow” campaign that will take place this fall and continue into next year. Devotions will be compiled by September 20 and distributed them to the congregation in a booklet early in October. This personalized gift from contributing members has been very well-received in the past and the Stewardship Committee looks forward to a similar response this year.

If you would be willing to participate, please contact Dave Wright or the church office by August 22 for more information and a suggested format.

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Help Worship Sound Great

August 6, 2010 — Angela

Are you interested in helping Zion deliver  smooth, distraction-free worship services each week? Bob Strommen is  recruiting additional volunteer sound technicians. Please contact Bob or the church office or any sound tech on duty on a Sunday morning if this sounds like you:

  • Have some kind of musical background, i.e. playing an instrument or singing in a choir or small group.
  • Previous experience with sound equipment is a plus but not required.
  • Willing to commit some time in learning to operate Zion’s equipment.
  • Available at least two Sundays a month and some Jubilee rehearsals  on Tuesday evenings.
  • Able to work with others on special projects.
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Office Volunteers Needed

August 2, 2010 — Angela

Please contact Diane Montplaisir if you would be interested in volunteering in the church office on a regular basis on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 9am-noon.

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Gardens in Bloom

July 24, 2010 — Angela

Summer at Zion finds the grounds in full bloom. Great color everywhere!! Zion is so blessed to have a talented group of individuals willing to share their time to improve the grounds for visitors and members of Zion. Thanks God‘s Gardeners!

It takes many seeds to make a Garden…. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-33)

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Do You Give “First” to God?

July 6, 2010 — Angela

This month the Stewardship Committee will touch on Value # 4 “First Giving” from Mr. Charles R. Lane’s book “Ask, Thank, Tell.” This value is one that we at Zion have heard as “First Fruits Giving.“ It is a straight forward approach to giving generously.

When you receive your paycheck do you first write a check to church? If you do, that is “First Giving.” You are putting God first in your life. You are saying, “I trust in you God, I know that what I have been given all comes from you. On the other hand, if you receive you paycheck and don’t give to God first, God will get your leftovers.

Mr. Lane refers to Deuteronomy 26:1-2:

When you have entered the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name.

By giving “First” you will not be short changing God. By giving “First” you will be giving generously.

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A Promising Tomorrow: God’s Call, Our Gifts.

June 20, 2010 — Angela

“A Promising Tomorrow” has been selected as the unified theme for the visioning process, the capital campaign, the annual stewardship appeal, and activities related to them. Jason Kabe explained that “the theme represents that we are headed somewhere good and with God’s guidance and our time, talents, and support we will build [Zion’s] future together.”

Work on related graphics is underway and a logo is expected to be presented in late July.

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Member Needs Help Moving

June 8, 2010 — Angela

If you can [physically] help a member of the congregation who needs to move (within Buffalo) on Thursday due to eviction, please contact Holly or Angela in the office for details.

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“Generous” Giving to God

June 8, 2010 — Angela

Luke 12:34- Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

This month the Stewardship Committe touches on value #3, “Generous Giving,” from “Ask, Thank, Tell” by Charles R. Lane. Mr. Lane refers to the above Bible passage as he introduces this value. It seems like such an obviously true statement today. Most people have something that gets us motivated, excited or eager to participate. Maybe it is some sort of hobby like gardening, sewing, fishing, reading, singing or maybe golfing to name a few. Many people focus on a particular charity or organization that helps to raise funds and gives our time to others with various challenges in their lives.

No matter what may excite you to participate, remember that all of this is possible because God has provided it to you. Mr. Lane states that, “God’s incredible generosity is the basis for any call for generous giving on the part of God’s people. We can’t outgive God. As Christians, one of our key faith statements must be that we will always have enough, because God provides us with all we need. Because God has blessed us so generously, we can, and must, give generously to others, especially those in need”

Are you a “Generous Giver”? Are the treasures that God has provided you being shared back to do God’s work? Are your treasures and your heart in the same place?

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Summer Ushers

May 28, 2010 — Angela

UshersSherilyn has come up with a new plan for ushering at the 8:30 and 10:30 services over the summer months with a few changes from ushering in the past:

  • Families would be invited to usher together. As always, individuals are also welcomed as ushers.
  • You would choose one Sunday each month to usher. It would be best to usher on the same Sunday each month (1st Sunday, 2nd Sunday, etc.) so that you get used to the flow of the usher duties, but if vacations require different schedules you can make other arrangements.
  • Usher duties include coming at 8:00 or 10:00, handing out bulletins and greeting worshipers, taking offering, and picking up bulletins left in the pews following worship.
  • First, third, and fifth Sundays involve ushering during communion.
  • You can sit in the sanctuary for worship between duties, especially if someone in the family needs to take sermon notes or if younger children want to go forward for the children’s message.
  • A reminder card, email or phone call will come to you during the week before your ushering Sundays.

This is a short term plan for June, July and August. If families enjoy working together as usher teams, we may reschedule the upcoming year of usher duties using the same plan. Please contact Sherilyn as soon as possible if this is a way you could serve Zion this summer.

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Committees Decoded

May 24, 2010 — Angela

Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee is responsible for motivating individuals giving to God and helping people manage the resources God has given them. At Zion we believe our attitude about giving of our time, talents and possessions reflects our maturity in our faith walk. What we have is not ours. It all belongs to God. We are merely stewards of His precious resources.

Finance Committee

The Zion Finance Committee is responsible for monitoring and analyzing monthly and year to date income/expenses to ensure funds are available to meet all operating and debt related commitments. It is also responsible for coordinating Zion’s annual budget process in the fall. The Finance Committee provides recommendations to the Church Council related to the financial aspects of the congregation.

Zion Foundation

The Zion Foundation was established as a non-profit foundation in 1978 and is a separate financial entity from Zion Lutheran Church.  It receives gifts which are strategically invested by the elected trustees, who use only the earnings from these gifts to disperse grants for religious, educational and charitable purposes. The Foundation is designed to support projects outside of the normal church budget. Gifts in the past have been given to provide Lutheran college and seminary scholarships, support community partners such as the Buffalo Food Shelf, and special ministries including art, music, counseling and mission trips.

Memorials Committee

The Zion Memorials & Placement Committee is responsible for the oversight of Memorial gifts given to Zion on behalf of family members and friends after the passing of a loved one. Memorial gifts can be given for specific purposes and the committee assures these wishes are followed. Recent donor-directed gifts have helped provide for hymnals, landscaping and the projection system in Trinity Hall. When donations are given without any specific requirements, the committee determines how these undesignated funds will be used. Undesignated funds have been used to help pay for items like Christian Education supplies, large-print devotions and paraments.

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To Our Volunteers

May 21, 2010 — Angela

by Lisa Ellinwood

V is for the Very special people that you are

O is for the Overwhelming support & compassion you offer others during their time of need

L is for the Little things you do that make such a difference in someone’s life

U is for the Unspoken words that sometimes mean just as much

N is for the Need you fill when others aren’t able

T is for the Time you give of yourselves on top of your own busy schedules

E is for the Emotional support you continually give

E is also for the Endless energy you all seem to possess

R is for the Responsibility you have taken on & never once complained

S is for the Smiles you bring to everyone by just being you

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Where Are We Going?

May 20, 2010 — Angela
Meeting at the Lake

Assorted offspring playing in the sand at Gordon & Wanda Weber’s cabin on Lake Pulaski while the Capital Campaign Leadership Team meets in the background.

The Capital Campaign Leadership Team continues to meet and work to discern the direction of the capital fund appeal. In early May, the leadership team met with representatives from the Finance, Stewardship, and Memorials & Placement committees, as well as the Zion Foundation, to clarify where Zion sits financially, and identify areas where the groups can work together.

Team members are also excited about opportunities to work closely with the Visioning Task Force. The two teams expect to come together by the fall with programs focused on bringing many groups together and engaging the entire congregation in laying the foundation for a 2011 visioning process.

Jim Pence, from Kairos Associates, has met with the Stewardship Committee and the Visioning Task Force, as well as meeting regularly with the leadership team. ”I am impressed with the way things are coming together at Zion,” says Jim. “When congregations deepen their understanding of who they are and where they are going, developing resources for mission and ministry becomes a lot more than fund-raising. It becomes an act of discipleship.” Read the rest of this entry »

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When College Grads Come Home

May 17, 2010 — Angela

Only 60% of the class of 2009 found full-time employment within six months of graduating compared with 75% in 2007.  With unemployment for 20 to 24 year olds at a 27-year high, the prospects for 2010 grads may not be any better.

The spring issue of Thrivent Magazine features advice for parents wanting to prepare their grad for the financial realities of life after college. Read the rest of this entry »

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Are You “Regular” in Your Giving to God?

May 13, 2010 — Angela

Last month the Stewardship Committee touched on “Intentional” giving, the first of six values of stewardship described in the book “Ask, Thank, Tell” by Charles R. Lane. The second value described in the book is  “Regular” giving. Mr. Lane writes “To be regular in your giving means to establish a pattern in your giving, and to follow that pattern.”

Do you have a pattern that you follow? If you don’t, establishing one can be very helpful. In today’s world most of us receive our income on a regular basis. If we have a predetermined plan then whatever the regularity of your income you can follow your plan. Following your plan is “Regular” giving.

Determining our individual giving plan is something each of us must prayerfully consider. God has entrusted each of us with earthly possessions and talents. Talking with God regularly will grow our understanding on how he wants us to give back what he has given us.

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Garden Spots Available

May 6, 2010 — Angela

Spaces still available for 2010There are 6 garden spots still available for those that would like to be part of the God’s Gardener’s program this year. The available spots will be marked with signs this Sunday, please contact Diane Huston or Carol Olson, or the church office to sign up for one of these spots.

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