Stewardship

December, 2008

"Stewardship is everything you do after you say yes to Jesus Christ." Clarence Staughton

This is my last newsletter article as chairperson of the Marin Lutheran Church Stewardship Committee; my two-year tenure will end with the month of December. I approached this position with trepidation and prayer: I didn’t like asking for money and, even though I have held several leadership positions over the years, I have usually been charged with carefully spending others’ money, rather than raising it.

My outlook on stewardship has blossomed, with a transition perhaps akin to a rose: first, a tightly wrapped bud, its beauty and promise hidden inside. Now, at the end of two years, the blossom is fully opened, several petals hanging languidly to the stem. I have learned that stewardship is about more than money; that, as we have heard Dr. Mark Alan Powell opine, giving need not be solely a duty, but also a delight; and that promoting stewardship has allowed me the opportunity to grow, to become more open in faith.

Many thanks are due my committees; we worked together to develop stewardship programs that would educate, motivate, entertain and include each of you. I hope we succeeded. I was always impressed by the ideas offered up and depth of knowledge among the committee members. And, being good Lutherans, we often ate well and laughed, a lot. Thanks to John Bischoff, Clint Bastian, Roy Davis, Kevin Fickenscher, Pastor Tom Gable, Jim Kamphoefner and Rich Myhre.

(I would also like to offer thanks to all those who have helped with Stewardship events over the last two years, from soup to movie night. None of this would have happened with a single pair of hands. Special thanks to Mary Creigh Houts and family for transforming our Parish Hall on more than one occasion and to Bev Kamphoefner for being the unofficial member of the Stewardship Committee, ensuring that many ideas came to fruition.)

Thanks are also due to the members and friends of the MLC congregation. You have generously responded to stewardship requests over the last two years. On November 16, 45 pledges (and an additional 13 youth and Sunday School pledges) were received for 2009 and many pounds of food which will be donated to the Marin Community Food Bank. If you weren’t able to turn in your commitment form on November 16, I’d like to remind you that it is never too late.

Each hour donated, each dollar given and each smile offered up have truly been in response to God’s love.

With joy and the abiding faith in God’s wondrous Gift,

Susan Morrow

Stewardship Challenge: Double Your Giving

A member of our congregation approached the Stewardship Committee with an idea – a Challenge Grant, to match the contributions of members/friends, dollar for dollar, to the extent that they are more than 10% above their 2007 giving to the general fund. It didn’t stop there – he then offered to contribute to the pool of money that these matching funds would come from. Several other individuals have also contributed anonymously to the challenge grant pot.

This is the challenge: not to double your giving, but to try to increase it just a bit – this year – and MLC will benefit two-fold. For all individuals and families who contribute, in 2008, more than 10% over their 2007 contributions, the amount over the 10% increase will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a total of about $10,000, due to this generous challenge grant. For example, if someone gave a total of $2000 in 2007, in 2008 any contributions over $2200 ($2000 + 10%) will be matched from the matching grant. This applies to identified, festival, Easter and Christmas offerings. The match kicks in above a 10% increase, because we were all already challenged to increase our giving, last fall, and in fact many have.

We understand that these are difficult times – Marin Lutheran’s finances also show it – and not everyone will be able to do this. But look closely at your giving thus far this year, your 2008 pledge, and your ability to support Marin Lutheran Church and the ministries we do. Are you being as faithful as you might in your giving this year?

It has been shown that the benefits of giving and good stewardship accrue substantially to the giver. The feeling of satisfaction, the deepening of your faith that you will receive from rising to this challenge is more important, and far exceeds the dollar value of the gift. But in this one instance, from now until the end of the year, the dollar value of your gifts, and the impact at Marin Lutheran, can be doubled. Please use this as an incentive to look closely at your current level of financial support of Marin Lutheran. The 3 rd quarter contribution statements, which you will receive at the beginning of October, will contain a personal calculation of the level of 10% over 2007 giving, providing a level, above which, further giving will be matched by this Challenge Grant.

Jim Kamphoefner
on behalf of the Stewardship Committee