What is Sacrificial Giving? 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 sac-

rificed precious resources so that I could have that international experience.

However, what we are being asked to consider goes beyond an international experi-

ence. 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 re-

sources or your life. Consider Jesus in the garden as He prays that the “cup will be tak-

en 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 re-

sponse 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 M iss ion of Immanuel Lutheran Church is to s trengthen our church fami ly through W ord and Sacrament ,

to reach out w ith the sav ing grace of Jes us Chr is t , and to extend His love and care one to another .

Immanuel Lutheran Church 9733 Olive Blvd. Olivette, MO 63132 Phone: 314-993-2394 Explore the new website! www.immanuelolivette.org Visit the Grace of Giving tab

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 sacri-fice may be easily exceeded by another family. Our gift amounts will vary, but the im-portant 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 visual-ize how much your gift can produce.

Page 2 How much should I give?

—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)

Weekly Commitment 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 strong-er 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!

Campaign Director: Dick Crane

314-567-6617

Campaign Coordinator: Paul

Rohan 636-530– 6160

Communications: Natalie

Oleshchuk 314-872-8099

Prayer Directors: Barb and

Casey Kiehl 314-434-8930

Initial Commitments: Bob Kiehl

636-733-9051

Telephone/Hosting: Marie

Bretzke 314-34-7606

Commitment Follow-Up: Kevin

Carpenter 314-971-1526

Youth Emphasis: Beth & Zach

Greatens 314-623-9663

Children’s Emphasis: Karen

Andersen 314-567-3414

Commitment Celebration:

Cindy Bunte 314-628-9169

Fulfillment Director: Cevin

Kinsey 314-452-2744

Page 3

Leadership Team

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.

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

Volume 1, Issue 2

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 espe-

cially like to thank Carla Krazl for designing a logo which provides such a clear visual image of the cam-

paign’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.

Thank You!

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 quar-

terly 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.