Outside - View from Overhead	Outside - View from Front		Outside - View from Back
Inside - View from Rear		Inside - View from Front

Building Fund Campaign - If you haven’t made a pledge to our Building to Make Jesus Known campaign or if you would like to increase it before we make formal application for a loan, please use the pledge cards in the basket on the Information Table in the Foyer.   So far, we have received more than $684,000 in pledges and looking for more to make our case for a loan.

Building Fundraising - What’s Your Great Idea? - There are a wealth of ideas, interests and talents amongst the members of our congregation.  The Vision Design Committee is hoping that you may be willing to share some of your ideas, interests and talents and use them as fundraising vehicles for the building fund.

The wine tasting party is just one example of how a little brainstorming, generosity and follow-through can impact our church.  Not only did we raise some money that night, we also provided fun and fellowship for many members of the congregation.  The Vision Design Committee is wondering how many other great ideas are out there?  How many people might be willing to bring their ideas to fruition?  How many additional dollars can be raised?  How much more fun can we have helping our church building fund grow?

If you have any ideas that you would like to present as possible fundraisers, or if you would like to be on a committee to brainstorm and review ideas, call Molly Wachtmann.   Every idea, big or small is worth considering.  Every volunteer is most gratefully appreciated.  Every dollar raised brings us closer to the goal of completing both phases I and II of our building project. 

Can You Help? - We are looking for ways to save costs in our building project in order to be good stewards of our gifts.   We know that there are people of our congregation who have expertise, resources and connections who may be able to help us in these areas.  Such help would be greatly appreciated. 

We are presently gathering information about those who would like to help.  Please talk to Tom Lytle for more details and information.  Please also be aware that further in the process we are planning to offer an opportunity for those who are able to contribute in a more hands on way.

A Conversation About Pledging with Pastor George Haynes, ELCA Financial Consultant -  

…PLEDGE?…I’d rather not…I really don’t believe in pledging and the church has seemed to do just fine in the past without my pledge. 

But wait a minute.    If you really mean that, how did you ever get married without making a pledge?  Or, how did you get that car on a monthly payment plan, or buy your home, or enter into any number of other contractual arrangements? 

…O yes, I know all those old arguments, but the church isn’t a business organization.  It’s supposed to be supported by voluntary contributions.

True, the church isn’t a business.  And it is supported by voluntary contributions.  But it must do things in a business-like manner, especially when financial institutions will be deciding how much we can borrow on our new building based on pledge amounts.

It may seem as though your written pledge isn’t as important in our annual giving, but in reality this estimate of giving helps our church prepare financially for the upcoming year.  This is even more important when we are asking outside institutions to lend us money.  We have a history of knowing that our members and friends are committed to giving to our operating funds each year, however the financial institutions have no way of knowing how committed we will be in a building program.  Therefore a written pledge from everyone is very important.

…But the Bible doesn’t say I must make a pledge.

Not in so many words, maybe.  But at the heart of the Christian life is a pledge of our lives to Jesus Christ as Lord.  Motivated by love and obedience to his command and as loyal Christians we accept moral, spiritual and financial responsibility.  This teaching abounds in the New Testament.

…Well, anyway, I am not sure of my income for the entire year ahead. 

Few people are.  We are not even sure of life itself, but we are called upon to live trusting our faith.  Pledges may be changed at any time that our circumstances change.  Our pledge is the evidence of our love and faith in God and our commitment to the cause of Christ through the church.

…I dislike making a public display of my giving.  That is a private matter between the Lord and me. 

We agree that we should not make our gifts to be seen by people, but we also must be careful not to withhold our testimony.  This is a means of witnessing to our loyalty to Christ and His cause.  The financial secretary is the only one who will know the amount of your pledge.  But the fact that you are a pledged supporter will be a valuable stimulus to others. 

…But I have so many obligations…children soon or are in college, a house to pay for, heavy taxes, already giving to the church.  I’ll have to give as I am able.

Most of us feel the burden of obligations like that.  The very fact that you have them shows that God has blessed you and entrusted you with many things.  For all those blessings we should most certainly give thanks to God.  Our giving to God is a recognition of God’s giving and blessing given to us.

…That’s a good point.  I’ll give it careful thought.  I can see that pledging may be good for my family and me as well as for the congregation. 

Yes, that’s true.  And when you try it, I think you’ll personally find it to be the case.