Faith In Action



		St. John Lutheran Church 146 6th Ave. W Dickinson, ND 58601 (701) 225-6747 www.stjohnelc.org

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	The theme of our stewardship campaign is Faith in Action. Be the Church. This means showing love as Jesus did in practical ways to neighbors near and far. This means believing in one of St. John’s visions for ministry: Becoming Stewards Beyond the Collection Plate. What happens at the church building during worship services is the core of the church’s existence. Worshiping God together is a primary reason for our creation, and yet, “church” is more than a place, a weekly event or a building. The church is us - the people of God in whom the risen Lord lives. This fall we’ll be invited you to be part of a landmark day in St. John history, when on October 3rd, we will cancelled the 10:30 a.m. worship service and encouraged everyone to participate in service projects. There were projects for everyone and nearly 400 people participated. Putting your faith into action at St. John means: 1) Sharing the many blessings of talents, interests, and abilities in this congregation with our families, our neighborhoods and the world. 2.) Applying the Bible’s teachings in your life through tangible expressions of your faith, as we become stewards beyond the collection plate. 3.) Energizing your relationship with God as you reach beyond the walls of the church. Look what can happen when we share our gifts of prayer, work, time and money. We don’t just speak the gospel - we live it!		What is Stewardship
			Definition of a Pledge
			Why Pledge and Give to God’s Work Through the Church?
			How Much Should Stewards Pledge and Give?
			How Do Stewards Make Decisions about Growing in Their Pledging and Giving Habits?
			A Steward Prays
			Campaign Vision
			FAQs
			Make a Donantion
			Pledge Online
			CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM OUR OCTOBER 3RD SERVING SUNDAY ON FACEBOOK!



	What is Stewardship Stewardship is managing our lives with Christ at the center. Stewardship is taking time each day to be grateful for the gifts God has given us. Stewardship is recognizing that we are called to be good stewards all of the time. Understanding the message of stewardship changes every decision we make. Stewardship is taking time to renovate our personal relationship with God by spending time with God in prayer, scripture, and worship. Stewardship is taking time to renovate our relationships with one another by encouraging others to use their talents so that together we carry out the mission of the church for the sake of God's world. Back to Top Definition of a Pledge A pledge is a faith discipline by which a Christian steward designates an amount of money to be shared with the congregation to carry out God’s work through St. John Lutheran Church in the coming year. Back to Top Why Pledge and Give to God’s Work Through the Church? A pledge is a Christian discipline that allows us to have to have a plan for giving that can be evaluated and revised annually, or during the year. Pledging and giving are healthy financial habits. Along with worship and joyful service to others, regular giving based on an annual pledge keeps us in relationship with the One who has given us life. The fall stewardship ministry is an annual gratitude alert, reminding us that pledging and giving are joyful acts of thanksgiving. Back to Top How Much Should Stewards Pledge and Give? Christian writer C.S. Lewis says, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare . . . If our contributions do not challenge us, they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our giving excludes them . . . ” (Mere Christianity) Back to Top How Do Stewards Make Decisions about Growing in Their Pledging and Giving Habits? Steps toward sharing your gifts of time and talent: If you have never volunteered, choose a ministry in the church or in the community in which to serve. If you are volunteering and would like to do so regularly, consider being added to the schedule to serve in ministries within the church, such as ushering, singing or ringing handbells, or helping with office tasks. If are passionate about a ministry and would like to grow in your faith, consider serving as a leader within a ministry that means a lot to you. When you are growing as a steward, God will also challenge you to grow in your serving, giving and pledging. When you are growing deeper as a steward, keep a healthy balance as you put your faith into action and be the church outside of the building. Steps toward sharing your financial gifts: If you have never given regularly, choose an amount to give on a regular basis. If you are giving regularly and have never used offering envelopes, consider using envelopes as a way to assist you in regular giving. If you haven’t previously made a pledge, choose an amount to pledge based on a reasonable estimate of your capacity to give. When you are growing as a steward, God will also challenge you to grow in your serving, giving and pledging. When you are growing as a steward and you decide to pledge a percentage of your income, consider where you hope to be in five years, and develop a disciplined plan for increasing the percentage each year. Back to Top A Steward Prays Dear God, you’ve blessed this congregation with so many talents, interests, and abilities! Please help us remember that by serving you with joy, we can serve the people in our families, our church, our neighborhoods, and the world. Help us to remember Jesus’ humble example every day. Help us to become stewards beyond the collection plate, so that by giving our gifts of prayer, work, time, and money, we can serve you and inspire others to do the same. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Back to Top Campaign Vision We at St. John Lutheran Church are purposefully spending time exploring the ways in which God wants to enter into and renovate our lives from the inside out. Back to Top
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