Simply Giving

1 Corinthians16:2 says “On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and store it up, as you may prosper, so the offerings need not be made when I come".  In St. Paul’s day, most people were paid on a day-by-day basis.  Since Sunday worship had already begun by the time of Paul’s writing, on the first day of the week is one way of saying, when the body comes together, give.

One option that is available is the “Simply Giving” program. This program enables First Lutheran to receive offerings through electronic funds transfer directly from your bank account. The money can be deducted on a weekly, semi-monthly or monthly basis and you designate the amounts and the funds where the money is going (for example, maintenance/renovation or world hunger).

Benefits to you of the Simply Giving program:

•  Systematic, first fruits giving

•  No worries about forgetting the checkbook or envelope

•  Amounts can be changed at any time

•  Only the financial secretary will see your information and you will continue to receive a record of your giving

Benefits to the church

•  Steady, predictable revenues

•  Less money for counters each Sunday

•  Greater confidence in meeting financial commitments

If this is an option you are interested in you can download this Simply giving form.  After filling it out, you may return it to the church office.

Endowment Giving

Give More with a Gift of Appreciated Stock.     

Would you like to give more this year to the church, but don’t have enough in your cash flow to increase your gift?  Consider making a gift with shares of appreciated stock from your investment portfolio.  It works like this: You direct your broker, attorney, or other financial advisor to transfer shares of stock to the church that equal in value to what you would like to give and reap the benefits and rewards:

Ø      Feel good about increasing your gifts to First Lutheran Church

Ø      Not affect your monthly budget and cash flow

Ø      Save on income taxes two ways:
1.      Avoid capital gains taxes by not selling the stock 
2.      Qualify for the charitable income tax deduction