Bethlehem Lutheran Church

In our church - at Bethlehem - we have the opportunity to give a weekly offering. We have the challenge to give to an occasional capital campaign, like Share the Spirit. And we have the privilege to leave a legacy by giving to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Foundation. Three-legged giving! WOW.

While the annual church budget and the Share the Spirit Campaign have been quite successful, recent gifts to the Bethlehem Foundation have been few. That means that there has been very slow growth in the financial base of the Foundation. Without a growing base of gifts, the Foundation will become stalled in its ability to grant income to church programs, seminarians and to outreach ministries connected to Bethlehem. Therefore, the Foundation's Board of Directors has begun an awareness-building campaign to explain to the Bethlehem community the value of giving to the Bethlehem Foundation. This six-part series is part of that effort.

Did you know that a memorial or commemorative gift to the Foundation can be made by anyone? You or a family member may give right now. We often receive memorials when someone dies. These contributions are very helpful to the Foundation and also very thoughtful to the family of the deceased. Consider honoring the special people in your life with a gift to the Foundation at births, baptisms, confirmations, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and holidays (or be creative). This is truly a gift that lasts forever.

What might seem small to you at the time will allow the fund to grow and prosper when added to the gifts of others. All you need to do is make your check payable to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation and get it to the office clearly marked for the Foundation. There are designated envelopes available at the church office. The Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization in the State of Minnesota and your contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. There is no special membership required to make a contribution to the Bethlehem Foundation.

If you have any questions about the Foundation, please contact a board member: Bill Fredell, Paul Hauge, Kathleen Hokemeir-Seim, Roy LaFayette, Naomi Staruch, Paul Steen, Dorothea Tenney or Pastor Chris Nelson. Or you may contact Jean Westberg in the church office at 312.314.3402.

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth... Deuteronomy 8:17 & 18.

I pray that I will never lose sight of this truth, Lord. All I have comes from You. Help me to hold all I have very lightly and may I always be ready to pass it along at your request. Amen.