Ways to Give
The bulk of gifts given to the church
are in check, cash, electronic transfer,
and via credit card, but many members
who participate in retirement plans
such as a 401(k), individual retirement
account (IRA), or 403(b) choose to
direct some of those resources to the
church as well. Those age 70 ½ and
older with an IRA may make charitable
distributions directly to the church (up
to $100,000 per year for an individual
tax-free; up to $200,000 for couples).
Transfers aren’t taxed and also count
towards your annual RMD (required
minimum distribution). These tax-free
gifts are particularly wise for those
who no longer itemize deductions for
income tax purposes. Moreover, some
Bethlehem members have arranged for
future gifts by identifying the church
as the recipient as a beneficiary of a
retirement plan. Doing so allows your
family to enjoy the assets now while
directing to the church any remaining
funds in the future.
» Many members choose to give gifts
through stock and/or mutual funds.
It’s a simple process, most commonly
made electronically from the donor’s
account. Please contact Katy Stenross
at [email protected] or
612.312.3402) if you desire to do so.
» And growing numbers of Bethlehem
members see fit to include the
congregation and/or the Foundation
by arranging charitable gifts through
your will, trust, or other estate plans.
We would be both honored and wise
stewards of any and all future gifts of
this sort, and I would be delighted to
talk to you further about such plans
if the Spirit is moving you to do so!
Contact me at bwertz@bethlehem-
church.org or 612.312.3368.
Thank you, again, for the overflowing
generosity that comes to our beloved
Bethlehem from members like you at
this time of year when Thanksgiving,
Advent, and Christmas gladdens our
days and inspires our giving!
YOUR GIVING MAKES A DIFFERENCE
by Pastor Bob Wertz, Pastor of Stewardship and Planned Giving
Every gift matters and together our gifts increase the impact we can have for
good in the world. So thank you to all who have given so generously to date and
thank you in advance for the commitments you’ve made to support Bethlehem’s
mission and ministries in 2019. It’s too soon to report on pledges received on
Commitment Sunday but we’re confident that the generosity that has been a
hallmark of this community for generations, will abound. As the end of the year
approaches we want to thank you in advance for any above and beyond gift-
giving in November and December that will be crucial to helping the congregation
finish 2018 strongly.
The practice of generosity changes life for others. It also changes the life of the one who
gives. Barbara Daenzer, shares her family’s story about the difference giving has made
for them.
When we were new parents living on one
income, Tom and I looked at how we used
our money. Did our spending reflect our
values? The answer was no, so we made a
plan that placed a high priority on giving.
I think that there have been many benefits
to being mindful of our spending. Early
on, it made us realize that, even though
we didn’t feel like we could give much,
making it a priority made it possible. On paper, our forecasting never looked good.
It looked like we’d be in the red at the end of every year, but we stuck with the
giving plan and each year it worked out (sometimes only within a few dollars). I
felt like we were getting a message: if we trusted and gave, we’d be OK. While we
did shift our giving schedule many times, we have never given less than what we
had planned.
Giving has changed how we prioritize our spending; it’s also changed me. I used
to really want stuff—a catalog would arrive and I’d want everything in it. When
we couldn’t afford things it made me want them even more. That feeling doesn’t
happen anymore; I see something that I’d love to have and I automatically think
about the bigger picture—focusing on how our money can do good in the world,
instead of how much it can do for us. So, our living room sofa has a big hole in it
(bad dog!) but someone else is getting what they need because we set the money
aside to benefit others.
There have been times when we thought about greatly reducing our giving due
to other commitments or interests, but we chose to stay with the giving-first
plan and it worked out. In recent years, when we have more flexibility in our
spending, we look at where else we can give instead of deciding what else to buy.
Giving is a blessing that I think too many people miss out on. I like to encourage
friends to do the “drive-through difference” where you pay for the person behind
you. It’s a joy rush—even when the person behind you doesn’t look like they
‘deserve’ it. There’s a guy I bought coffee for about six years ago that still thanks
me when I bump into him at the store. That simple gift has given me more to
smile about than the $5 in my pocket ever would.
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