YOUR GIVING MAKES A DIFFERENCE
by Pastor Bob Wertz, Pastor of Stewardship and Planned Giving
The Stewardship Ministry team looks forward to engaging you in a slightly
different way this fall in our annual operating fund campaign for 2019. The first
change you may notice is that we’ll be getting a jump start on the stewardship
season by getting underway on the first Sunday in October (Oct. 7) and then
identifying the following three Sundays—October 14, 21, and 28 as stewardship
Sundays as we lift up the worship theme “It’s All Free.”
Highlights of the effort include:
Opening New Doors
Update
In Minneapolis, the work on the
roof and masonry continues fast and
furious, and we are pleased to report
that we are on schedule and under
budget! We look forward to a late-fall
completion date…and will be sure to
inform members when the large crane
will be removed from the courtyard.
OTHER UPDATES:
» Upgraded LED lighting is being installed
in the sanctuary by the end of
August.
»The Choir Room to be mostly completed
by the first week in September, with
finishing touches, including the
installation of the music storage units, to
take place shortly thereafter.
In Minnetonka, the good news is
we will be repairing the parking lot
before the snow falls…but we need
YOUR help to make that happen by
generously donating to the Opening
New Doors campaign in order to
help pay for it! Considered a “can’t
wait to fix” item, we are counting on
those who yet to give as well as those
who have already given and want
to celebrate this decision with an
additional gift.
•All packets of stewardship information will be mailed to the homes of
members in early October.
•Stewardship leaders will be on both sites on all Sundays in October to
answer any questions you may have about the breadth and depth of
Bethlehem’s ministries. Displays will be set up in the Gallery alcove on
Sunday mornings in Minneapolis and Fellowship Hall in Minnetonka.
• All members will be encouraged to answer on paper a compelling
question we’ll ask about generosity that will be posted at both churches
and online.
•Sunday, October 28 is Commitment Sunday, the day we respectfully ask
all members to fill out and turn in “estimate of giving” (formerly
“pledge”) cards.
• With the help of Bethlehem’s youth, we’ll be handing out “Thank-you-
for-your-generosity” cinnamon rolls at both sites on November 4 as a
token of the congregation’s appreciation for any and all financial gifts
given to Bethlehem.
Most importantly, Bethlehem leaders continue to be extremely grateful recipients
and faithful stewards of every single gift entrusted to us. Believing is both
accurate and good theology to say “It’s All Free,” we also know that God continues
to have great expectations for us to live lives overflowing with abundance in
service to others.
A New Way to Give
Bethlehem Twin Cities has recently expanded its
giving options to accommodate those who wish to
give electronically. If you'd like to make a contribution
via text to support Bethlehem's annual fund, simply
send a text to 612.324.0915 with the amount you
wish to contribute. The first time you give, you'll be
asked to enter your credit card information. All future
gifts will simply need the dollar amount you wish
to give. We continue to be grateful for any and all
gifts members direct to support our mission through
whatever means you choose...THANK YOU!
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