How we give is determined by our sense of how much we have received. Everything scripture says about giving is in the context of what God has first given us.
And what has God given us?
Our next breath-Life itself-Life eternal-Salvation.
God's love to know joy and assurance through life and death, sickness and health.
Confidence that no trouble we know, not even the worst evil, can defeat the goodness God wants in and for us.
The Bible says three things about how much, at the least, we should give in gratitude to God:
1.The Old Testament speaks of first fruits giving, in which what is shared from all we have been given comes "off the top"—a good reminder that, before all else, God and what God does for us is priority number one in our lives.
2.Then, the Old Testament teaches, and the New Testament presumes, the tithe—the giving of ten percent of one's income and belongings through one's place of worship.
3.The new Testament, and particularly St Paul, go beyond tithing to teach proportionate giving—meaning the more we have, the more we give.
All together, these three measures or standards might be expressed in this way: In gratitude to God for all that God in Christ does for us, we should give at least 10% of our income right off the top, going beyond that in proportion to what we have.
Some of us protest that this is more than we can do. But isn't this also the case with Jesus' command to love our enemies? And what of other hard demands of following Christ? Do they not go far beyond what we think is reasonable and practical?
The best response to high standards is not to lower them to a comfortable level, but to ask for God's grace and guidance to help us grow. God's biddings are God's enabling: we're never asked to do anything we're not also enabled to do.
The solution for those who feel they cannot tithe is to respect the standard and grow toward it by the grace and guidance of God. (perhaps this will mean accepting a standard of not 10%, but 3% as a first step. Whatever one's level of giving, a commitment can be made to accept the tithe as one's standard and to move toward it on some fixed basis)
What has God given? The real question is what hasn't God given?
God wants the best for the church and for us all. Following God's Word in the strength and confidence of Christ, the best comes to pass—slowly as we see it, perhaps, but surely and beyond all doubt.
All that we have and are comes from or leads to God. Nothing is outside God's provision and providence.
Above all, we have been given the One who makes all this known and possible: Jesus, our Savior and Friend, who is Christ, our Lord.
Beyond speechless wonder, the only genuine response to all this is gratitude—a heartfelt thankfulness that make us generous, less as a duty than as at the least we can do in response to all God does for us.
Planned Giving or End of Year Giving
Planned Giving is when a person leaves a portion of their estate to St. John's Church. End of the Year Giving is when a person gives to St. John's Church for tax advantages. At St. John's Church we have the Foundation Fund that oversees all Planned Giving and End of Year Giving. The Foundation Fund is controlled by a committee of members who oversee the administration of the funds. If you would like to make a contribution to the future of the church, please contact a member of the Foundation Fund or Pastor Gini.
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
Kroger Cares has helped St John’s members earn money for St John’s outreach programs just by shopping at Kroger. Last year the program raised approximately $1200 for the church. Kroger Community Rewards is easier than ever to benefit the outreach ministries of St John’s Church by shopping at Kroger! After signing up you only need to use your Kroger Rewards card at check out time! To sign up on line: Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com Select OHIO Scroll down and click ‘ENROLL' Click 'SIGN UP TODAY' under the New Customer section on the right Enter your zip code and click 'FIND' Select the store of your choice Enter your email and password Click 'CONFIRM' Check box for agreement and click 'CONFIRM' Check your email. Click the link included in your confirmation email Sign in using your confirmed email and password Under Kroger Community Rewards Section on the right, click 'EDIT KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS INFORMATION' Enter your Kroger Plus Card Number Click 'SAVE CHANGES' Input your address information and click 'SAVE CHANGES' Type in the NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number for St John’s: 81522 Select St John’s Missions and click 'Save Changes'
You can verify that you are enrolled correctly when you see St John’s name on the right side of your information page. If you use your phone number to get your rewards at the register, call 1.877.576.7587 and get your Kroger Plus number.
THANKS TO EACH OF YOU! If we all use our Kroger Plus cards consistently, we’ll be able to make a huge difference for several outreach missions associated with St John’s Church.