God's Story is Our Story Rev.indd
“I love to tell the story, Because I know ’tis true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do”
A story of belonging, purpose, and trust. According to Lutheran pastor and scholar Dr. David Lose there are two things everyone needs in this life: a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose. To be welcomed, remembered, forgiven and loved is to belong. To welcome, remember, forgive and love is to have purpose. Such is the story of God’s grace entering in Jesus Christ, undeserved and free. Through God’s story of abundant grace and mercy which in Christ becomes yours, you are called to impact the world for good. You belong and you have a purpose in this story. Which leads to trust. God trusts and you in turn are called to trust. Have you noticed that with trust almost everything works and without trust pretty much nothing works? In baptism, God trusts you to make decisions with your life that reflect the generous abundant God you worship. I guess you can call that stewardship. All of us have different reasons for why we trust our money to the mission of St. Stephen. Here are some I have heard: • I believe in what the church is doing. • I am confident that the church spends donations carefully and wisely. • I receive a positive feeling through giving. It’s fun! • I have heard the compelling story of our church’s impact on people’s lives. • I understand how I can make a difference through my giving. • I understand that everything I have is a gift of God. Belonging, purpose, and trust. Author Nathan Dungan says “The choices we make with our money can change the world.” Choices are made on trust and St. Stephen provides one of the avenues for your trust to change the world. You belong here. You have great purpose here. Thank you for your trust in supporting the amazing mission we share with your generous financial pledge for 2015. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for yours.
St. Stephen is a welcoming, Christ-centered community, trusting in God’s love and living in the Holy Spirit. We are called to Worship, Connect, and Serve. Founded to be a Christ-centered community in 1955, together we have been changing lives and sharing Christ’s story in Bloomington and throughout the world. Pledged giving allows our church to plan and carry out this mission. Over the last 5 years, the number of pledging households has increased by 15%. Thank you! If you have been financially supporting St. Stephen in a way other than pledged giving, we thank you! Might you prayerfully consider taking the next step and committing to pledge your financial support to St. Stephen in 2015? We thank you in advance for partnering with this faith community’s story through your financial generosity. Our current vision is to see a 5% increase in our overall giving in order to expand God’s audience locally and worldwide as well as account for the natural increase in the costs of our church ministries.
RECEIVE • RECOGNIZE • RETURN No longer use cash or checks? Consider signing up with Simply Giving (application included). Select the frequency with which your gift can be automaticallytransferred from your bank to St. Stephen. This type of sustained giving is particularly helpful to smooth out the seasonal giving cycles throughout the year.
Is the Spirit moving you? Are you feeling spontaneous?
God’s S tor y Is O
Using a scanning app on your smart phone, take a picture of the QR code and it will take you right to the St. Stephen website giving page. Or use the Giving Kiosk located in the Narthex.
“I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.” 8400 France Avenue South • Bloomington, MN • 55431-1519 952-831-4746 • www.ststephen.net
ur Story
“And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story, That I have loved so long”.
We Are All Pa rt of G od’s S tory.
. k r o w s ’ d o G o d o t e r e h l l a e r a e W . e l i m We are G s s ’ d o od’s hands, God’s voice, G “I love to tell the story; For some have never heard The message of salvation From God’s own holy Word.”
I love to tell the story, Because I know ’tis true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do
A story of belonging, purpose, and trust. According to Lutheran pastor and scholar Dr. David Lose there are two things everyone needs in this life: a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose. To be welcomed, remembered, forgiven and loved is to belong. To welcome, remember, forgive and love is to have purpose. Such is the story of God’s grace entering in Jesus Christ, undeserved and free. Through God’s story of abundant grace and mercy which in Christ becomes yours, you are called to impact the world for good. You belong and you have a purpose in this story. Which leads to trust. God trusts and you in turn are called to trust. Have you noticed that with trust almost everything works and without trust pretty much nothing works? In baptism, God trusts you to make decisions with your life that reflect the generous abundant God you worship. I guess you can call that stewardship. All of us have different reasons for why we trust our money to the mission of St. Stephen. Here are some I have heard: • I believe in what the church is doing. • I am confident that the church spends donations carefully and wisely. • I receive a positive feeling through giving. It’s fun! • I have heard the compelling story of our church’s impact on people’s lives. • I understand how I can make a difference through my giving. • I understand that everything I have is a gift of God. Belonging, purpose, and trust. Author Nathan Dungan says “The choices we make with our money can change the world.” Choices are made on trust and St. Stephen provides one of the avenues for your trust to change the world. You belong here. You have great purpose here. Thank you for your trust in supporting the amazing mission we share with your generous financial pledge for 2015. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for yours.
St. Stephen is a welcoming, Christ-centered community, trusting in God’s love and living in the Holy Spirit. We are called to Worship, Connect, and Serve. Founded to be a Christ-centered community in 1955, together we have been changing lives and sharing Christ’s story in Bloomington and throughout the world. Pledged giving allows our church to plan and carry out this mission. Over the last 5 years, the number of pledging households has increased by 15%. Thank you! If you have been financially supporting St. Stephen in a way other than pledged giving, we thank you! Might you prayerfully consider taking the next step and committing to pledge your financial support to St. Stephen in 2015? We thank you in advance for partnering with this faith community’s story through your financial generosity. Our current vision is to see a 5% increase in our overall giving in order to expand God’s audience locally and worldwide as well as account for the natural increase in the costs of our church ministries.
RECEIVE • RECOGNIZE • RETURN No longer use cash or checks? Consider signing up with Simply Giving (application included). Select the frequency with which your gift can be automaticallytransferred from your bank to St. Stephen. This type of sustained giving is particularly helpful to smooth out the seasonal giving cycles throughout the year.
Is the Spirit moving you? Are you feeling spontaneous?
God’s S tor y Is O
Using a scanning app on your smart phone, take a picture of the QR code and it will take you right to the St. Stephen website giving page. Or use the Giving Kiosk located in the Narthex.
“I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.” 8400 France Avenue South • Bloomington, MN • 55431-1519 952-831-4746 • www.ststephen.net
ur Story
“And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story, That I have loved so long”.
We Are All Pa rt of G od’s S tory.
. k r o w s ’ d o G o d o t e r e h l l a e r a e W . e l i m We are G s s ’ d o od’s hands, God’s voice, G “I love to tell the story; For some have never heard The message of salvation From God’s own holy Word.”
I love to tell the story, Because I know ’tis true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do
