2027 Stewardship Campaign · October 18–November 8
“God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance…”
God’s abundance takes shape in the lives we touch—a child growing in faith, a neighbor finding support, a person discovering they belong. Through our financial gifts, time, and talents, we help those blessings overflow.
As we prepare for ministry in 2027, prayerfully consider what God has placed in your hands to share. Together, we can live our call to accompany others and share God’s limitless love.
Our Generosity at Work
Our generosity flows into our call to accompany others through:
Advocating
Standing with our neighbors and working toward a more just community.
Partnering
Joining others to respond to needs and share God’s love.
Welcoming
Creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and included.
Discipling
Growing in faith through worship, learning, and service.
Embracing
Caring for one another through every season of life.
Abundance in Action
Stories of Abundance
Abundance Looks Like Showing Up
On a warm June day at Woods Park, First Lutheran showed up at the Star City Pride Festival with a booth, a few giveaways and a simple message we wanted people to hear clearly: you are welcome, you are valued, and you are made in God’s image.
Throughout the day, members and staff greeted people who stopped by, shared conversation, answered questions and offered a visible presence of affirmation and care. For some, it may have been only a brief interaction. For others, seeing a church represented at Pride may have carried deeper meaning.
We often think of abundance in terms of what we have. But sometimes abundance looks like what we are willing to share — our presence, our welcome, our voice and our willingness to stand alongside our neighbors.
That day, First Lutheran’s ministry overflowed beyond the walls of our building and into the community.
This is abundance in action: welcoming, embracing and advocating.
Abundance Looks Like Hope Shared
Each December, First Lutheran’s Gifts of Hope Market turns generosity into something tangible.
Over two days, members and friends purchased gifts that reached far beyond our building, raising $24,055.05 for 12 partner local and global organizations whose work reflects the welcome we proclaim as a congregation: walking with and supporting people whom God welcomes without exception.
Those gifts became weekend meals for families. They helped support citizenship classes for people preparing for naturalization. They purchased items made by refugee and immigrant women building skills for the American marketplace. They provided basic living supplies and emergency assistance for girls who are victims of sex trafficking. They invested in children through scholarships for bilingual education and care.
What began as purchases at a two-day market became food, safety, opportunity, education, dignity and hope.
This is abundance in action: advocating, welcoming, embracing and partnering.
Abundance Looks Like Making Room
Sometimes generosity means sharing what we already have.
At First Lutheran, that includes making room in our building for Las Abejitas Bilingual Education Center and Mosaic Day Services. By sharing our space, we help create places where children can learn and grow, people can receive support and build relationships, and everyone can experience a greater sense of belonging.
We also make room each Sunday at noon for the Nuer community to worship in our Chapel, creating a space where people can gather in their native language and worship through the music, traditions and practices that are meaningful to their faith community.
Our building becomes more than a place for our own ministries. It becomes a resource we can share with others—and another way God’s abundance can flow beyond ourselves.
This is abundance in action: welcoming, embracing and partnering.
Abundance Looks Like Walking Alongside
Faith grows through relationships.
At First Lutheran, adults share their time, experience and encouragement as they walk alongside children and youth. They teach FaithTrek, support Confirmation and youth group, make music together, serve in worship, listen to questions and help create spaces where young people are known, valued and reminded that they belong.
These relationships may seem simple, but they can have a lasting impact. A trusted adult who listens, encourages and shares their own faith can help a young person discover what it means to live as a disciple of Christ.
What we invest in young people today helps faith take root and grow for tomorrow.
This is abundance in action: discipling, embracing and partnering.
Our Four-Week Journey
October 18
Blessed in Abundance
Recognizing God’s gifts with gratitude.
October 25
Enough to Share
Seeing what our generosity makes possible.
November 1
Generosity Grows
Looking toward ministry in 2027.
November 8
Abundance Overflows
Celebrating generosity and our shared progress.
Rooted in Scripture
2 Corinthians 9:8-12
8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He scatters abroad; he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us, 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.
Our Shared Goal
Every pledge helps us plan for the ministry we share.
2027 Financial Pledge Goal
$850,000
Pledged So Far
$625,017
Help Us Reach 40% by November 1!
102
That’s the number of households who have made a pledge of giving for 2027 as of November 1. Not only that, but those pledges put us at 73% of our total pledge goal! And if you’re keeping track, that’s well above the 40% goal we had for pledges submitted by November 1 in order to unlock the Council Challenge gift of $1,000 to the Lutheran Food Pantry. Thank you!
Make Your 2027 Pledge
Questions About Pledging
What is stewardship?
Stewardship means wisely caring for something that belongs to someone else. The Bible calls us stewards of God’s creation. That means everything in creation belongs to God, not us, and we are called to take care of those things for God and to wisely use those gifts. In Christ, we are all shaped to be stewards.
Why are we talking about money?
We address stewardship in a focused way for four weeks each year. For Christians, money is not secret or off-limits. It belongs to God. Jesus talked about it a lot. We don’t do high-pressure talks but we want to be always willing to talk about it.
What is a financial pledge?
A pledge is a commitment of faith to give to the church’s annual operating budget in the coming year.
Why does my pledge help?
Pledges help First Lutheran plan its budget and ministry for the coming year.
Can I give during the year without pledging?
Absolutely. Every gift matters, whether or not you make a pledge. Pledging simply helps us plan ahead. When households share what they intend to give, First Lutheran has a clearer picture of the resources available for worship, faith formation, care, outreach, staffing and the ministries we share throughout the year.
A pledge is not a contract—it is your best estimate of what you hope to give and can be changed if your circumstances change.
Who should pledge?
Everyone is invited to participate according to their circumstances and belonging is never measured by the size of a gift.
Every gift matters at First Lutheran and makes an impact on our mission and ministry. So, yes, even a pledge of $1 a week matters and helps us. Every gift impacts our call to accompany and our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
How much should I give?
First Lutheran encourages our members to use the biblical standards of the tithe (10% of annual income). Most Christians don’t start at 10% but choose a starting percentage point, such as 0.5% or 2% of their annual income, and then work to increase that percentage year by year. Of course, this is a decision for each household to reach prayerfully. Our goal is to see each member giving in faith, in gratitude and in love.
If you are a return pledger, now is the time to consider increasing your pledge. We encourage you to consider starting with the percentage of your income you currently pledge and then consider increasing that by one percentage point. Reflect on the level you currently give at (e.g. 5% of your total household income) and consider an increase from 5% to 6% of household income.
What if my circumstances change?
You always have the option of adjusting your pledge to meet your personal circumstances. We understand that life can be unpredictable – for the good and the not-so-good. Just contact Bryan Hansen, our church accountant, to make any changes to your pledge during the year.
When I make a pledge, what will the money be used for?
Your gift will go towards the church’s operating budget. This includes all the expenses of day-to-day ministry at First Lutheran, including worship expenses, local and global outreach (local, synod and global benevolence), youth and family ministry, utilities, maintenance of our building and grounds and salaries for clergy and staff who make ministry happen.
How can I submit my pledge?
You can make your pledge online (our preferred way to receive your pledge) by clicking on the Make Your 2027 Financial Pledge button below, through your Realm app or account (click on Giving) or via the physical pledge card (just download the pledge card using the button below).
Pledge cards can be returned in the offering plate, via mail or at the church office.
How do I make my gifts?
There are several ways you can make your gift:
- Give securely online. Go to https://flclincoln.org/give.
- Set up a recurring gift using your bank’s online bill pay service.
- Set up Simply Giving automatic withdrawal from your bank account by contacting the church accountant (finance@flclincoln.org) for the authorization form.
- Mail or drop off a check to the church office.
- Place a check or cash (use a Giving envelope) in the offering plate at any of our worship services.
- Prepay for the entire year by contacting our accountant at finance@flclincoln.org.
Can I pledge my time and talents?
Yes! Stewardship includes sharing our time and abilities as well as our financial resources. Use the Pledge Your Time & Talents form to tell us how you would like to participate in ministry or what you would like to explore. Your interests, experience, and willingness to serve are gifts to God’s work through First Lutheran.
Let Your Blessings Flow
Rising everyday costs stretch household budgets—and the church’s resources, too. We are in this together, and every gift matters.
As you prayerfully consider your 2027 financial pledge, choose an amount that fits your circumstances and explore how you can share your time and talents. Through giving, welcoming, teaching, making music or serving our neighbors, we help God’s blessings overflow. Together, we live our call to accompany.
Download the Complete 2027 Pledge Packet
