Estimates of Giving for the coming 2010-11 budget year submitted by church members and friends enable us to develop a realistic budget to support our mission. Due to challenges we are facing with the economy and Pastor Jess’ deployment, providing an Estimate of Giving is more important now than ever.

If you have not yet returned your 2010-11 Estimate of Giving to the Financial Secretary, please do so now.  CLICK HERE to get a printable copy of the Estimate of Giving form. You may also get a form by contacting the church office at 891-1700 or office@goodshepherd.com.

As reported last month, Pastor Jess, who is an U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain, has been notified that he is being deployed with his Reserve unit. He will train with his unit in Texas during January and February 2011, deploy to Kuwait in March, and then deploy to Iraq in late May 2011. Due to additional state-side training Pastor Jess must undergo in November and December 2010, his last day with us before departure will effectively be Sunday, November 14, on which we will hold a “God-Speed” observance for him. He has been informed that he can now expect to return home the first of February 2012 rather than April 2012, as previously anticipated.

Staff members and a team of lay leaders are working with Pastor Larry and the Church Council to develop a strategic plan to address the staffing and program issues that will result from Pastor Jess’ deployment. The planning is still in the
initial stages, although it is certain that current staff members will all be taking on additional responsibilities, and there will be opportunities for church members and friends to accept more leadership roles.

The congregation will be kept apprised of plans as they are developed.  Suggestions or questions may be addressed to Pastor Larry. Meanwhile, please keep Pastor Jess, his family, the staff and our congregation in your prayers as we
work together to meet this new challenge.

Thrivent for Lutherans, a fraternal investment corporation for Lutherans, is launching a new way for its members to distribute the company’s charitable dollars to their church or other Lutheran organizations.

Good Shepherd’s qualified Thrivent members (those who have Thrivent investments or insurance) will soon be receiving a letter notifying them of how to participate in the Choice Dollars program. Most will be able to direct from $25 to $100 a year – and some as much as $500 – to our church, The Edge Campus Ministry, the Good Shepherd Nursery School, or other worthy Lutheran organizations. The Choice Dollars program has the potential to provide Good Shepherd with $10,000 or more per year to help strengthen our mission.

Forums Will Provide More Information

To help answer your questions about Thrivent’s Choice Dollars program, Dave Eickman, a member of GSLC and a Thrivent representative, will be available on the weekends of August 21-22 and September 11-12 to hold forums on the
program or talk individually to Thrivent members.

TWO WAYS TO SUPPORT GSLC’S MINISTRY

    Good Shepherd has two distinct special funds, The Endowment Fund and the Memorial Fund, each of which helps support ministries of the congregation but in different ways.

    Gifts to The Good Shepherd Endowment Fund help ensure the future, long-term financial stability of the congregation. The principle of the Endowment Fund is held in perpetuity. Interest or dividend income from its investment may be used to fund special projects within or outside the church, support the annual budget, or be retained for future use. Some recent gifts have now brought the principle to about $150,000, which in this current economy may generate between $4,000 and $8,000 of income that could be used for ministry.

    Gifts to the Good Shepherd Memorial Fund are used to support current ministry needs of the church. Both the principle and any earned interest may be used for any purpose deemed appropriate by the pastoral staff or Church Council, although it typically is used for obtaining items for worship (linens, altar paraments, communion vessels) or technical equipment.

    Gifts to either fund are often given to honor loved ones. Gifts normally provide a tax benefit to the donor and may be made in the form of bequests, annuities, trusts, life insurance, or outright donations.

    Please contact the church office for more information on either fund.

If you have changed your e-mail address, please notify the office so that we can update our records. We would not want you to miss out on important communications about our ministry together! Report e-mail and other address changes to Barb Andrews (bandrews@goodshepherd.com) or Jan Zinnecker (jzinnecker@goodshepherd.com) or call 891-1700.