Why I Give to Immanuel

Thoughts on giving from the members of IUCC – Winter 2003

The following thoughts on giving were collected during the 2003 Stewardship Campaign, Rooted in Christ – Branching Out in Love. The statements speak for themselves and show a wide range of reasons why our members value IUCC and the gifts they receive from being members here. As you read through these, think about a friend, family member, or coworker who might also benefit from being a part of our IUCC family and invite them to discover what we already know – Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and Immanuel UCC is a great place to find Him, and to meet some wonderful people.

• Gifts to a church have many facets - time, talent, and dollars. We have found in Immanuel a sanctuary in times of joy and in tribulation. It is important to share our gifts, no matter how big or how small, to this community of Christ. We could never have imagined the return on our gifts that we receive daily. Keeping our faith alive and growing is important and through out gifts and those of others, we hope to be able to share that faith with others.

• I go to church to hear the word of God interpreted for me and how it can help me live. I go to encounter others who are there for the same reasons and learn how to get along with each others because this church is one where we can have diverse ideas rather than accept a doctrine. I go to praise God and be thankful for all my blessings. If I don’t attend, I tend to forget about praise and prayer. I give because I want to help support a place and personnel to help me live my life well.

· I like to go to church to hear about God’s Word. It makes me feel good and makes my week. As for giving to the church, I give all I can as I get only so much each month. I am only interested in hearing the sermon.

• It is only when you are much older that you realize that what you have obtained in life is by the spiritual guidance and divine leadership received in the past. What I have today has been provided by my Savior. Therefore, what I can give to the church I consider a privilege.

• I give out of my need to give, not out of the church’s need. I have tithed since 1975. I live better on 90% of my income than I ever did on 100%. God blesses a tithe. Knowing that, why wouldn’t I give 10% of all God has blessed me with? Thanks to the goodness of God, I am also able to give to several other charities in addition to my tithe. A tithe is a minimum level of giving to me.

• Every time I stand in the checkout line at the grocery store and look at the headlines on the magazines and tabloids, I am reminded why I give to support the church. In a society that does its best to lead us (especially our young people) in the wrong direction, the church remains as the steadfast beacon of God’s direction.

• Church is very important to me, so whatever little I can give helps to keep it going. I get much more than I give. I can give time in the kitchen or office.

• I consider IUCC my second home and the people attending, my family. I give to Immanuel because I care about and love this church and because I am part of this church. Just as a body has many parts, each part is important and has a definite function to perform to make the body whole. All that I am and am able to do helps this church function in some way. All aspects of our giving, whether monetary, time, or sharing of one’s talents and gifts are important. The church cannot function as a whole if it doesn’t have these working together. God has blessed me and my family all my life and anything I can give is rewarding to me and makes me feel good.

• I give to Immanuel so that the door will continue to remain open to those ostracized, demeaned, and degraded by other churches who do not understand that all are welcome to God’s house and His table.

• I go back a long way in this Church. My Mom’s family goes back to the beginning of this Church and that means a lot to me. My Father and Mother both believed in giving their time and talents and money. My Mom always said if you give to Church, God will give it back to you in more ways than you will ever know. She always told me to go to Church and believe in God. Both my parents were active in the Church and took me to Sunday School and Church. That’s why I give to Church, so other people will have a chance to go to this Church too. I am glad my parents gave me the chance to learn about God.