Invitation to Generosity in 2025

Jesus said to his disciples, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”  They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.”  Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.”       - Matthew 14:16-19 (NRSV)

Most people have probably heard more than enough negativity lately and it seems that there will always be an over-abundance of bad news. But you may have noticed that the Bible has many stories where situations are not going well and seem impossible to solve, but the core and underlying message of the Gospel is that there is GOOD NEWS and this GOOD NEWS is that Jesus does make a difference in our world today.

In October of this year, The Barna Institute took a poll of U.S. teens and adults about their  “perceptions of the church and Christians.”  What Barna discovered from that poll is that there is good news, because most teens and adults had a positive opinion of Jesus, and they want to help the church to “be what Jesus intended”. (Barna Institute, October State of the Church, Christians Want to Help the Church Realign to ‘be What Jesus Intended’

Thanks to what we do as a congregation and a community, St. Mark is known by people as a congregation that does what Jesus called us to do; help people in need, speak on behalf of those who do not have a voice, welcome people who are often excluded, and provide a space for these things to happen, in addition to all of the other things that we are about at St Mark. It is because of our willingness to help others outside of the church walls that it is not unusual for people to speak to me and say that St. Mark was spoken of in a very positive way at a meeting they attended or in a conversation they had with a community member.  

Because we have had such a wide impact in our community and within the Church, this is a letter inviting you to consider your support of St Mark. Some of us are already doing as much as we can, some may be considering if they can do more, and others may be considering increasing their financial support because God’s blessings are manifesting in this congregation in so many ways.

There are two things I invite you to consider doing when you are finished reading this letter.

First, I invite you to consider your financial support of St Mark for this year, 2024.  Perhaps you have not yet financially supported our shared ministry this year, or perhaps you can do more. At the end of September each year we reach our greatest need as expenses are greater than income, this year was no different. We need to make up @$40,000 during these last three months. If you can help, your financial support will help us to end the year strong.

Giving at St Mark is easy and there are several ways to do so, you can place your gift in an offering box on Sunday morning, or you can drop it off or send it to the church office. Another method is to go online to www.stmarkstormlake.com/give.   AND IF you are ready to give a give now, simply scan this QR code.

Second, I invite you to prayerfully consider your financial support of St Mark in 2025 by filling out an Estimate of Giving that can be found at the end of this webpage.   Filling out an Estimate of Giving card provides each of us with an opportunity to prayerfully plan our giving to St Mark for the next year.  Your pledge helps the Congregation Council plan the operating budget and make plans for the upcoming year.  We are including a 2025 Estimate of Giving card with his letter that can be turned in via the offering box or dropped off at the office.  You can also fill out a form online to turn it in electronically. It is located under the GIVE tab on the St Mark website.

With your financial support we will continue to do the many things you have come to expect of us as a congregation, AND we will continue to do what Jesus asks us to do; help people in need, speak on behalf of those who do not have a voice, welcome people who are often excluded,  and provide space so that these things can happen.

Peace to you,

Pastor Dave Kebschull

and St Mark Congregation Council