Giving is a natural expression of love. Friends do it. Lovers do it. Parents do it. Even children do it. We give presents to those we love. So, why does God give these things to us? Because God loves us and there is an intrinsic connection between giving and love. Perhaps the best know verse of the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave. . .” (John 3:16).
God gives because God loves. God gives to us because God loves us. And when we give our offerings to God as an act of worship we reflect that love. We love God back.
There comes a day when we understand that all is of grace, that the whole world is a gift of God, a completely generous gift. We see each flower, each drop of water, each minute of life as a gift of God. He gives them to all, both those who know him and to those who are ignorant of Him. – Paul Tourneir, Meaning of Gifts.
Giving Methods
Zion pledges to be good stewards of your gifts, taking great care in how we manage and track the resources entrusted to us. Our monthly financial report helps you evaluate how we’re doing. You may make your gifts in a variety of forms. You will receive a receipt of your tax-deductible gifts in accordance with IRS requirements. Please let us know if you have any specific needs regarding the timing of these notifications; otherwise, you will receive the minimum summary of your gifts necessary to meet government standards.
Cash, Checks or Money Orders
You can give cash, checks, or money orders in three ways:
• placed in the offering plate during Sunday-morning worship
• dropped off at the Zion church office
• mailed to Zion Ev. Lutheran Church – 128 West 33rd Street – Minneapolis, MN 55408
Electronic Funds Transfer
Zion Lutheran Church invites you to consider a new way of implementing your giving to us. Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans has developed an automated giving program called “Simply Giving” to assist congregations and their members. Both our members and the church benefit with this program. For those who choose to participate, withdrawing the pledged or specified amount from your bank account is truly giving the Biblical “first fruits.” It also eliminates the minor frustrations of writing frequent checks or forgetting the checkbook. For the church, the advantages are related to a consistent, predictable income. The seasonal fluctuations in giving patterns are lessened. Thrivent Financial offers this service to benefit congregations. They pay all of the cost for this service.
To become an active participant in this program, please complete the Simply Giving Enrollment Form and turn it in to the church office. Thank you.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Endowment Fund
The Zion Endowment Fund was created in 1982 as a means of preserving the long-term vitality of Zion Lutheran Church and assisting Zion in meeting its mission. Zion’s Endowment has assisted in the continued support and work of local and world missions, community projects and building improvements or expansion. Most recently the Endowment Fund has helped in assisting with Zion’s new Recovery ministry.
Gifts to the Endowment Fund may be in the form of money, securities or other property.
Provisions have been made within the Fund for two accounts: a Perpetual Account and a Memorial Account. Contributors may choose how their gift is to be used and may also indicate whether interest only, or both principal and interest are to be distributed.
Gifts or bequests should be made to “The Endowment Fund of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church”, 128 West 33rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408.
If the donor wishes to direct how the gift is to be used, instructions should accompany the gift or bequest.