Our campaign is successful – both spiritually and in financial commitments – and together we will experience an exciting future as we begin to see the vision our Lord has for us.
As of the Oct 15th commitment Sunday, our congregation has received 3-year pledges in the amount of $1.33M. Thanks be to God! We want to emphasize that this is not the end of the campaign, it’s actually just beginning! If you pledged a commitment, thank you for the faith and trust you have shown in our Lord and His Church. If you haven’t had an opportunity to consider how God is leading you to support “Growing in God’s Goodness”, please know that it’s not too late. We want to invite everyone in; we don’t want you to feel that you’ve missed out!
On Sunday Nov 5th during the offering time, we’ll be celebrating “First Fruits” giving which is an opportunity for us to give the first offering in fulfilling our pledge. The concept is based on the Old Testament Biblical First-Fruits offering when people lived in an agrarian society. Harvest time was significant because that was when the hard work the farmers had poured into their crops all year began to pay off. They were literally reaping what they sowed. God called his people to bring the first yield—the first fruits—from their harvest to Him as an offering. This was to demonstrate the Israelites’ reverence for God and that they trusted Him to provide enough crops to feed their family.
“When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.” —Leviticus 23:10.
We no longer live in an agrarian-based society and likely don’t worry about harvest time. But the idea of first fruits is still relevant as a celebration of all that God has done. As each of us have unique plans for fulfilling our pledge, we want to emphasize that our First Fruits offering, November 5th is voluntary.
Special offering envelopes are being distributed this week; they are also available on the Welcome Desk. You may also make your First Fruits offering here: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-YWT7/campaign/C-149QX?access=tile_direct
Thank you for being a part of what our God is doing at Messiah Lutheran Church!
