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RICH
TOWARD GOD |
2010 Lenten Devotional Dare to Live Fearlessly
Beginning
February 17, Ash Wednesday, hard copies of this devotional may be found in the
narthex. Also, it will be included in the weekly E-pistle or you may click on
the button below for a printable PDF copy. (In order to make booklet, print odd
pages then flip your paper and reinsert in printer to print the even pages.)
[To view straight
copy or to print on half-sheets click
here.] Giving
Statements
In an effort to help make the church office more efficient and productive,
we are reducing the number of times we mail giving statements from each quarter
to twice a year. The first biannual statement will be mailed in September,
dated January through August, and the second will be mailed in January, 2010,
dated January 1 through December 31, 2009. You will notice this change on your
upcoming September giving statement. If needed, exceptions to this schedule may
be requested through the church office at (410) 838-8081. Did you know
LCGS has the ability to receive offerings via automatic, electronic giving? You
can elect to set up automatic deductions from your bank account, and you will
be able to track your offerings on your bank statements every month. It is a simple
process, and it only takes a few minutes to get started. You can change your giving
amount at any time. For more information about e-giving, please contact the church
office. |
DARE
TO LIVE FEARLESSLY....
"Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with
great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil
over his face to keep the people of Israel from
gazing at the end of the glory that was being
set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed,
to this very day, when they hear the reading of
the old covenant, that same veil is still there,
since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed,
to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil
lies over their minds; but when on turns to the
Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces,
seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected
in a mirror, are being transformed into the same
image from one degree of glory to another; for
this comes from the Lord, the Spirit." ~2
Corinthians 3:12-18
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,"
St. Paul writes. A freedom from: selfishness,
worry, the need to be "on top," fear of failure,
fears in general. A freedom that allows us to
see and to reflect the glory of the Lord.
Christ's gospel message is one of love, God's
love for us, and God's desire for us to love him
and each other. While on the surface that seems
to be easy, but when you get right down to it,
the sacrificial love Christ call us to, isn't
natural to mere mortals. The act of loving God
and others is one of giving yourself away, of
not needing to be in the center, of daring to
put someone else's needs before your own. So often
we are afraid that giving ourselves (time, skills
and resources) away without expectation for something
in return, will somehow diminish us-we will be
or have less because of it.
In reality it is when we give ourselves away we
receive blessings in abundance. We don't become
less or have less, but rather more! It is in that
giving away of our time, skills and resources
for others that we begin to "be transformed into
the same image, from one degree of glory to another"-that
is the image of Christ.
Like the song that Debby taught the children for
the Children's Sermon on Transfiguration Sunday:
"Love is something if you give it away, give
it away, give it away. Love is something if you
give it away, you end up having more."
By its very nature love needs to be shared. Love
must be given away or it soon withers; love shared
grows for both giver and receiver. When we share
ourselves and our resources with others, then
we share Christ's love and truly become his messengers
to a world hungry and thirsty for, and in desperate
need of, God's unconditional love.
~ The Stewardship Team
WAYS
TO GIVE TO GOOD SHEPHERD Planned
Gifts: Bequests (Wills and Trusts) A bequest provision in your will or
trust will allow you to make a significant gift to ministry without reducing your
current income. You can specify a specific dollar amount or a percent of the estate’s
residual value to: Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1515 Emmorton Road, Bel
Air MD 21014. You may designate what fund it is to go to if you wish.
Life Insurance By changing the beneficiary of your policy, you can
make a gift to ministry. Or, transfer the ownership of the cash value life insurance
policy. Qualified Retirement Plans (IRA, Keogh, 401K, 403B)
Your qualified retirement plan can provide a significant gift to ministry. The
IRA Rollover for charitable gifts has been extended for 2008 and 2009.
The examples and information here is for illustrative and educational purposes
only and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your tax or legal
advisor about proceeding with your estate plans.
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