Grace Notes: How's Stewardship?

How’s stewardship?

That’s always a question raised as we approach the end of the year. In our congregation, this is an important question every year as many of us prepare to make major year-end contributions to the work of this congregation. What has been the effect of all the shock and all the changes 2025 has brought on the faithful people of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

Here’s our Finance Committee’s response to those questions.

As of  November 30, 2025, we have received:

• 93% of our pledged stewardship income. 
• $1,333, 709 was pledged and budgeted as income.
• $1,060,821 has been received.  

There is little doubt that we will fulfill all of pledges.

We are now in what our Finance Committee members call the “hockey stick” portion of our giving which always increases significantly from Thanksgiving until January 1. I want to encourage each of us to make that fact of our history the fact of our present too. Our giving at this time of year has always been and continues to be critical to our ability to engage in Christ’s mission and do our ministry here.

But as your interim pastor, I want to encourage you, as Christ encourages us, to consider your own experience of our faithful God and of the faith, community, and love we share in this congregation. As you “count your blessings” consider how to respond to God’s gifts with a gift of your own. That’s what the Church means by stewardship, its not about budget, but about response to the faithfulness of God.

God has been faithful to us in all the changes and chances of the year coming to a close. I look forward to seeing each of you as we worship and receive Christ in the festive days ahead.
  
Peace and Joy – and Courage!

Mandy

Amandus J. Derr
Interim Pastor