Giving to warm hearts, change lives

by Audrey Novak Riley

I love gift-giving occasions, from Christmas and birthdays to plain old Tuesdays, don’t you? It’s fun to think about gifts that will bring a smile to someone you love, and it’s even more satisfying to know that your gift will not only warm a heart, but change a life. What sort of gift does that? Your year-end gift to Women of the ELCA does.

When we give to Women of the ELCA, we help mobilize women throughout our church—and even beyond—to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ in so many ways. Our gifts—yes, yours and mine!—make a real difference in people’s lives. So let’s give together!

Wonder no longer

Now, if you’re wondering what kind of gift to Women of the ELCA would be the handiest and most versatile, wonder no longer. Thankofferings, regular offerings and “Where Needed Most” gifts are amazingly useful.

But what about sizes? Wonder no longer. A $50 Thankoffering from every unit would be perfect. Synodical women’s organizations might try on a $500 year-end gift. Every individual is different, of course, but a $25 Thankoffering or “Where Needed Most” gift might be a flattering fit.

Do you like to tuck a little something extra in with your gifts? Wonder no longer—here are some suggestions. A unit might consider adding to their year-end gift by giving a dozen Gather subscriptions to the congregation’s library or a nearby retirement home.

A synodical organization might send a little extra “Where Needed Most” gift in an amount equal to the cost of a weekend trip to Chicago. Consider it a way to put a nice little ribbon on their president’s presence at the annual Conference of Presidents at the churchwide office.

And if you’re wondering how to make sure your year-end gift gets here in time, wonder no longer! As long as your gift arrives before January 31, 2019, it’s a year-end 2018 gift. And thank you!

Audrey Riley is director for stewardship for Women of the ELCA. Learn more about how to give here.

Photo by Jim Veneman at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston where your gifts helped purchase contents of the hygiene bags that were given to local shelters. In the photo, Julia Kasper, Kelly Kettler and Cori Kettler, First English Lutheran, Platterville, Wis., add lotion and body wash to their hygiene bags.