November is a “hinge time” — a moment to reflect on stories that inspire faith and generosity as we enter Advent. This month’s Where Your Heart Is newsletter offers stewardship insights, including tips for year-end giving, upcoming webinars on generosity and financial literacy, and reflections on Advent lectionary texts. Discover how narratives of courage and divine promise can transform your ministry.
Read MoreAs we enter the season of change, it’s the perfect time for congregations to reimagine their approach to stewardship. Drawing from Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21, we’re reminded that where our treasure is, our hearts follow. Are your current practices in generosity still sparking joy and connection? If not, this might be the moment to explore new strategies—narrative budgets, fresh offering moments, or seasonal shifts in appeals. Let this autumn be a time of transformation, as we align our stewardship efforts with God’s mission in our communities. Read more in this month's "Where Your Heart Is."
Read MoreELCA’s Congregational Stewardship Support team shares their monthly "Where Your Heart Is" newsletter. The excitement of July, filled with images from the ELCA Youth Gathering and mission trips, highlights the importance of early and strategic planning. Congregational leaders are encouraged to channel their community’s energy into living out the gospel through thoughtful preparation and resource management.
Upcoming events include a grant writing webinar on August 19 and the Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference in Portland from September 23-25. Embrace this season with dedication and faith, making July memorable and impactful through careful planning and stewardship.
Read MoreAs we step into June, it’s a perfect time to pause and reflect. Congregational leaders often worry about attendance and engagement during the summer, but June offers a unique opportunity to take a moment to just be. The latest “Where Your Heart Is” newsletter from Tim Brown, ELCA’s Director of Congregational Stewardship, explores how to find peace, share community stories, and stay connected with upcoming stewardship events.
Read MoreThis month's "Where Your Heart Is" newsletter from the ELCA Stewardship team emphasizes the importance of slowing down amidst the busyness of life, especially during the Holy Week and tax season.
The newsletter also introduces valuable stewardship resources and invites engagement with stewardship themes in upcoming lectionary readings, underscoring stewardship as a holistic approach to living out our faith.
Read MoreIn the latest Where Your Heart Is newsletter, Rev. Tim Brown invites congregations to actively engage in stewardship planning during the winter season, suggesting the creation of a year-round stewardship calendar. This approach aligns church activities with its mission, integrating stewardship discussions throughout the year.
Upcoming webinars and events, including one on constructing a stewardship calendar and another on deepening relationships with fundraising, aim to equip leaders with the skills for impactful ministry. These initiatives underscore the importance of continuous stewardship education and the embrace of holistic financial practices within church communities.
Read MoreThe latest edition of ELCA Stewardship's "Where Your Heart Is" newsletter explores the theme of stewardship from a heartfelt and spiritual perspective. It delves into the changing focus from outdoor activities to introspective and communal engagements as seasons shift. The newsletter includes practical advice on stewardship, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and connecting with congregational members through meaningful narratives.
Read MoreExplore the essence and joy of autumn stewardship, a tradition rooted in the agrarian cycle of our ancestors, and discover how ELCA’s Congregational Stewardship Support is nurturing this spirit through events, resources, and thoughtful discussions, aiming to cultivate generous congregations and spread kindness and love in the world. Read more in the Where Your Heart is newsletter.
Read MoreDiscover the importance of community stewardship in the summer months, as we embrace the House of Light in the ELCA’s stewardship newsletter, Where Your Heart Is. Share experiences of grace, explore upcoming events aimed at fostering stewardship, and learn from the wisdom of our ancestors and scripture. Become part of our community's chain of faith formation and support.
Read More“Where Your Heart Is,” the new stewardship newsletter of the ELCA, continues with their March, 2023 newsletter featuring: words from Tim Brown, Director for Congregational Stewardship; upcoming events, stewardship in the text, and stewardship resources.
Read More“Where Your Heart Is,” the new stewardship newsletter of the ELCA, continues with their January, 2023 newsletter featuring: words from Tim Brown, Director for Congregational Stewardship; upcoming events, and stewardship resources.
Read MoreAre you looking for stewardship resources to fuel your ministries and your imagination? Here are three places to find guidance and support:
Executive certificate in religious fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Wednesdays from Jan. 4 through March 8 (except for Ash Wednesday), with a smaller cohort meeting an additional day each week. The course is offered at a steep discount for parish deacons and ministers, at only $550. Contact Rev. Larry Strenge or Rev. Timothy Brown with questions. Learn more here.
“Learning Donor Motivations” stewardship webinar, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, 6 p.m. Central time.
A common challenge regarding stewardship is finding organic ways to speak about it. The following upcoming readings this Advent and Epiphany are just a few hooks on which a stewardship thought might hang: Matthew 24:36-44, Nov. 27; Matthew 3:13-17, Jan. 8, 2023; and Matthew 5:13-20 | Feb. 5, 2023.
Read MoreWelcome to the first issue of “Where Your Heart Is,” the new stewardship newsletter of the ELCA (subscribe here).
In the coming months and years, I hope we not only dig into some of the things valued in our lives, both personal and collective, but also highlight the important and honest fact that all of life is an act of stewardship, from our first breath to our last. How do we use our days?
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