Thank you for your desire to support the mission and ministries of Incarnation through your financial stewardship. Stewardship is grateful living. It involves the grateful and responsible management and use of all of God’s creation, including the wise management of our finances and generous sharing of our finances for the mission of Christ through our church.
There are a number of ways to give your gift. In addition to sharing your offering during worship, you have the option of signing up for an automated giving program online, making a one time Online Gift/Donation, or by planned giving to the Endowment Fund. The following link may also be used to pay for some classes and opportunities that have a fee. View descriptions of giving categories.
Click here to access the donation/payment form
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End of Year Reminders
2018 Contribution Deadline
Checks and cash that are placed in the offering plates, paid on line or delivered to the Incarnation Office on or before Monday, December 31, will be credited to your 2018 giving statement and may be claimed as a charitable contribution deduction for 2018. Online gifts are subject to business hours processing and must be processed on or prior to December 31st. Mailed gifts must be postmarked on or before December 31. Thank you for your support!
Stock Gifts to Incarnation
Stocks make an ideal gift to the Incarnation Operating and Capital fund with contributions of all sizes working for Incarnation’s mission forever. We do ask you to consider this option and to take action before December 1st to ensure the transfer is complete before the end of the year. Please contact Kelsey Blinn to let her know of your stock transfer. Otherwise we receive stock and do not know who is donating it. We are working with a new brokerage firm, Fidelity Investments, so please contact Kelsey Blinn, kblinn@incarnationmn.org, for more information on how to make a stock donation.
Giving Categories
The descriptions below match our standard giving categories on the Online Donation form.
Operating Budget
The operating budget is the on-going ministry budget of the congregation covering the day to day operations including staff salaries, program resources, worship, and our benevolence to ministries beyond Incarnation through the ELCA, St. Paul Synod, Lutheran Social Services, and other ministry partners. Annual reports are available in the Incarnation Office listing all the lines that are included in this budget. A budget is set by the Congregation Council each year and approved by the congregation at the Annual Meeting in January. The final budget is based on both ministry needs and anticipated income from giving. At Incarnation, historically, this budget does not include the mortgage for the building.
Capital Appeal
This fund covers the mortgage for the building. At Incarnation the mortgage is separate from the operating budget. This reflects our commitment to and hopes for the on-going ministry of this faith community, now and in the future. It recognizes that without adequate space, our ministry won’t grow and we won’t be able to bring Christ’s Good News to more people in the community. At this time, the Capital Appeal primarily covers month-to-month mortgage payments.
Holy Days
Some people like to make a special offering on the special occasions of the church year. Holy Days include Wednesdays in Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Memorials
Memorials are gifts to Incarnation in the name of anyone who has passed away. The pastoral staff uses these funds as needed for special projects and church improvements, including purchasing new paraments for the worship spaces.
Endowment Fund
The Endowment Fund provides additional resources, apart from regular giving, for the enhancement of the mission and vision of Incarnation. The special feature of this fund is that the contributions are never spent; only the invested earnings are used each year. A contribution to the Incarnation Endowment Fund is a gift that keeps giving every year to complement Incarnation’s ministries. Many gifts are to the Endowment Fund in memory, similar to memorial gifts. The interest from the fund is used to fund scholarships and special requests.
Preschool Tuition
If your child is enrolled in the Incarnation Preschool, you may make tuition payments online.
ELCA Good Gifts
As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we believe that God is calling us into the world – together. And with generous, loving hands, we can make a difference. Donate money to the ELCA Good Gifts where your funds will be used towards purchasing livestock and other goods for people in need around the world.
Questions about Online Giving? Contact Brenda Goetsch.