Make Your Pledge for 2027
A Message from Our Leaders
Frequently Asked Questions

Friends in Christ,

As we begin a new program year here at Immanuel, it is truly amazing to look back at all we’ve done in the last twelve months together!

  • We began the year by rededicating Immanuel’s worship space to the glory of God! Since that time, we’ve added additional seating to make sure there’s a comfortable space for everyone!

  • During the Lenten season, we heard from a variety of voices who used the Fruits of the Spirit to help us remain Centered in Love.

  • We opened our doors (and filled to absolute capacity) for “A Community Performance of A Mother of A Revolution!” in May. Even now, we continue to welcome new people in worship who attended or felt moved by the event.

  • We began feeding hungry neighbors through the Summer Sandwiches in the Park program.

  • We transitioned from single-use plastic cups to glass cups for Holy Communion, allowing us to better care for the earth and avoid buying additional cups constantly.

  • In August, we celebrated Janis Shackley’s 21 years of ministry as Office Manager and wished her well upon her retirement.

Over this past year, we have trusted God’s faithfulness as we dealt with the rising costs we are all experiencing, unanticipated building maintenance needs, and the necessary pastoral compensation changes we made in May of this year. Along with our regular expenses, all of these things have an effect on our General Fund from week to week. Thanks to your generosity, we have endured these challenges without needing to utilize our Line of Credit.

As people who abound in hope, we believe that God continues to have good things in store for us, that God is with us through the challenges we face, and that God continues to have important work for us to do together. God has entrusted us with the responsibility of stewarding this congregation — and it takes all of us to do so! 

As we prepare for the year ahead, we are asking you to consider your financial giving to our congregation in 2027.

  • If you have never given to Immanuel before, please know that every penny counts and any gift, no matter the size, would be appreciated and used well for our shared ministry.

  • If you give sporadically, thank you. Your giving makes a difference. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge (giving intention) this year and begin giving a set amount each week/month like you might do for other bills and household expenses.

  • If you give regularly to this congregation, thank you. Your consistent, dependable support is vital to the work we do in this building and beyond. If you have the means to do so, please prayerfully consider the ways you might be able to increase your giving to our congregation in 2027. 

We are also asking you to consider a year-end gift to our congregation. Over the past few years, your special gifts to Immanuel have helped pay off massive amounts of our mortgage and made our worship space renewal a reality. We have achieved great things together! This year, we are setting a goal of raising $100,000 for our mortgage by the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 24, 2027. This should bring what is owed on the mortgage down to approximately $600,000!

We hope that the enclosed Giving and Pledging at Immanuel insert and your pledge card will help you discern how you might support our congregation financially in the year ahead. We also hope you’ll join us on Sunday, October 18 for a Ministry Fair highlighting the many ways you can make a difference in our congregation and community. Please click here for details!

Rev. Carina Schiltz — Pastor
Katie Bartelt — President

  • Pledging: Your intentional commitment—a promise of what you plan to give to Immanuel during the calendar year (January through December). It helps the congregation budget wisely and faithfully for the year ahead. 

    Giving: How you fulfill that pledge—through actual financial contributions. Many people choose to set up automated giving, which is one of the most convenient and consistent ways to follow through on your pledge. You can give in whatever way works best for you. 

  • Use the form above or return the pledge card that was mailed to your home to the church office, the offering plate, or by mail.

  • No. Whether you give automatically through Vanco (Simply Giving) or your financial institution, making a new pledge does not automatically update any scheduled gifts you already have set up. If you change anything about your pledge—amount, frequency, or payment type (including credit card expiration dates)—be sure to update your scheduled giving separately. Thank you for taking this extra step!

  • Yes. Vanco, our primary electronic giving provider, uses industry-standard encryption and PCI-compliant security measures to keep your data safe.

  • Yes. Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, and all eligible gifts are tax-deductible. You’ll receive a year-end giving statement each January for your records.

  • You can donate stocks, bonds, or mutual funds directly to the church, often avoiding capital gains tax and receiving a charitable deduction for the full value. Contact Financial Secretary Dawn Westenberg for transfer instructions.

  • Yes, if you’re 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA, which may count toward your required minimum distribution and be tax-free.

  • Absolutely not. Members and friends of our congregation give freely and generously according to their means. We will never ask you how much money you make or coerce you into giving a set amount of money.

    Some people give a percentage of their income and others give another chosen amount. What matters is your generosity and commitment to our life together.

  • Click here to learn more about how our General Fund is used here at Immanuel.