Catch the Vision 2025 Giving Appeal by St. Andrew Lutheran Church

GIVING APPEAL

CATCH THE 2025

VISION VISION

From the Senior Pastor

How do we know that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in the heart of our home church? We can see and feel the impact—in the vibrant worship that offers God’s perspective on life in Christ, in the smiles of children, in the small groups of all ages learning and serving together, and in the friendly gatherings over Sunday morning donuts or Wednesday night suppers. These examples don’t even touch on the warmth and welcome felt by so many. In countless ways, the Spirit gathers us to grow in the love and grace of God in Christ Jesus.

We also see how the Holy Spirit is driving a broader impact in our ministry. Our worship services continue to attract strong participation, offering rich, relevant themes, moving and high-quality music, while reaching a growing number of new friends online. Our Children, Youth, and Family ministries are thriving with new, highly capable staff. St. Andrew’s Spirit in the Pines camping ministry and our Early Learning childcare and preschool program touch the lives of thousands of young people and families—both inside and outside our congregation. Additionally, Church Anew is expanding its influence, including a robust partnership with Lilly Endowment, Inc., which is ensuring the future of faith in communities across the nation. Like a train gaining momentum, we are moving forward—thanks be to God!

As we embrace St. Andrew’s new vision for ministry— Rooted in Christ, we nurture the future of faith—we hope that more and more people will Catch the Vision for life in Christ and our hope for today and tomorrow. You are an essential part of this movement.

In gratitude for our partnership together, I invite you to Catch the Vision in three ways. First, I invite you to continue your giving at St. Andrew so that we can finish the year strong. Second, consider making a special gift to St. Andrew Lutheran Church over and above your regular giving. Third, make a pledge of financial support to our ministry in 2025.

It is a blessing to be united in purpose and mission. With the help of the Spirit, let us not grow weary in making a lasting impact for the sake of Christ’s love and grace for all.

Together in Christ,

Pastor Peter Johnson

Senior Pastor

Our Vision:

Rooted in Christ, we nurture the future of faith by:

• Cultivating beloved community

• Encouraging faithful curiosity

• Equipping all as servant leaders

We have welcomed 78 children into God’s family through Baptism! That’s a 37% increase from 2023!

Where Your Giving Goes

We have reduced our energy consumption and our environmental footprint by the equivalent of $15,000 this year thanks to the LED lights we installed in 2023!

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

– Matthew 5:16

Trunk-or-Treat welcomed more than 400 children to St. Andrew! We served our diverse community with fun and candy!

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

– Colossians 3:14

A new “Mom’s of Little’s” small group gathered two dozen mothers for community and connection.

By opening a new classroom, 14 new families were able to join our Childcare family, so that St. Andrew can better serve one of the top needs of our community.

Cultivating Beloved Community

One of the profound impacts St. Andrew makes is through our mission to cultivate beloved community. We celebrate the web of faithful connections among our members—a network that offers companionship, encouragement, and hope, even in the midst of life’s most profound and challenging moments.

Consider the journey of St. Andrew members Eldon and Wendy Berkland. Last spring, they faced one of the hardest experiences a parent can endure— the death of their son, Andre, by suicide. Seeking solace, they regularly attend worship and the Suicide Bereavement Support Group at St. Andrew, slowly finding their way forward through a tragedy that continues to affect them deeply.

Similarly, this past summer, members Ken and Helen Adolph suffered the loss of their daughter, Jill, following a difficult battle with cancer. Jill left behind two young adult children, as well as a heavy burden of grief and unanswered questions. Ken and Helen, like the Berklands, are navigating their profound loss, seeking meaning and comfort one day at a time.

Though the Berklands and the Adolphs had not known each other before, that changed this past September at our annual Rally Day. Eldon and Wendy, after worship, visited St. Andrew’s Memorial Prayer Garden, where Andre’s ashes are spread. Afterward, they joined the church picnic in the parking lot. Heeding Pastor Matthew’s reminder during worship to introduce yourself to someone new, Eldon noticed Ken and Helen.

“They just looked approachable,” Eldon recalled. “So, I followed Pastor Matthew’s advice and introduced myself.” As they talked, Eldon shared the story of Andre and his visit to the Prayer Garden. Instantly, Helen felt an unexpected connection.

“Out of all the people out there, Eldon approached us—or should I say, God directed him to us,” Helen reflected. “Unless you’ve lost a child, it’s hard to grasp how heart-wrenching it is. But in that moment, we shared a bond. It touched me deeply.”

We share a bond as beloved community—one of healing and hope, strengthened by the Holy Spirit. In moments like these, we see how community transforms loss into something bearable, offering glimpses of God’s grace even in the darkest of times. Thanks be to God.

“Out of all the people out there, Eldon picked us, or should I say, God directed him to us.”

Encouraging Faithful Curiosity

Rooted in Christ, St. Andrew welcomes all who are curious to grow in their faith. Smiling greeters with signs saying “Come, sit with us,” a fully accessible building, and our inspiring sanctuary all extend an open invitation. It was this welcoming community that brought tears to a curious stranger named Joey on a cold winter Sunday.

Joey, from a generational Mormon family in Las Vegas, left her church at 12. Even then, she felt she could never meet the strict conditions required to enter the Mormon temple and join her family in the afterlife. After moving to Minnesota in 2008, Mormon missionaries still visited, urging her to return. But she struggled with the idea of a conditional God with too many demands.

The Holy Spirit stirred curiosity in Joey and her husband, Corey, and led them to St. Andrew. Through Pastor Peter’s sermons, Joey encountered a loving God. She heard the story of Jesus on the cross, creating a new family: “Woman, behold your son; behold your mother.” Pastor Peter’s personal story of escaping the Arab Spring with his family and being helped by a compassionate cab driver—who said, “Your mother is my mother now, too”— resonated deeply. Joey felt it was her story, too.

“I found out that God is a gracious God, and will love me no matter what. I didn’t know that to be true before. I felt like my life completely changed.” Today, Joey embraces God and her new community through Wednesday night suppers, Bible studies, worship, and fellowship. “Why did it take me so long to realize that God loves me just as I am?”

The Holy Spirit continues to inspire curiosity and draw people to the grace and love of Christ. How blessed St. Andrew is to witness Joey’s joyful faith!

“Why did it take me so long to realize that God loves me just as I am?”

Young Adult ministry is finding new vitality with more than 20 young adults gathering every Sunday night for fellowship and study.

St. Andrew provides over 120 students with bus transportation to or from Central Middle School in Eden Prairie for confirmation instruction.

Church Anew has encouraged faithful curiosity in every state in the nation, every continent on the planet (including Antarctica!), and dozens of denominational traditions.

St. Andrew’s Wednesday

Night Dinners feed more than 150 people every week with a home-cooked meal.

Childcare is celebrating 30 years in 2024. That’s more than 7,350 days of full day early learning here at St. Andrew!

Since its launch in 2020, the Church Anew blog has shaped the future of faith for more than 584,000 unique users to our website.

“Like

good stewards

of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”

– 1 Peter 4:10

Equipping All as Servant Leaders

St. Andrew is a congregation that raises leaders from every corner of our church. More than 150 High School students served this year as counselors at Spirit in the Pines, a new record in our 24-year history! We have raised young people like Lindsay Bates and Sophie Warnberg, who served as Young Adults in Global Mission in Cambodia and the Holy Land. Lindsay is now an ELCA pastor in the Denver area, and Sophie is finishing her studies at Luther Seminary before serving in her first call.

However, leadership isn’t just for those who find callings in the church; we equip leaders at every age. Children pray and read scripture in worship, and our high school youth are now calling on the church to meet the needs of our community. With the invitation from Caleb Wragge (also a leader formed in this congregation!), five high school students challenged our community to raise funds to support Lutheran Disaster Response after Hurricanes Helene and Martin. They planned the communication strategy, implemented the fundraising plan, invited friends and family to participate, and are well on their way to raising thousands of dollars to support recovery efforts.

“Living out our faith in daily life means creating opportunities for our youth to find career training and gain experience in leadership,” reflected Caleb Wragge, St. Andrew Youth Engagement Manager. “I’m glad that the St. Andrew Leadership Team, which includes five youth group members, is embracing this tradition here.”

After five years of working with seminary students at Luther Seminary, Arlene Flancer, Children’s Minister, has returned to help equip students to work with children. Arlene emphasizes the importance of youth leadership, stating, “If children and youth aren’t leading, they’re leaving!”

With the support of this entire community, St. Andrew will continue to form leaders for the future of faith, both within the church and people whose faith propels them into lives of leadership in business, education, non-profit, government, and more. Oh, the places they’ll go!

“Living out our faith in daily life means developing channels for our youth to find career training and experience leading on their own.”

A new soundboard helps us better welcome our online community with the beautiful music that resonates throughout our sanctuary, whether in Eden Prairie or wherever you go.

“St. Andrew Early Learning teachers make each child feel so safe, welcome, loved and prepared for kindergarten. We cannot imagine a better fit for our children.” – quote from a parent

Special Gift Opportunity

We invite you to consider a special gift this season. You can add this gift to your pledge envelope or give online by scanning the code below. This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute beyond your usual giving. Every special gift, big or small, makes a meaningful impact and helps us reach our goals. Together, we can spread joy and support those in need!

Why Pledge?

Pledging greatly helps us to plan ahead! If you have not pledged in the past, please consider doing so. We have created an easy way to submit your pledge on your phone or computer. Just scan the bar code below or go to our website at standrewlu.org/pledge. No need to fill in a card! Your information is safe and will not be shared. You will not have to fill in any payment information, this is strictly an expression of your faithful intent and commitment to St. Andrew’s ministries. Thank you for helping us plan the future of St. Andrew!

Scan to Pledge Online

Easiest

& Best Ways to Give

1. Give Easily—Start or Increase Recurring Giving Online

• Use your phone and take a photo of the QR code below

• Click on the link that appears and go to our giving site

• If you prefer to use your computer, go to standrewlu.org/giving

• Enter the amount you wish to give and the frequency

• Pay by checking account or by credit card

• It’s safe, secure and efficient

• Budget your giving to the church like your monthly cell phone, internet, and utility expenses to prioritize and contribute steadily to the church

2. Bill Pay

Have your bank make automatic monthly payments directly from your checking account to St Andrew Lutheran Church.

3. Giving Envelopes

Use church personal giving envelopes during Sunday worship service or send by mail to the church. (Please Note: If you no longer wish to receive giving envelopes, please let us know so we can save the expense of printing and postage)

4. Donate marketable stocks, mutual funds and bonds to St Andrew Lutheran Church

We will provide simple instructions for the transfer.

5. Direct Charitable Distributions from your IRA or Donor Advised Fund

• This option offers significant tax advantages

• A great way to give to the church

6. Bequests—Name St Andrew Lutheran Church as a beneficiary of your Life Insurance Policy, IRA, 401K, Trust, or Will

• Consider giving a portion of your estate to the church

• Most people will not spend all their assets during their life on earth

• In addition, leave a personal legacy of Christian Faith, Hope and Love to the church to continue to minister to the next generation

• Your estate will benefit from the tax advantages

7. Corporate Matching Gift

Programs

Contact your company’s Human Resource Department.

8. Sponsor Building and Equipment Upgrades or new Capital Improvement projects

Donate Gifts-in-Kind

Claim an income tax deduction and benefit the ministries of St. Andrew Lutheran Church by donating real estate, cars, boats, artwork, vacation properties, etc.