About Us
Giving
Why Should I Give to the Church?
We encourage our members to give in response to the grace of God we have all received in Jesus Christ. In view of God’s mercy, we can offer up our time, talents and treasures back to God for His use to reach others with the Good News. The Bible teaches us to be good managers of the gifts we have been given, and to give back generously to God’s mission through the local church and other avenues.
What is a Pledge Card?
Annually, we ask our members to fill out an “estimate of giving commitment card” to help us budget for expenses to pay for our staffing, ministry and facility expenses. We are a non-profit organization, so any surplus would either be kept in cash reserve or allocated to a particular ministry based on the Church Council’s discretion.
How Do I Give?
You can give weekly, or monthly through cash or check. Please make checks payable to “Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.” It is helpful when you give cash to give through a “giving envelope” for record keeping purposes. We also make available, an automated giving system called “Simply Giving”(see below), which automatically deducts a predetermined amount from your bank account. For some, this helps them give consistently, especially when they miss a Sunday or are on vacation. Each quarter, statements of giving are furnished to all those who give on a regular basis (contributions are tax-deductible).
Am I Required to Tithe?
In the Old Testament, a tithe, 10% of one’s possessions, was given to the local temple for the priests (who owned no land) and the upkeep of the temple. In an agricultural society, the people gave back the first tenth of production from their land, which was called “first-fruits giving”. People also gave special offerings (called free will offerings), as they were able to help fund specific needs.
In the New Testament, the first disciples were instructed to give generously back to God’s mission with the promise, “whoever sows generously will reap generously.” We encourage our members to give generously to the mission of GSLC, as well as other ministries as God leads you.
Simply Giving
"Simply Giving” enables every household or individual to give their church offering by using electronic funds transfer. You may already be using it to have your mortgage, car payment or insurance premium automatically withdrawn. Now your gift to God can be regular and “off the top”, just like these other commitments. You can elect to give either weekly, monthly or semi-monthly and what fund designation.
If you are interested in this method, you can download a Simply Giving form or pick one up in the church narthex or office. Questions, please call Donna Duckworth at the church office (949) 552-1918, ext.17 and she can assist you.
Download Simply Giving PDF Form Here
Listen to Matt Munson's Testimony on Simply Giving under general audio.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Foundation
Memorial Gifts to the GSLC Foundation is a great way to remember a departed loved one or friend. Just think, in this way you will have given a gift that keeps on giving for the work of Christ at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The endowment will use only the returns on the investment to support expanded ministry at our church.
A living memorial is also a great way to honor a friend or relative, by giving a gift to the Foundation on the occasion of a significant achievement or milestone.
If all of us would get into the practice of making the Foundation the recipient of our Memorials, we would see a significant growth in the resources for ministry. These are gifts that keep on giving.
Send the gift to the Church and mark it as a memorial to the Foundation. Tell us for whom the gift is given and to whom the acknowledgement should be sent.
Your gift will be recorded in a book of Memorials to include both those given for departed loved ones and those living whom you wish to honor.
Think first of Good Shepherd’s Foundation when you want to remember and honor someone special.
What a legacy to leave for the years to come!
Other Ways To Give
Attention Ralphs Shoppers!
If you have a Ralphs Reward Card, a percentage of what you spend can be automatically donated to Good Shepherd. For information on how to sign up, please call Donna Duckworth at the church office (949) 552-1918, ext. 17.
United Way: Designate GSLC or GSLC Foundation
Did you know that you may designate Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Foundation as a recipient of some of your pledge to the United Way?
Simply write in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s Foundation, as a designated beneficiary on your United Way pledge form.
Helping Hands
As a ministry to members and our worshiping guests who find themselves in financial crisis, we have established a congregational "Helping Hands" fund. In order to insure the anonymity of those who need some help, the Pastors have been given the discretion of offering this "Helping Hand" on behalf of the GSLC Congregation. If you would like to make a one-time contribution to help or wish to make ongoing gifts, just mark your check "Helping Hands."