Stewardship 2027: "Helping People Follow Jesus"

Helping people follow Jesus.  That’s what we do, right?  When it comes down to it, that’s what our church does best, and we’ve been doing it for over 150 years!  I borrowed that statement from Pastor Terry who visited the Homebuilders Sunday School class a few weeks ago.  We had been studying spiritual gifts and part of our discussion that day was centered on how we can use our own spiritual gifts to further the mission of The United Methodist Church.

The official mission statement of The United Methodist Church is, “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”  Or, put simply, to help people follow Jesus.  Sometimes that means welcoming a visitor to our church, and other times that means listening to, praying for, and supporting the person that sits next to you in the pew on Sunday.  It can also mean putting together a backpack for a student in Buffalo, or bringing food items for the Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op on a Wednesday night.  It’s crocheting a blanket, or tying a knot on a prayer quilt.  It’s inviting someone to Sunday School or to supper on Wednesday night.  It’s teaching the children about Jesus, or caring for them in the Childcare Corner.  Helping people follow Jesus means singing in the church choir, or leading the services on Sunday morning.


The Cambridge English Dictionary defines a disciple of Jesus as someone who believes in His message and molds their daily behavior after Him.  Our church does a wonderful job of spreading God’s love out into the world.  We are a welcoming and loving congregation that loves God and loves our neighbors.

All of the wonderful things our church does to shine His light into the world happens because of the generosity of it’s members.  That’s You.  Your giving to the church allows us to keep and maintain our beautiful campus, to pay for a wonderful church staff, to fund things like our Youth Group, Trunk or Treat, our amazing music ministry, the children’s ministry, Wednesday Night Supper, Bible studies, Senior activities, etc. Everything we do to help people follow Jesus is made possible by your generosity to our church.

Please plan to increase your giving to the church by 1% more of your income in 2027.  If you’re giving 5% now, grow to 6% in 2027, and so on. Not only will you be Growing One Step toward the tithe (10%), but you will be helping our church do what it does best.  Help people follow Jesus.

With joy and blessings to all,

Bryan Johnson,
Chair of Stewardship Committee

  • The Grow One Step Chart

    Many folks have found the Grow One Step chart helpful for their giving. Most of us know it’s best for us to put God first and to move toward tithing (giving God the first 10% of our income). But we find it hard to get started. That’s where the chart comes in.
     
    Over a decade ago, a young couple I know with two school-aged daughters wanted to tithe. They were giving, but they didn’t know what percentage of their income they were giving.
     
    The grid side of the enclosed chart showed them that they were giving 2%. They decided to grow one step by giving 3% the next year. That worked, and they kept going – the following year – 4%, then 5%, etc. After eight years they were tithing, giving God 10%. They are happy to be continuing that practice today as their daughters graduate from college.
     
    Rev. Terry Tippens,
    Senior Pastor

  • GROW ONE STEP CHARTS

    Grow One Step charts for the 2027 Stewardship Campaign can be found:

    • Inserted in worship materials on Sunday mornings through November 15th;
    • At the church information centers located at the main entrance to the Sanctuary, and inside Hinton Hall (on Sunday mornings);
    • Online for download by clicking on GROW ONE STEP CHARTS.

  • ESTIMATE OF GIVING CARDS

    If you need an Estimate of Giving Card for Duluth First UMC’s 2027 Stewardship Campaign, you can find them:

    • In the Orders of Worship on Sundays, November 8th and 15th;
    • In the pew pockets in the Sanctuary for the Traditional Worship services;
    • On the seats in Hinton Hall for the Contemporary Worship services through November 15th;
    • At the church information centers located at the main entrance to the Sanctuary, and inside Hinton Hall (on Sunday mornings);
    • Complete your Estimate of Giving card online by clicking on ESTIMATE OF GIVING.

  • CONSECRATION SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 15TH

    In all worship services on Sunday, November 15th, we will consecrate our estimates of giving for 2027. Please fill out an Estimate of Giving card, available in the pews/seats and in the orders of worship, and bring it with you on November 15th. Or you can make your estimate online by clicking on ESTIMATE OF GIVING. You can turn it in early if you’d like. Acknowledgement cards, as well as Estimate of Giving cards, will be available on November 15th as we bring our estimates to the altar.
     
    Please see the Grow One Step chart, available for download by clicking on GROW ONE STEP. Consider growing one step, as many of us are doing. On November 15th we will celebrate together as we grow one step each year toward the tithe.