2026 Generosity Commitment
Dear Lake Nokomis Lutheran,
What gives you hope? I’m really asking. I am curious to know - What gives you a joyful and confident expectation about what is to come?
Hope is so often about relationships. Hope is tangibly experienced in the people we love and the people who have loved us. Hope comes in the form of a shared meal, a meaningful conversation, a caring connection, or even the recognition of pain.
That’s why my answer to the question - what gives you hope? - is a community of faith like Lake Nokomis Lutheran.
In this time in our world that is ever more fractured and uncertain, it's so hopeful to me that people still gather together to name what is good, to be immersed in God’s promise of mercy, and to live in the way of God’s love. It gives me hope that people of all ages share the fullness of human experience, the joy-filled and the difficult.
Perhaps you remember way back to January, when baby Aubrey was named a child of God, and you committed to be a church where she could grow in faith. Then, in September and October, you were the church that reminded Tom Stacy and Carol Tierney of their belovedness as children of God, even in their final days. In between, you advocated for the vulnerable, fed the hungry, visited the homebound, nurtured the children, and proclaimed the gospel of love in both word and action. All of that gives me great hope.
That kind of hope is why I invest a portion of my financial resources in this faith community. That kind of hope is why I, along with your church council leaders, invite you to invest a portion of your financial resources in this community, too. Please read through the enclosed generosity brochure. It highlights the Patzloff family’s investment. It shares our hope-filled goals for the year ahead. Pray about the pledge you might make toward our ministry in 2026 and plan to return your pledge card to church. In worship on Sunday, November 16, we’ll celebrate and give thanks for your ongoing and generous gifts.
Your church leadership, staff, and council faithfully and wisely attend to each of your generous gifts so that they make the biggest impact possible. We are filled with hope when we imagine what we will do together in 2026!
With great hope,
Pastor Sara
What gives you hope? I’m really asking. I am curious to know - What gives you a joyful and confident expectation about what is to come?
Hope is so often about relationships. Hope is tangibly experienced in the people we love and the people who have loved us. Hope comes in the form of a shared meal, a meaningful conversation, a caring connection, or even the recognition of pain.
That’s why my answer to the question - what gives you hope? - is a community of faith like Lake Nokomis Lutheran.
In this time in our world that is ever more fractured and uncertain, it's so hopeful to me that people still gather together to name what is good, to be immersed in God’s promise of mercy, and to live in the way of God’s love. It gives me hope that people of all ages share the fullness of human experience, the joy-filled and the difficult.
Perhaps you remember way back to January, when baby Aubrey was named a child of God, and you committed to be a church where she could grow in faith. Then, in September and October, you were the church that reminded Tom Stacy and Carol Tierney of their belovedness as children of God, even in their final days. In between, you advocated for the vulnerable, fed the hungry, visited the homebound, nurtured the children, and proclaimed the gospel of love in both word and action. All of that gives me great hope.
That kind of hope is why I invest a portion of my financial resources in this faith community. That kind of hope is why I, along with your church council leaders, invite you to invest a portion of your financial resources in this community, too. Please read through the enclosed generosity brochure. It highlights the Patzloff family’s investment. It shares our hope-filled goals for the year ahead. Pray about the pledge you might make toward our ministry in 2026 and plan to return your pledge card to church. In worship on Sunday, November 16, we’ll celebrate and give thanks for your ongoing and generous gifts.
Your church leadership, staff, and council faithfully and wisely attend to each of your generous gifts so that they make the biggest impact possible. We are filled with hope when we imagine what we will do together in 2026!
With great hope,
Pastor Sara
a hope-filled faith journey |
by Ruth Patzloff
|
Our family’s journey to Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church (LNL) began with a move from Chicago to Minneapolis in 2017 when our son Adrian was seven years old. We explored some and settled into this church community less than a ten-minute walk from our home. The oak pews and Lutheran hymnals felt familiar and comforting, offering a welcome shelter from the uprooting that can happen in a move.
Soon after we became members, LNL embarked on a three-church initiative and building renovation. These innovations were refreshing to us, and we embraced the changes that became New Branches. Mark joined the Church Council, Ruth began work with the kids and on artistic projects in the worship environment, and Adrian quickly recognized brothers from the lemonade stand down the street and found friends.
We appreciate the openness and hospitality at LNL. The church centers the gospel with an emphasis on community engagement, social justice, and inclusive welcome. We love our senior members with so much faith and wisdom. We love the burgeoning movement of young families and youth. As a family we have enjoyed making even deeper connections at family camp at Wilderness Canoe Base.
We sense a growing vitality in this church. We give time and resources to Lake Nokomis Lutheran here because it helps us to live out our faith each day.
Mark has joined the Meals on Wheels volunteers, the Foundation Board, and participated in an eye-opening trip to Ghana and Liberia. I sing in choir, and have joined the New Branches property team, painting and helping with the gardens. Adrian, now a high school sophomore, was both baptized and confirmed in October 2024 and is part of the youth group led by Stephen Nushann. Now and then he even grills hotdogs for events.
When asked to describe his experience with our new church home, Adrian’s one-word reply was, “Welcoming!”
Thank you for welcoming us into both spiritual and practical fellowship!
Soon after we became members, LNL embarked on a three-church initiative and building renovation. These innovations were refreshing to us, and we embraced the changes that became New Branches. Mark joined the Church Council, Ruth began work with the kids and on artistic projects in the worship environment, and Adrian quickly recognized brothers from the lemonade stand down the street and found friends.
We appreciate the openness and hospitality at LNL. The church centers the gospel with an emphasis on community engagement, social justice, and inclusive welcome. We love our senior members with so much faith and wisdom. We love the burgeoning movement of young families and youth. As a family we have enjoyed making even deeper connections at family camp at Wilderness Canoe Base.
We sense a growing vitality in this church. We give time and resources to Lake Nokomis Lutheran here because it helps us to live out our faith each day.
Mark has joined the Meals on Wheels volunteers, the Foundation Board, and participated in an eye-opening trip to Ghana and Liberia. I sing in choir, and have joined the New Branches property team, painting and helping with the gardens. Adrian, now a high school sophomore, was both baptized and confirmed in October 2024 and is part of the youth group led by Stephen Nushann. Now and then he even grills hotdogs for events.
When asked to describe his experience with our new church home, Adrian’s one-word reply was, “Welcoming!”
Thank you for welcoming us into both spiritual and practical fellowship!
our shared hope
When you give of your time and resources, you’re investing in hope for years to come. This year, the church council has set a couple of exciting goals. One: Move toward less reliance on the school lease and give toward projects that move our vision forward. Two: Free up staff time to focus on programs and communication.
2026 Goals
We can meet these goals with $325,000 in pledged giving in 2026, an 8.5% increase from 2025.
Did you know that this pledged giving only covers about 75% of our expenses? A portion of the school lease and other special gifts help close that gap. These various income sources allow us to continue to maintain our worship program, education opportunities, and outreach projects. They provide for staff salaries and benefits, as well as our share of the New Branches building expenses.
That means your pledge really matters.
As you reflect on what Lake Nokomis Lutheran means to you – how this community of faith has been a source of strength in the past, and will be our hope for years to come. We invite you to pray about your pledge for 2026.
Consider how your giving aligns with your values, how you allocate other resources, and you might make a pledge for 2026 that reflects an investment in “hope for years to come.”
2026 Goals
- Redirect a portion of School Lease Income to reserves for education wing repairs - $4,150. (This would be 5% in 2026 to school building needs and an additional 5% in 2027 to Justice and Mercy priorities.)
- Add a part-time Administrative Assistant - $20,000
We can meet these goals with $325,000 in pledged giving in 2026, an 8.5% increase from 2025.
Did you know that this pledged giving only covers about 75% of our expenses? A portion of the school lease and other special gifts help close that gap. These various income sources allow us to continue to maintain our worship program, education opportunities, and outreach projects. They provide for staff salaries and benefits, as well as our share of the New Branches building expenses.
That means your pledge really matters.
As you reflect on what Lake Nokomis Lutheran means to you – how this community of faith has been a source of strength in the past, and will be our hope for years to come. We invite you to pray about your pledge for 2026.
Consider how your giving aligns with your values, how you allocate other resources, and you might make a pledge for 2026 that reflects an investment in “hope for years to come.”
why we give
We ask members to commit to regular giving for the coming year in support of all ministries and missions. We do this because:
- As Christians, we recognize everything we have comes from God. We're simply sharing these gifts for God’s work in our world.
- Through our tithes and offerings, we demonstrate in a tangible way our love for God, and for our neighbors.
- Giving is an expectation of membership. The hope is each person commits a portion of their resources and increases the amount when they're able.
- Regular giving helps us realize our vision Enough for Everyone, and keep our five key priorities central to work:
- Develop meaningful relationships.
- Invest in children, youth and family.
- Take justice and mercy to heart.
- Expand and deepen sacred gatherings.
- Cultivate an identity of abundance and adaptability.
celebrating generosity
You can also download this pledge card and bring to church on Sunday, November 16, OR submit the online pledge card
anytime throughout the year.
- Email it. [email protected] You can capture an image of a printed pledge card with your phone and email it.
- Mail it to us. 5011 31st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55417
anytime throughout the year.