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Mission Investment Fund
By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Last Sunday at church, the Rev. Charlotte Stecker-Baseler had suggested that we share information regarding the ELCA Mission Investment Fund (MIF) with the congregation. Then, the next day, I received an email regarding the programs that were available to us as members of the ELCA. Then, the following day, I received a flyer in the mail regarding MIF. So, I don’t know which of you needed to hear about this, but okay, Holy Spirit, I can take a hint!

The ELCA Mission Investment Fund (MIF) is a financial ministry of the ELCA. As a lending ministry of the ELCA, MIF makes investments in congregations and ministries every day. Their loans help build new churches and renovate buildings where exceptional ministry work takes place. These are impact investments, generating measurable impact on congregations and ministries—and the individuals and communities they serve.

In addition, MIF’s strong financial position enables them to give back to the church. Over the last five years, the Mission Investment Fund has provided approximately $8 million in support to the church for new and renewing congregations, as well as $5 million in support of established congregations, synods, and ELCA-related ministries.

MIF has supported the creation and guided the development of the ELCA Federal Credit Union to provide additional financial products and services for ELCA members, congregations, and ministries. Together, MIF and the Credit Union are working toward an even stronger alliance to provide greater value for all expressions of the ELCA.

MIF’s values are rooted in Christian faith, Lutheran traditions and their identity as a ministry of the ELCA. They are focused on integrity, customer focus, inclusion and diversity, faithful stewardship, and courage and openness to change.

They provide loans for land and building purchases, additions, renovations and accessibility projects to “green” initiatives and loan refinancing. MIF loans are available to ELCA congregations, synods, and ELCA-related ministries such as social ministry organizations, outdoor ministries, seminaries, colleges, universities and schools. They offer Adjustable-Rate Loans, Fixed-Rate Loans, and loans for smaller projects.

In addition, they offer two types of investments for individuals and ministries -- Fixed-Rate Term Investments and Demand Investments. These are offered to ELCA congregations, ministries, and individual members. The money invested in MIF by congregations and their members, and the interest paid by borrower congregations and ministries finance loans for capital projects. If you invest in MIF, your investment earns interest while helping provide loans that strengthen ministries and the communities they serve.

  • FIXED-RATE TERM INVESTMENT
    • Minimum investment of $1,000
    • Terms of one to six years
    • Interest rate is fixed at the beginning of the term and remains in place for the full term
    • Interest is paid quarterly from date of investment and can be sent directly to you by check or automatically reinvested
    • No additions to principal may be made during the term
  • TERM INVESTMENT GRAND
    • Similar to a jumbo CD, with minimum investment of $250,000
    • Terms are one, two, or three years
    • Interest rate is set at the beginning of the term and remains in effect for the full term
  • MIF4KIDZ

The MIF also offers a MIF4KIDZ investment program that is specifically designed for children. Adults can purchase the investment before a minor’s 16th birthday. The investment matures at the age of majority of the minor, generally either 18 or 21, as defined by the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act in the state listed in the minor’s address at the time of opening.

  • Great way to set aside money for college or other needs
  • Teach children good stewardship and money management while connecting them to the life of the church
  • Ideal gifts for baptism, graduations, birthdays or Christmas

The minimum initial deposit is $50. Additional contributions of at least $25 may be made at any time. Interest is added to the principal quarterly. You can find more information and current rates on the MIF web site: ELCA Mission Investment Fund.

13th Sunday after Pentecost, August 23

Announcements

  • New Members: On Sunday, we will welcome four new members by both baptism and faith acclamation. Join us after worship Sunday in the area between the Fellowship Hall and sanctuary for coffee, sandwiches, cake, and conversation as we celebrate our new members. We will have our celebration outdoors as the new floor is being laid in the fellowship hall (if the floor is ready, we will gather indoors).
  • Flowers: The Sunday flowers at worship are presented by Terri Watson in honor of her mother’s birthday.
  • Summer Supper Gatherings: Our final summer supper is at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. We look forward to seeing you there.
  • Fellowship Hall Flooring: The flooring replacement project in the Fellowship Hall is underway. Remember that there will be some inconveniences during the flooring process, however the long-term results will be well worth the trouble. Thank you to everyone who is helping to make this possible.
  • Worship Assistance:We are preparing the worship assistance list (ushers, lectors, communion set up/clean up) for September and October. If you are able to help or can help only on specific Sundays, please let Pr. Lisa or Jo Moss know.
  • Book Club: Our Book Club will resume on Sept. 15 on Tuesdays with What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer by Skye Jethani.
  • Save the Date: God’s Work Our Hands Sunday for Zion’s will be Sept. 13. The plan is for a special GWOH worship and fellowship at Zion’s before a sing-along at the Legacy. We also will assemble hygiene kits for the unhoused, which will be distributed through Keep Trinidad Safe. A list of requested items is attached and will also be included in the September Newsletter. Printed copies will be available in the fellowship hall. A box to place donations can be found in the sanctuary.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.

E-formation

In this gospel reading this coming Sunday, we hear that Peter received the “keys of the kingdom.” In our baptism it is as if we too have received keys that open God to us and open ourselves to others. Come to worship; be opened to the word and at the table.

Matthew 16:13-20
Matthew 13:54—17:27 are stories that relate to the formation of the Christian church, in the center of which is Peter’s affirmation of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Messiah is a Jewish title referring to God’s anointed king, who in Israelite tradition is also called Son of God, which becomes the more significant Christian title for Jesus. The evangelist credits Jesus himself both with establishing the church, an assembly of believers on earth, and with authorizing Peter as its leader, thus claiming divine sanction for the specific community that had been led by Peter, who by the time of the evangelist’s writing had been martyred.

Isaiah 51:1-6
From Second Isaiah comes a poem that assures the sorrowing people of Israel of divine blessings. The Israelite tradition—identified with Abraham and Sarah—is likened to a rock quarry, and the future of the post-exilic community to a garden. Thus, God will make the future to flower, growing forth from the foundation provided by the past.

Romans 12:1-8
Paul encouraged the church in Rome to live on earth as a people transformed by their communal life as the body of Christ. Animal sacrifices have been replaced with lives dedicated to God. Individuals are now one body. Paul’s description of the primitive community is nonhierarchical: “the leader” is not first, but one of many members, each contributing a necessary ministry.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785