“First Fruits” Stewardship

Giving from the Heart: Our “First Fruits”
In the Old Testament, God invited the Israelites to bring the “first fruits” of their harvest as an offering. This wasn’t a payment made from whatever happened to be left over at the end of the month. It was an act of profound faith—giving the very first and best portion of the harvest back to God, before they even knew how abundant the rest of the crop would be.
As Lutheran Christians, we know that everything we have is a gift of God’s grace. We don’t give to earn God’s favor or buy a blessing. Instead, practicing “first fruits” stewardship means intentionally putting God first in our finances, our time, and our talents. It is a joyful, tangible response to the ultimate gift we have already received in Jesus Christ.
When we collectively offer our first fruits, we sustain our congregation’s ministry, feed our neighbors, and support the wider church’s work across the ELCA. This time of year, we invite you to prayerfully consider your giving. Let us return our first and best to God, trusting in the One who always provides for us. Info at our giving page.