Kalos

Leave a legacy for ministry.

Each of us has a story to tell — a story of faith which is uniquely ours and has developed through the years. For many, baptism began a journey filled with important milestones: Sunday school classes, confirmation and first communion, choir, youth groups, Bible study and service groups. Perhaps you shared your pocket change as a Sunday school offering, raised money to attend a Youth Gathering or wrote a check to support a local disaster response. Now, you may be considering how you want your legacy of faith to be remembered for generations to come.

Today, we would like to introduce you to Kalos, a legacy recognition society developed to celebrate friends of the ELCA who have designated a gift in their will, trust or to an endowment to support the work of this church.

In Mark 14:3-9, we read a story about a special woman who shows her love for Jesus and shares a treasured gift:

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

The woman from Bethany broke the jar of fragrance to give Jesus a priceless gift and show her love, no matter the cost. Jesus recognized the beauty in her gift. Like the woman, you too can demonstrate your love for Jesus and this church.

We invite you to become a member of Kalos: The ELCA Legacy Society.

With Kalos, you can remember the ministries of the ELCA and in so doing; you can make a significant, meaningful and life-changing difference through our church.

Eligibility for membership in Kalos is based upon at least one ELCA churchwide ministry or ELCA ministry endowment included in your estate plan, planned gift or as a beneficiary designation.

These ministries include:

• ELCA Fund for Leaders
• ELCA Missionary Sponsorship
• New and Renewing ELCA Congregations
• ELCA Vision for Mission
• ELCA World Hunger
• ELCA Disaster Response
• ELCA undesignated gifts, to be used where they are needed most

ELCA ministry gifts to donor advised funds and life income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities are also eligible.

Your gift is important to the work of this church no matter the size. We would like to recognize those of you who already made this commitment and assist those who are considering their legacy. Please consider becoming a member. As a member, know that your story, like the woman from Bethany, can be told for generations to come.