Money is a difficult subject because it raises so many questions about how we relate to our Church. Are we putting something on the plate in much the same way as we pay for our newspapers, our T.V. licence, going to the cinema or a football match? Are we consumers who happen to like a religious show put on by someone else, or are we members of the body of Christ? Do we think that it is our responsibility to play a part in being the church in Northwich? Are we prepared to back it properly up to each of our capabilities?
The Church is not directly financially supported by the government. Our Bishops and Clergy are not civil servants; their pay comes mostly from our giving. The principal source of income for the Church is regular giving by church members. Giving by church members goes towards paying for:
We measure many of the basic necessities of life in terms of money. Goods are worthwhile according to price, a good bargain gets snapped up, a poor one stays on the shelf. The world of money, worrying about where it will come from, how much we have got and where it is going to, covers a large area of our lives, both in effort and in time.
We claim that Christ is Lord over the whole of life, so this large area must also come under the rule of Christ. Sometimes the way the Church handles its money and possessions leads to bad publicity and accusations of hypocrisy. Yet we are the Church, ultimately it comes down to us, our faith and the money under our control during our lives.
How do we decide how much to give? Some would claim that the Bible specifies the Old Testament tithe »» as the measure by which to judge all giving. Others would point to the deep differences between society in Old Testament times and today, saying that different circumstances require varying responses. At times in our history the tithe was a more or less rigidly enforced tax.
But if we go back to the New Testament we
find no instruction to tithe. We do find plenty about generous giving.
Christian giving is left to the decision of each individual and the
motivation is not a legalistic percentage but a desire to say “Thank you”
to God for all his gifts, especially for the priceless gift of his Son, our
Saviour.
So there is no hard and fast tithe, but there should be no short changing the church either. The Christian way is to be both realistic and sacrificial. There is no membership fee for joining the church; there is no entry charge for worshipping in church. Each of us should examine our giving soberly and in relationship to our income and outgoings.
We show thankfulness by the way we live, in our relationships. We shown it by giving, within families, among friends, within the life of the Church and of course in God’s wider world. God gives because he loves us. Easter, Jesus’ self-sacrifice even to death and His glorious resurrection shows us the true nature of God. His nature is giving. All that we have is His. Our giving shows that ultimately all we have is His gift. In this way giving is a reflection of the nature of God in our own lives.
If you are giving from income which is taxed then the Church is entitled to reclaim the tax you have paid on the money you give. However this is only allowed on gifts from people who have signed Gift Aid forms. Thanks to those who have signed up for Gift Aid our Church recovered £11,296 from the Inland Revenue 2008-2009.
It would be great to increase this figure even further during the coming year. The Church is entitled to reclaim 28 pence for every pound given by tax payers. This means that for every £10 you give, the Church can receive an extra £ 2.80 from the Government at no extra cost to you. We can only claim the tax paid in respect of people who are tax payers and have signed a Gift Aid form. So if you are a taxpayer and have not yet signed a Gift Aid form in favour of St Helen’s church then please complete a Gift Aid Declaration form and return it to the Parish Recorder Sue Williams.
If you want to know more about how Gift Aid works look here »» on the HM Revenue & Customs website or here »» on the Directgov website. If you pay higher rate tax you can claim back the difference between the basic rate of tax and the higher rate on all gross Gift Aid donations made each tax year.
During the 09:30 service on Sunday 10th May we will offer to God our pledges of our intended weekly or monthly giving for the next twelve months commencing Sunday 1st June.
Please take time to reflect on your giving, asking God in prayer how you should respond in resourcing the work of the church. Please be assured that your pledge of planned giving is confidential and only the Parish Recorder will see it. If you are unable to be in church on Thanksgiving Sunday please bring your envelope to the next service you attend and place it on the Offertory Plate.
If you missed Thanksgiving Sunday, you can still make a pledge at anytime - there are thanks giving packs at the back of church so if you would like one please take a spare one or email your details (name and address) to layreaderA. Alternatively, please fill in a web version of the form »» print it and mail it to the Stewardship Recorder.
Each pack contains a leaflet, a pledge slip and an envelope addressed to the Stewardship recorder. Please study the leaflet at home. If you wish to give to the church on a regular basis then please fill in the pledge slip, seal it in the envelope addressed to the Stewardship Recorder and bring it back to church. Please bring the pledge slip sealed in its envelope and put it on the collection plate or if you cannot get to church at all please find some way of getting the pledge slip to Sue Williams, the Stewardship Recorder. Malcolm, Barry, the Wardens and the Readers would all be happy to pass the slips in their envelopes on to her if necessary.
Andrew Mallin-Jones
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