We Don't Do This at St James...
But We ask you to consider
Why Give?
Because God has given so much to us and He expects us to share what we have with others. Because it is part of our worship of Him. Because He wants us to build His Kingdom here on earth. As members of God’s family we belong to Him. All that we are and have belong to Him. Part of our family responsibility is to use the resources He gives us for His purpose and glory. This we strive to do at St. James’.
In his second letter to the Church in Corinth Paul gives us a number of principles which should govern how we give. He uses the example of the Church in Macedonia, who, in the midst of persecution and hardship gave liberally and joyfully, (8:2), generously and freely (8:3), and in proportion to their ability (8:12). As a result, they reaped according to the measure they had sowed (9:6), God richly blessed their cheerful giving (9:7) and many others were blessed because of it (9:12)!
How Much Should We Give?
This is something only you can decide with God. Prayerfully reflect on where God comes in your budgeting and spending. In the Old Testament God called His people to tithe 10% and their free will offering was over and above this. In the New Testament He does not lay down any set figure because we are not any longer under the law. However, this should motivate us even more to give freely to God. Remember, the amount we give should be reviewed regularly in order to maintain its value in the light of inflation and ever rising costs.
It now costs £200 per week in the winter season just to heat the Church.
How Do We Give?
At St. James’ you can do it in three ways:
1. Standing Order/Direct Debit
Direct transfer from your bank account into the Church account regularises your giving and saves you the trouble of writing cheques or placing cash into the weekly collection.
2. Envelope Scheme
If you elect to join this scheme, we will provide you with 52 dated envelopes for your weekly cash or cheque gift. These enable you to give regularly; envelopes are simply placed into the collection.
3. One-off Gifts in the collection plate
These gifts are greatly appreciated although more difficult to budget for since we cannot predict if or when they might be received. They usually appear when they are most needed!
The value of your gift is increased by 28% simply by completing a Gift Aid Form if you are a UK tax payer.