Parish of Wonersh with
Blackheath
St John
the Baptist, Wonersh
2008
Stewardship Review
OUR
CHURCH
OUR
CHALLENGE
OUR
CHOICES
2
Corinthians 8 verses:7-12 But just as
you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete
earnestness and in your love for us—
see that you also excel in this grace of
giving. ………..
Download the handout
in pdf format
Listen to the talks
given on Stewardship over the two Sundays:-
20th April 8am
Service - Keith Bateson
20th April 10am Service
- Ian Scott-Thompson
20th
April 6.30pm Service - John Revess
27th April 8am Service -
Ian Scott-Thompson
27th April 10am Service
- John Metcalfe
27th April 6.30pm
Service - John Metcalfe
John Revess is the
“Stewardship Promoter” for the PCC and is leading our
“Sustainable Giving Taskforce”. There is
a huge challenge before us to meet budgetary requirements and an urgent need
for individuals to review their regular giving. On all services at Wonersh on 20th
& 27th April the team, as part of our Finance Team, supported by all the PCC and
Ministry Team, will be providing information about our position and explain
what we should do to support our church vision.
Information will be shared on the critical importance of responding to
this stewardship need. You are
encouraged to read The
Money Revolution by the CofE’s National Stewardship Officer.
There is no easy
formula – we are commanded to love God and our neighbour as ourselves. It is no
great sacrifice to put someone we love first.
But it requires a
new set of priorities to put God and the ministry to his church first in our
finances as we do in our weekly worship when we give the first of the week to
God in worship.
Love is generous,
love is kind, love is selfless – we see that in all that God gives to us; how will we respond?
·
By increasing our giving
·
By joining the planned giving schemes
·
By using Gift Aid if we pay tax
·
By reassessing the organisations we give to.
Please think and pray about your response.
OUR CHURCH
2
Corinthians 8:12; For if the willingness is there, the gift is
acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Our Giving sustains
:-
·
Our church building here :- it is a sacred place dedicated to
worship, prayer and witness.
·
Parish clergy across the Diocese and trains new clergy.
·
Parish ministry : measured by every young person encouraged along their journey of
faith, every ill person visited, every Alpha course
run, every school visited, every bereaved family comforted, every baptism
celebrated, every sermon preached, Eucharist celebrated, every person shown
love of Christ through our care, comfort and
compassion.
·
Mission both here in this Diocese
of
2
Corinthians 8:7 But just as
you excel in everything - …. _see that
you also excel in this grace of giving.
To cultivate the
grace of giving we need to think carefully about all we receive from God,
consider our priorities then prayerfully review our giving:-
·
This year each month we will spend:-
£6000 on our parish contribution towards our vicar’s stipend,
housing, support costs and our share of Diocesan costs.
£5,600 on our staff and worship
£3,480 on costs of running our
Church and Lawnsmead.
£1,670 on our giving towards
supporting mission work outside our church.
TYPICAL COMMITMENTS - £16,750 per month
·
In January to March 2008, each month we received:-
£7,340 from regular giving
£3,000 from collections and one-off
donations.
£2,510 fron the Inland Revenue from Gif
Aided donations and giving.
TYPICAL INCOME - £12,850 per month
The upcoming
redecoration project will deplete our reserves and legacies, to the point where
we must act urgently to increase our regular giving. It has been agreed by the PCC that these
reserves should not be less than one third of our annual budget. Clearly using these funds cannot continue
for long. In order to meet the current
shortfall of £3,900 per month we need the grace of giving. The following table gives an example of how
this may happen:-
|
How many people |
Increasing monthly giving by |
Equates to this income each month |
|
20 |
£20 |
£400 |
|
10 |
£50 |
£500 |
|
10 |
£75 |
£750 |
|
5 |
£100 |
£500 |
|
5 |
£150 |
£750 |
|
5 |
£200 |
£1000 |
|
Total |
|
£3,900 |
This is a ministry for everyone - 2
Corinthians 8:11; …. according to your means.
·
Our Church has only 86 planned givers. Is it time for you to move to a monthly Standing Order or planned giving scheme?
·
The Gift Aid Scheme has only 55 tax
payers contributing. Is it time to
join (complete the Gift Aid Declaration)?
·
Giving to God’s work through the church should be a
priority. Is it time you give more?
·
Many of us give to other charities. Is it time to reassess how we distribute our
giving?
·
Do we give in proportion to what we receive?
The Finance Team
will ensure that progress towards the target is summarised monthly in the News
Sheet, and also will update the handout produced for this Appeal on a regular
basis.
We have found it
necessary to phase the remaining part of church re-decoration so that the nave
may not be done until next year. IF the response to increase regular giving is
positive, then we will also be pleased to receive one off donations towards the
Re-decoration Project, and consequently our decision may be reviewed.
There will also be a
“Stewardship Celebration at Lawnsmead on 17th May – details to
follow – contact James Cooke.
Bankers Orders and
Gift Aid Declaration Forms , together with guidance on ways of giving, an be
obtained from the GIVING PAGE on this
website. If you
have not already done so please also change your standing orders to
Please note that a separate Appeal for St Martin’s is being made at
Blackheath at this time.