BOFA - Magazine May-June

P A G E 4 | B R I D G E O F A L L A N P A R I S H
C H U R C H M A G A Z I N E
WHAT DO WE GIVE TO THE
CHURCH?
This is maybe the most difficult of the three questions
to answer. Some will answer this question by saying
10%, a tithe on your income. There is precedent in the
Old Testament for such an amount, paying
compulsory taxes to both the religious and secular
courts. However, if we are giving out of gratitude then
a rigid amount to give does not allow for a true
response. Furthermore, if this is the case the parable
of the widow giving her two coins, all she has in the
world, being more generous than the rich, giving
large amounts for show but with no personal impact,
is lost.
What we give is a matter for each one of us to
prayerfully consider, for each of us to look at our own
circumstance and respond. Taking the example of the
widow in Jesus’ parable it is suggested that our giving
should be sacrificial and not just out of our spare
change. However, when we think of giving we should
be thinking about what give in terms of not just
money but also our time and our talents.
All of our circumstances are different, and the levels
of income we all have are different, and therefore it is
maybe worth thinking of our offering being a
proportion of our income and potentially going up
with inflation, rather than a fixed sum of money or a
rigid 10%. If our offering is truly a response to God’s
giving to us, it will be a generous, and possibly even
sacrificial, proportion of our income.
What do we give? As much as we feel we can.
HOW DO WE GIVE TO THE
CHURCH?
The answer to this (insofar as it relates to
money) is comparatively straightforward.
We give through the open plate on a
Sunday morning, we give through standing
order and freewill offering envelopes and
we give through legacies and one off
donations. We also give of our time and
talents!
The easiest way to give to the church is
through standing order, it takes small
amount of time to set up and then it is
done. This also allows for an easy pathway
for recovering Gift Aid, if you are a UK tax
payer, adding a further 25% to your
donation.
With the banks in Bridge of Allan closing
and cash transactions decreasing, giving to
the Church through standing order is easy
and secure and to be encouraged.
How do we give? In a number of different
ways, but preferably by standing order
with a Gift Aid declaration signed.
NEXT STEPS...
Please review your giving to the Church in a prayerful and biblical way. The following Bible
verses are useful in considering your own giving. Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Psalm 116: 12;
Matthew 28: 16-20; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 18:18-25; Luke 19:1-10; and Luke 21:1-04.
To increase what you donate through envelopes and the open plate simply give more.
To increase an existing standing order you need contact your bank.
To set up a new standing order you need to contact your bank.
To make a Gift Aid declaration, adding 25% to your donation if you are a UK tax payer, then
please contact the Church Office, details on the back of the magazine.