BOFA - Magazine May-June

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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.
P A G E 5 | 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 HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE £10 TO BRIDGE OF ALLAN PARISH CHURCH KEPT BY BRIDGE OF ALLAN PARISH CHURCH (for maintaining the building, mission, worship and supporting church groups etc.) MINISTERS ACROSS THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND (Including our own) MISSION AND DISCIPLESHIP COUNCIL CHURCH AND SOCIETY COUNCIL CARE THROUGH CROSSREACH WORLD MISSION COUNCIL SUPPORT SERVICES (inc. legal advice, accounting and safeguarding etc.) GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND MODERATOR SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS £4.20 £4.88 £0.08 £0.05 £0.09 £0.12 £0.45 £0.06 £0.07 TOTAL £10.00 Figures approx and provided by Church of Scotland
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BOFA - Magazine May-June

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