Stewardship Campaign
Our Kirk Session and Congregational Board have agreed to take part in a Stewardship initiative being promoted by the Presbytery that will encourage each of us to reflect upon our giving and how it is used for the work we do as a congregation of the Church of Scotland.
Our Presbytery has been chosen to pilot the programme which, it is hoped, will then be rolled out nationally. We will be the model for the rest of the Church to follow. If our programme is successful, we will benefit ourselves and encourage other congregations.
TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This is the name of our giving programme, which will culminate in a series of Congregational Gatherings in September.
None of us really likes to talk about money – what we give, how we give, how much we should give. This is something we like to keep private – between us and God.
The Bible has a very public attitude to money and possessions. Many verses are devoted to this subject. The Old Testament speaks about the tithe which should be offered to God. In the gospels Jesus has a great deal to say about selfishness and sharing – condemning those who keep all their possessions to themselves and praising those who are willing to share in a generous way. Later in the New Testament Paul encouraged the first Christians to give generously so that the better off congregations in places like Corinth could support the poor congregation in Jerusalem.
In the weeks leading up to our Congregational Gatherings, we should all be thinking about our attitude to money and possessions, and about our giving to God for the work of his Church.
- How generous is God’s giving to us?
- How generous is our giving as a response to God’s giving?
- How generous is our giving as a desire to share the good news of God’s love through the work of the Church?
The series of Congregational Gatherings, at the heart of our giving programme, will be taking place after the summer. The exact dates and times are will be confirmed in the next edition of Connexions and on the website but are being planned for the middle of September.
These will be opportunities for all of us to hear about the wonderful work that is done because we give money to God for the work of his Church. Good things that happen here, good things that happen throughout Scotland, good things that happen in other parts of the world – all because members of this congregation and other congregations of the Church of Scotland give money to enable the sharing of the gospel.
Our giving really does make a difference by enriching individual lives and the lives of communities.
At the Congregational Gatherings there will be plenty of time to ask questions and make comments. There will also be time to chat with others over a cup of tea or coffee.
Please make a special effort to come to one of our Congregational Gatherings and hear good news!
