The earliest community of Christians (found in the book of Acts) were radically generous with their possessions - responding to the love they had received in the Holy Spirit and following the life Jesus himself modelled. Their generous community demonstrated and proved the reality that Jesus changes lives.
Those of us who consider ourselves members of this Parish want to model a community of Christian who live generous and sacrificial lives. From opening our homes to others to forgiving those who hurt us, generosity takes many forms. Of course, this includes sacrificial giving. The apostle Paul was writing about money when he said "Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
We want to encourage all members of our community to grow in trusting God in their financial life and in all areas of life. We believe in the freedom that comes from trusting God and the impact this has on the whole of our hearts. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:21 & Luke 12:34)
We are inviting our church family to analyse our current personal giving to see if God is inviting us to increase our personal giving. We are praying for an increase in trusting God to bring fruit to our ministry and to our hearts.
Financial giving is not the only kid of generosity we need poured out as we cooperate with God in building His Kingdom. For many of us giving time to foster new relationships or to serve in a ministry may be more challenging. Whatever your sacrifices would be in seeking to live a more generous life for God and for others, we invite you to consider an approach that includes being generous through service to our missional outputs, through our church family relationships, through hospitality, and lastly, through our money.
Money is close to our heart and sometimes is the hardest thing to release to God. If this is difficult for you, you are not alone and we totally understand. We also encourage appropriate giving. If you are financially struggling, do come and speak to one of the staff team, we would love to help. If you are finding it difficult thinking about giving, perhaps have a conversation with God and see if He has any insights into how you should give.
Many members of this Parish give generously and we want to take this moment to thank you.
Your giving enables everything we do, including our 30 worship services each month, our work with the youth, children, elderly, those with mental disabilities, in rest homes, hospitals and those in prison. It supports our buildings, our staff team, our clergy and everything else. It also enables us to support our overseas mission partners and some closer to home. We receive very little financial support outside of the members of the Parish's personal giving.
All that happens as a part of our Parish is only possible because of those who pray, serve and give to the life of the church.
We could not do it without you.
Thank you