Thankfully it doesn’t cost anything to get into heaven (except our faith) and we cannot take what we have here with us. Whilst the time we have on earth is limited the gifts and resources God gives can very often last far beyond our time.
In the past our Church has received from congregation member’s donations and gifts in their wills. This money has been spent on the upkeep of our church, on its modernisation and on its outreach and ministry.
If you would like to make the Church a beneficiary in your will and stipulate what you would like done with this money we would be happy to receive it and keep your memory alive through the ministry we carry out in your name and through your generosity.
Like all voluntary / community groups the Church has to raise the funds it needs and motivate its supporters so that it can be open each day, and most importantly to be here on a Sunday. Unlike other groups we have a kind and generous God who provides His Church and people with the gifts and resources we need.
I wonder if you have considered just how unique and vital you are to God fulfilling his ministry here in Chatham? Without you and your contribution we cannot hope to be ‘the full body of Christ’ responding to God’s call and reaching out in the many ways we do.
This is done in a number of ways:
Ø through your tithe
Ø through your time
Ø through your talents
Each of these ways are important and this leaflet has been written to help you understand how important your contribution is to God and his plans for our church, and to enable you to respond.
Whilst we may not all earn or have the same amount of money in life. God has given us the same 168 hours a week. How we use this time and bring glory to God is the challenge many of us face.
Like our finances God also needs us to faithfully commit our time; to fellowship, ministry and the deepening of our relationship with him and one another. Joining a Home group, serving God through assisting in one of the many groups we run for outreach or service is of equal value to God and the work carried out here in church.
All of us have talents or gifts given by God. Whether these have been God-given or developed through life they form part of the offering we give back to God for the ministry of the Church.
We may be musical, handy with hammer and nail, able to listen to people or enjoy visiting others. We might be creative and like making things, enjoy working with children, cooking for other people, we may have the gift of administration or leadership. We may just have the simple heart of a willing servant.
For some, these come like a seed that by itself looks uninteresting and can mean nothing. However, when placed in the ground a seed grows through the richness of the soil, the watering of the rain and the heat of the sun.
So with our gifts from God! Given the right environment and encouragement these gifts grow and develop and take their place in the patchwork of ministry that is the Church.
Why not explore with us what God might have given you as a gift?
The Bible teaches us that everything that we have is God’s and that we are called to act generously and responsibly with everything He has given us.
When we look at the nature of God we see a very generous God who showers many blessing on His people and gives good gifts for all to enjoy. Our response is to act like Him.
In the Bible we see the principle of tithing to God’s work as an everyday reality. The giving of 10% of the harvest, of livestock or money was the way God commanded his people to give back - to respond to His generosity.
This is still a principle the Church believes in and practices. Everything we receive through the collection plate we give away 10% to six missionary societies to support their work.
Our church needs you to respond to God’s call to support the work, which goes on here in the first instance through your giving.
Whether you earn a large amount or just a small amount on benefit, God’s calling to his people is to faithfulness in the giving of the tithe.
Irrespective of whether or not you attend regularly God’s work and ministry happens in this church 24 / 7. Our ministry team, the church building, the work carried out through a host of different avenues all carries on regardless – and it needs supporting.
Regular giving can be done by you through a weekly or monthly envelope scheme or through you taking out a standing order with our bank so that the money is received faithfully and regularly
Making the most of what you have is always what we try at home to achieve and it can also happen if you give to the church.
If you pay tax and give through one of the schemes mentioned above we can reclaim 22% extra on your giving. So if you gave £10.00 each week we could claim a further £2.20 from the Chancellor and all it would cost you is a signature on the bottom of a piece of paper.
Using The Resources Responsibly
