Towards a Generous Hospitality
"The Hospitality of Abraham"
15th century icon depicting God as Trinity by Andrei Rublev
Responding to the generous love of God through generous giving
Our Church
We are currently seeking a vision of what "living God's love" means for us at St Peter's. As members of the church we have expressed a desire to be a place of
- generous welcome
- generous faith
- generous service
- generous giving
Our special location means that we already offer a place of worship, prayer, pastoral care, music, arts, heritage, sanctuary and inspiration to many in our city and beyond.
Over the next few years we want to build on this, so that all those who come may find friendship and welcome, opportunities to explore the breadth and riches of the Christian faith, an encounter with God through reverent and joyful worship, help and support through times of difficulty.
We also want to take seriously our call to serve our city and wider community, working in partnership with others.
All of this means that we shall also need to take seriously God's call to generous giving in response to God's own generous hospitality - a hospitality in which all are invited to his table.
"This ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but overflows with many thanksgivings to God".
2 Corinthians 9:12
Our Ministry and Mission
Generous giving by all of us in terms of our time, talents and financial resources, is needed both to sustain our current ministry and mission, as well as enable this to grow and flourish.
Financially, St Peter's has been in a privileged position. Through the Churchlands Trust we receive a stream of extra income generated through the careful stewardship of property. In our current economic climate, this income stream has suffered, and we are facing a potential deficit of £40,000 in the church's 2011 and 2012 budgets, despite reduction in expenditure.
The pie chart below shows how much the church has depended upon extra streams of income, rather than that received through planned giving. This means that there is great potential to increase our giving and not only meet our deficit and running costs, but ultimately resource the more-outward focused mission that we wish to pursue.
"Just as you excel in everything .. see that you also excel in this grace of giving"
2 Corinthians 8:7
Towards a Generous Hospitality
In response to God's call to a generous hospitality, we need to take a fresh look at our regular giving. Below is what St Peter's income currently sustains.
Our giving sustains ..
- maintenance of our Grade II listed church and historic churchyard - offering worship and witness, sanctuary and hospitality to all.
- the ministry of our clergy and parish clergy across the diocese, and trains new clergy.
- our paid staff - Verger, Administrator, Junior Church Leader and Pastoral Assistant, Director of Music, Assistant Organist. Parents and Toddlers Groups worker.
- parish ministry; measured by every ill person visited, every confirmation course run, every funeral taken and bereaved family comforted, every wedding or baptism conducted, every sermon preached, eucharist celebrated, and every person shown the love of God through care and compassion.
- our ability to support mission and to work for justice and peace in the wider world.
Our Challenge
The church needs £769 more per week if we are to sustain the current level of ministry and mission, which includes our very special musical tradition.
The church will need to grow its income beyond this - perhaps to about double this amount per week - if we want to be able to develop areas such as youth and children's work. Similarly, if we are to increase our pastoral and administrative capacity to meet ever growing needs in areas such as our baptism and wedding ministry we need more income - currently through this we minister to around 100 new families each year.
Biblical teaching speaks of the importance of giving in proportion to our wealth - which is likely to vary through our lives. The table below illustrates how £97,875 from regular giving might be achieved. It reminds us that proportionate giving is to be encouraged, the proportion being given needing to be considered prayerfully and carefully. This example reveals what is possible if just 50% of our 266 current electoral roll members became regular givers.
| Giving per annum £ | Average per annum £ | Number of people | Total given £ |
| Up to 250 | 125 | 25 | 3,125 |
| 251-500 | 375 | 30 | 11,250 |
| 501-1,000 | 750 | 46 | 34,500 |
| 1,001-1,500 | 1,250 | 20 | 25,000 |
| 1,500 upwards | 2,000 | 12 | 24,000 |
| Total regularly given | | | 97,875 |
"This is a ministry for everyone - each according to your means"
2 Corinthians 8:11
Our Choice
The planned giving scheme has c.50 members.
Is this the time for you to join the envelope scheme or move to a standing order?
The Gift Aid scheme has c.40 tax payers regularly contributing.
Is this the time for you to sign a gift aid form?
Giving to God's work through the church is part of Christian discipleship.
Is this the time for you to increase your giving?
We are encouraged to be giving to God's work in proportion to our means.
Is this the time for you to review the proportion you are giving in relation to your overall income?
What next?
Through September and October, there has been an opportunity to reflect at many of our services on what the bible teaches about discipleship and giving. On 16th October the Diocesan Stewardship Officer joined us to help us further in this task.
There is a booklet available giving more background to finances at St Peter's and to our vision for mission, and containing various pledge forms. Please approach Peter Court, our Parish Giving Officer, who can provide forms, or complete them using the links below.
There will be a special Sunday on 20th November when we shall celebrate the hospitality of God and make our response in the renewed offering of our time, talents & financial pledges. Please could you return your response forms on or before that date.
Please think and pray about your response
Please click here for:
Standing Order Form
Internet Banking Form
Gift Aid Form Form
Time & Talents Form
Bank standing order:- please complete all sections of the form and then return it to Peter Court.
Internet banking:- please use the information supplied to set up a standing order and then return it to Peter Court.
Gift aid declaration:- please complete all sections of the form and return it to Peter Court.
Time & Talents Form:- please complete the form and return it to the Parish Office as indicated on the form.
If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact Peter Court by email to mail@stpeterschurch.uk.com.
A prayer to accompany St Peter’s giving initiative
Gracious God,
we give you thanks for our church of St Peter’s:
for the contributions of all who have sustained
its worship and its work;
who have cared for and enhanced this holy place in every age.
Give us the same spirit of faithful stewardship,
as we seek to preserve and pass on this rich inheritance of faith,
and share the good news of your love in our own generation.
Guide us, by your Holy Spirit,
as we meet the present challenges
in our mission and in our finance.
May we give generously,
in response to your own generous love.
This we ask though Jesus Christ,
who has given all that we may truly live. Amen