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Stewardship is …
Making A Difference
Your
financial donation is a response to God’s
call, enabling the ministries and programs of Islington
United Church. The annual church plan describes the
many programs, resources and facilities required to
carry out GOD’s work at Islington, in our community,
and beyond. These all rely on the monies we receive
from members, adherents (those who participate in the
life of the Church but are not members), and Islington’s
friends and visitors. We encourage you to think about percentage giving
when deciding on your offering. The Bible tells us
to give a tithe, 10 percent of our income or resources,
to GOD (Deuteronomy 26: 1–10; Acts 2: 43–47)
as a routine offering. This 10 percent challenge is
always before us – to work toward, to pray about,
to discern, to learn from others, and to model for
others. Islington United Church itself gives more than
10 percent of its revenue to other ministries and agencies.
But allocating any percentage of your income – whatever
it may be – is the way to start. Give it prayerful
thought, start where you can, and each year of your
spiritual journey evaluate what you can give for GOD’s
work here at Islington. You will be invited to respond
each year during the spiritual growth program. The
current program is Called to Be God’s Lighthouse.
There are many ways that you can respond financially
to support our ministries and programs:
Your donation can be directed to various ministries
and programs, as you choose:
Tax receipts are issued at year-end to members and
adherents. Receipts are issued immediately to other
donors. All donation information is strictly confidential.
Other Ways to Give
Time and Talent – We are blessed with abundance – abundance
to share. There are countless opportunities to share
your time and talent – from packing and delivering
Christmas hampers to praying for those in need to offering
the special care of a Stephen Minister to providing
your professional or business expertise.
Gifts in Kind – The ministries, programs and
facilities at Islington United Church can benefit from
your gift. Are you able to provide supplies for the
Sunday School or Bible study groups? Do you have an
appealing item for a fund-raising auction? Can you
provide furnishings, computing or other office equipment?
Give us a call!
Personal Envelopes
We provide personal envelopes for your donations when
you become a member or at your request. Your personal
donor number, not your name, is printed on the envelope
to ensure your privacy while still allowing us to
issue your charitable donation receipt easily. All
donor information is confidential. There is no charge
for the envelopes but a donation towards their printing
cost is appreciated. E-mail the Church office at:
to request your personal envelopes or call 416.239.1131
ext. 21.
Pre-authorized Remittance (PAR)
If you select Pre-authorized Remittance to make your
donation, you specify an amount to be withdrawn automatically
from your bank account each month. PAR ensures that
your regular donation is made on time, avoiding awkward “catch-up” when
you have been absent. It also ensures a more consistent
cash flow for Islington throughout the year because
every month there are salaries to be met and bills
to be paid. There is no cost to you for using this
service and you can adjust the amount of your gift
simply by e-mailing the Church office
or calling 416.239.1131
ext. 21.
Special Purpose Envelopes
Throughout the year there are opportunities to make
extra donations to special projects and ministries
at Islington. You can make a donation at any time – during
worship, in person to the Church office, or by mail.
Please make cheques payable to Islington United Church
and direct your gift to the designated ministry or
program on the envelope or cheque.
Benevolent Fund – at
every Sunday service of Holy Communion we are grateful
to receive donations
to Islington’s Benevolent Fund, which assists
disadvantaged people in our community at the direction
of the ministry team. Benevolent Fund envelopes are
provided in the pews or are available from the Ushers.
Christmas Hamper Ministry – the special Advent
and Christmas offering supports the work of the
Helping Hands Ministry to provide Christmas hampers
and other
support to families in need in our community. Envelopes
are provided in the Advent/Christmas issue of the
LINK Newsletter and are available in the pews throughout
Advent.
Mission and Service (M&S) Fund – the
special Thanksgiving offering contributes to Islington’s
donation to the M&S Fund, the unified fund which
supports all of the work of The United Church of Canada,
both here in Canada and around the world. Each year
Islington donates an amount approved at the Annual
Meeting to the Mission and Service Fund. M&S
envelopes are provided in the Fall/Thanksgiving issue
of the
LINK Newsletter and are available in the pews on
Thanksgiving Sunday.
Music Ministry – the Music Sunday offering
provides a necessary supplement to ensure the continuation
of
Islington’s inspiring Music Ministry. Envelopes
for the Music Ministry are provided in the Summer
issue of LINK and are placed in the pews on Music
Sunday.
Presbytery
Support – each household is encouraged
to provide an extra donation to help cover Islington’s
assessment that supports the life and work of our two
Church “courts,” Toronto West Presbytery
and Toronto Conference. The 2007 assessment is $31
per member, including youth members. Envelopes are
mailed with year-end and mid-year donation statements
and are available from the Church office.
Refugee Support
Ministry – the special Easter
offering supports the work of Islington’s Refugee
Support Ministry to sponsor and support refugees
and their families for their first year in Canada.
This
envelope is included in the Lent/Easter issue of
LINK and is available during Holy Week in worship.
From time to time, as other special needs arise other
requests for financial assistance may be announced.
For more information about financial donations, making
a gift in kind or volunteering your time and talent,
please e-mail
, Stewardship & Church
Administrator, or call 416.239.1131 ext. 33.
Return to: Stewardship
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