St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

St Luke's Finances for 2003

When we get to heaven we won't need money: everything will be provided out of God's free grace. (G.R.A.C.E. - God's Riches At Christ's Expense.) God doesn't need any money up there. However, he does have work to be done down here, and it needs funding.

And it's also spiritually necessary for us to give. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth," said Jesus. But if we don't give away, we're bound to end up with our hearts where our treasure is - down here on earth.

Each year we try to anticipate what it will cost to run the church: Ł56,611 this year (see page 9). We want to give Ł3,700 to missions - actually, some of us want to tithe, but that's another story! We think it will cost about Ł7,000 to maintain, insure and heat the church and the basement rooms. It costs about Ł4,250 for "admin", which means printing the magazine, photocopying, postage, stationery, paying our organist and cleaner, and so on. And then there's a huge Ł41,161 for the Parish Share, which is our share of the of the costs of running the diocese: the clergy's and officers' pay, housing, pension fund, and the office costs. We're arguing with the Diocese about the calculation, and the top Ł7,916 is the disputed bit. (We don't legally have to pay parish share - but then, they don't legally have to give us clergy!)

This year we're concerned that we are falling behind on income needed to reach this target. Our "sales" of magazine, room rentals and wedding and funeral fees (Ł7,700) and our fundraising events of Ł3,000 are holding up well enough. But in the first six months we needed Ł2,419 more than the Ł13,081 we received from giving to keep afloat. That's nearly an extra 20%. Without it our income will be Ł47,909, leaving a gap of Ł8,702.

This income includes a generous legacy. Maybe we can use that to pay our way? Or maybe that's a wrong use of a legacy - but, if you think that, where do you think the money for the Parish Share should come from? Either way, it's obvious we need to do some hard thinking.

Please will you think and pray about supporting us? I have discovered over many years that God can be trusted when we give to him, and if we tithe (give 10%) he will make the 90% go a lot further than the 100% used to go before. I'd like to ask all our givers to think about tithing, about using Standing Orders if we're paid monthly, and about giving 20% more. These are suggestions, not demands, and everyone's giving is confidential and not seen by the vicar. We know we can pull together and give to cover our costs, because we've done it for the roof!

Page 9 was a graphic to show these figures, and we will try to include it when possible.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. October 2003, Pages 8-9.
Home Page. Index of articles. Money: index, Pay for roof, Envelopes, Stewardship, Budget, 2003's Finances. In this issue: (October 2003) Alpha, In the news, Egyptian Harvest, Conditional Aid? Finances, Poem.	St Luke's Finances for 2003 When we get to heaven we won't need money: everything will be provided out of God's free grace. (G.R.A.C.E. - God's Riches At Christ's Expense.) God doesn't need any money up there. However, he does have work to be done down here, and it needs funding. And it's also spiritually necessary for us to give. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth," said Jesus. But if we don't give away, we're bound to end up with our hearts where our treasure is - down here on earth. Each year we try to anticipate what it will cost to run the church: Ł56,611 this year (see page 9). We want to give Ł3,700 to missions - actually, some of us want to tithe, but that's another story! We think it will cost about Ł7,000 to maintain, insure and heat the church and the basement rooms. It costs about Ł4,250 for "admin", which means printing the magazine, photocopying, postage, stationery, paying our organist and cleaner, and so on. And then there's a huge Ł41,161 for the Parish Share, which is our share of the of the costs of running the diocese: the clergy's and officers' pay, housing, pension fund, and the office costs. We're arguing with the Diocese about the calculation, and the top Ł7,916 is the disputed bit. (We don't legally have to pay parish share - but then, they don't legally have to give us clergy!) This year we're concerned that we are falling behind on income needed to reach this target. Our "sales" of magazine, room rentals and wedding and funeral fees (Ł7,700) and our fundraising events of Ł3,000 are holding up well enough. But in the first six months we needed Ł2,419 more than the Ł13,081 we received from giving to keep afloat. That's nearly an extra 20%. Without it our income will be Ł47,909, leaving a gap of Ł8,702. This income includes a generous legacy. Maybe we can use that to pay our way? Or maybe that's a wrong use of a legacy - but, if you think that, where do you think the money for the Parish Share should come from? Either way, it's obvious we need to do some hard thinking. Please will you think and pray about supporting us? I have discovered over many years that God can be trusted when we give to him, and if we tithe (give 10%) he will make the 90% go a lot further than the 100% used to go before. I'd like to ask all our givers to think about tithing, about using Standing Orders if we're paid monthly, and about giving 20% more. These are suggestions, not demands, and everyone's giving is confidential and not seen by the vicar. We know we can pull together and give to cover our costs, because we've done it for the roof! Page 9 was a graphic to show these figures, and we will try to include it when possible. John Hartley
Top of page.	This web page was last updated on 1st October 2003.