Gift Day
Sunday 21st May 2023
St Ebbe’s holds two Gift Days each year in response to God’s goodness to us. These times let us reflect and pray how we might all share in providing for the needs of St Ebbe’s Church, so that we may continue to declare the Gospel, build up God’s people and send them out to serve Him in Oxford, the UK and around the world.
From a financial perspective 2022 was a very challenging year due to high levels of inflation within the UK. Yet in this situation the Lord has inspired His people to give generously to His work. Praise Him!
Our vision is to continue to grow the work of St Ebbe’s. Recognising that costs are rising, our prayer is the same as for many previous Gift Days: that we receive enough to meet our needs this year.
Our Gift Day targets are:
• £30,000 in new regular giving
&
• at least £75,000 in one-off gifts
We invite each member of St Ebbe’s to give thankful, prayerful consideration of Gift Day and respond with joy, faithfulness, and generosity.
Please remember that giving is a work of and for the Lord. We offer ourselves first to the Lord and then how we might use our money to serve Him.
This means that those facing financial hardship who cannot give or must give less money are just as much a part of the work of giving as those who can give more. We all share together in the work of the Lord. He is able to provide not only for our needs but also the needs of the work of St Ebbe’s.
Let us join in prayer for the Lord to provide.
Summary of St Ebbe’s Finances
The vast majority of the St Ebbe’s income is given by current members of St Ebbe’s via regular monthly giving or by one-off gifts throughout the year. The latter give as the Lord provides –This is particularly true for those in our congregation who are in Oxford for a just short time. Gift Days are an important opportunity to join in supporting the work of St Ebbe’s.
The Gift Day targets
In 2022 the PCC decided to forego income from the May Gift Day in order to free the congregation to give funds to allow the Littlegate Trust to purchase the St Ebbe’s Rectory. This long-term strategic decision aims to ensure that St Ebbe’s can continue to witness faithfully to the Gospel of Jesus in the city of Oxford. The PCC decided to invest some of its reserves to allow this investment in the Gospel to succeed, but this has meant that reserves are lower now than they would be in normal circumstances.
The target for Gift Day is in two parts and for two distinct needs:
There is need for increased regular giving. Most of St Ebbe’s income comes from regular giving and most of the expenditure is on staff salaries. Due to inflation, staff salaries will rise by 4% this year. Therefore, we have a need for increased regular giving to serve our staff.
The target for one-off gifts recognises that many of us are not able to give the same amount each month. This will help the accounts to balance at the year end. Donations in excess of the target will build reserves to their normal agreed levels.
Hardship
Previous generations of St Ebbe’s have provided a Hardship fund to reduce hardship in the Parish and congregation. The fund exists to glorify God by helping those in need. If you wish to discuss your needs please contact a Congregation Leader.
We invite each member of St Ebbe’s to give thankfully and prayerfully to the Gift Day
How to respond
If you wish to contribute towards the Gift Day, there are a number of ways in which you can send a gift, but in all cases, it is a great help if you would inform the St Ebbe’s Finance Administrator of your decision by filling out the form below and click the submit button. Details of how to give can be found here:
If you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid is a means by which the value of your gift can increase by 25% without any additional cost to you. If you are eligible, please tick the appropriate box in the form.
Your response will be confidential and known only to the finance administrator.
Please make cheques/charity vouchers payable to “PCC of St Ebbe’s Church” and send to:
Financial Administrator (Private & Confidential),
St Ebbe’s Church
2 Roger Bacon Lane
Oxford
OX1 1QE
Any queries?
Please email Trevor Rayment, or the Finance Administrator.
