GIVING AT ST MARK'S
Matthew 6 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? ‘ or ‘What shall we drink? ‘ or ‘What shall we wear? ‘ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
One of the ways we make sure we are seeking first God’s kingdom and trusting him to provide for our needs as we do so, is to give back from the money that God has given us.
Giving is a key Christian discipline through which God trains his people to trust him, rather than money, for their security and happiness. We can never truly be free of our worry about money unless we learn to hold it loosely and be generous with it.
Furthermore, God’s word teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to contribute to the material needs of the church they’re part of, to carry out the mission he’s given us. Your local church, St Mark’s, needs regular funding to continue providing ongoing biblical teaching and encouragement to you and your family, as well as to reach out to the surrounding community with the good news of Jesus Christ. In addition, a proportion of money given to St Mark’s goes to missionaries working in other countries.
Therefore, we’re urging all who attend St Mark’s to prayerfully consider how you can plan your own giving. You may not have much to give, but that doesn’t matter, every bit helps. Remember how Jesus commends the poor widow in Mark 14:41-44. Her two copper coins were a far greater sacrifice, and therefore much more valuable to Jesus, than the rich who could easily give but weren’t sacrificing much by doing so.
It may be that you’ve already been giving faithfully to the work at St. Mark’s whenever you’ve had money spare. But we’d like you to consider making a fixed contribution each month. If you’re worried that you won’t have the money to spare, you’ll be surprised at how God keeps his promises to provide when we are faithful and sacrificial in giving. Furthermore, God has always encouraged his people to give of their “first fruits”, not their leftovers, and to trust that he will provide for the rest of the month. So decide on your fixed amount at the beginning of each month, and “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Giving can be done via Standing Order or EFT. These can be set up through internet banking or at your local bank branch (see the church banking details below). Alternatively, you could make use of the collection bags in church for your regular giving.
St Mark’s Church banking details:
Standard Bank Thibault Square
Branch code: 02 09 09
Account name: St Marks
Account number: 070997039