Encouraging giving in your parish this Autumn

We can inspire people’s generosity by sharing the plans and vision to grow our church’s ministry and mission.

• Telling stories about how people’s lives have been changed or how people’s giving has made an impact reminds people of how your church is transforming lives and communities.
• Take a month with people sharing testimonies or being interviewed during the notices every week about their personal giving or how the church has impacted on their lives? Use their stories in your newsletters or social media and celebrate with gratitude how people have been impacted by your church’s ministry and mission.
• With a new school year and PCC meetings beginning again it’s a good opportunity to run a generosity review.  The Southwark Generosity Review is a tool designed for PCCs and church leaders to ask how and whether their congregations consider their church to be generous-hearted. It is a helpful way to begin and develop these conversations together, and think about key areas to work upon.

The Southwark Generosity Review

Help people deepen their understanding of God’s generosity towards them and what it means to live generously in response.
Please find here resources for the last two Sundays in September with detailed sermon plans and materials for children and young people.

Further inspiration for encouraging generosity over this season can be found on our Preaching Generosity Page with sermon ideas for lectionary readings.

Preaching Generosity Page

• In Autumn churches often welcome the wider community into services. Schools attend harvest festivals, local uniformed community groups will attend Remembrance services.
• Consider one occasion where you can increase your welcome by looking for ways your church can share generosity beyond its walls and serve the wider community.

Legacy giving is a focus of many charities but sometimes we forget that our churches are charities too.

• As we celebrate the memory of those we mourn on All Souls Day we could celebrate legacies of talents, money or time to our church and lives,  and encourage people to consider remembering their church in their wills.
• If you have any questions about legacies or would like materials, please email Gemma Curran.
• Or look at the resources on our website – we have several stories featuring a range of gifts and churches, and would be pleased to help you develop personal stories for your church to inspire others to give gifts in wills.

Legacy stories webpage

• When welcoming visitors, check that contactless giving machines are out, visible and working, and that QR codes are visible on posters or in orders of services. Please ensure that posters are updated with the code of fundraising. If you have any issues with your contactless machine and QR Code or would like to explore getting one for your church, please contact Luisa Santos

• Download Contactless Machine backgrounds below or personalise your own using our canva templates here.

• Personalise your own Giving posters using our canva templates here or download the word version here.