Money For Mission

December 2023 (Issue 52)

Monthly E-newsletter from the Finance & Stewardship Teams

In this edition

Thinking About Generosity.....

Request Christmas Campaign page for your Contactless Device

Receive One-off Gifts over Christmas with the PGS

Barclays Bank Warning

New Bookkeeping Spreadsheet available for Treasurers

Environmental Fundraising -Webinars 17th & 24th January

What's Behind the Advent Calendar Door? - Donations!

Parish Share report update

New Funders' Lists for Eco Projects

Community Impact Grants

Leeds Church Extension Society Grants

Thinking About Generosity....

Sunday December 10 2023. Advent 2. Psalm 8: 1-2, 8-end

Can you give of your time?

As we prepare for Christmas we see the streets of our towns festooned with twinkling lights, shops decorated with Christmas trees and gifts displayed to tempt in the shopper.

In the materialistic hype, people can forget that Christmas is all about God’s generosity. Our Psalm today reminds us that God is a generous giver who forgives and restores, who brings peace to those who love him and salvation as we believe in him.

At this special time of year when we have time to reflect upon our coming Christian celebration, we might consider how we can be generous, not necessarily by indulging in a materialistic kind of giving but simply by giving our time to a person who is alone, or sharing a meal with them, even shopping for them instead of ourselves. Being generous with our time, giving what is good just as God has done for us, can be the most precious gift we can give to another.

Sharran Ireland was Team Rector of four churches now retired with PTO in the Diocese of Canterbury.

The Finance & Stewardship Teams would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!

Request your church's Digital Christmas Campaign Page!

If your church has a Collectin or Payaz contactless giving device or an online giving page why not ask the Stewardship team to prepare a colourful Christmas campaign page for you, like the one in the image? Hopefully it can attract extra donations for your church over Christmas. Contact the Stewardship team on the link below to request our help.

Alternatively watch our Get Christmas Digital Ready recorded webinar to find out how to prepare your own Christmas campaign page; Christmas giving posters and pew cards!

If you don't have digital giving in your church but want to get started contact Janet or Beth to request 1:1 support at resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org

Email to Request Your Visit our Website

Click to watch "Get Digital Christmas Ready" Webinar

Receive One-Off Gifts with the PGS

Did you know that if your church is registered with the PGS you have access to a free online giving page to receive one-off gifts as well as regular giving? You will also have access to a QR code that you can use on posters and in newsletters to direct people straight to your PGS giving page.

To find out more about one - off gifts watch the video below. To find out how to join the PGS click here or email resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org

Watch PGS Video on One-Off Gifts

Barclays Bank Warning!

We have heard reports in recent weeks and months of some PCCs and other small charities losing access to Barclays current accounts at very short notice. Therefore, if you are a customer of Barclays we would suggest: (1) you ensure Barclays hold the correct contact information (particularly postal address); (2) if you receive any requests from Barclays for documentation you respond to these quickly; and (3) after submitting information you follow-up with Barclays to ensure this has met their requirements.

If you are experiencing problems with Barclays, or any other bank, do let us know and we will try to help, although we unfortunately do not have a magic wand!

New Bookkeeping Spreadsheet for Treasurers

The West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service (WYCAS) have produced an excellent spreadsheet to help new and experienced treasurers with their bookkeeping. The free spreadsheet template called "CashBook" is pre-populated with Return of Parish Finance headings and is available to download along with a helpful training video on the Parish Finance pages of our website. You will also find a model accounts template and guidance on independent examination. Click the link below to find the Cashbook Spreadsheet. For Treasurer support email resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org

Access the WYCAS Cashbook Spreadsheet

Environmental Fundraising Webinars

Sign up for these webinars, which are part of the Diocese of Leeds Saving Creation programme, and find out how to fundraise for your church's carbon cutting project. Perhaps you are thinking of LED lighting, new heating or just insulation for your church's heating pipes? Whatever your project these webinars can help you plan your fundraising appeal. The webinars will be held on Wednesday 17th January at 12 noon and again on 24th January at 7pm. To find out more and to register for the webinars click on a link below.

What's Behind the Advent Calendar Door? - Donations!

Your church can win donations this Christmas. Sign up to easyfundraising today and open the Advent Calendar windows from 1 – 24 December for daily chances to win £100 for your church. Plus, every window opened is an automatic entry to win the big Christmas Day prize! To take part sign up your church to easyfundraising on the link below.

Parish Share Update

For those who may have missed it, the October Parish Share Report can be found here. Watch out for the November report landing on our website later in December. October's receipts, totalling £974k were 9%/£92k behind 2022 and 20%/£249k below the pre-pandemic average. Year-to-date receipts continue to be 3% (£316k) behind 2022 and 16% behind pre-pandemic average.

The deadline for 2023 Parish Share payments is 5 January 2024. Please ensure these are clearly marked as for 2023 if being sent in the first week of January.

GRANTS' NEWS

New Funders Lists For Eco Projects

Environmental and sustainability projects take many forms. Some funders have particular interests and/or fund in a very restricted area. Others are much more generalists. These two Diocese of Leeds funding directories provide potential funders from both national funds and those that fund within the diocesan area. Click on the links below to view each funding directory.

Funding Directory - Environment & Sustainability

Funding Directory - Net Zero Carbon Projects

Community Impact Grants from Benefact Trust

Benefact Trust’s Community Impact Grants Programme supports projects that will make a positive and transformative impact on lives and communities. The grants can help empower Christian organisations to tackle major issues in society as well as help churches grow congregations and promote the Christian faith. The grants can support direct capital and/or revenue costs for your church e.g. disabled access improvements & improved facilities for wider community use. Grants can be applied for at any time. For more information click on the link below

Go To Benefact Trust Community Impact Grants

The Leeds Church Extension Society aims to support churches in the episcopal area of Leeds through grant funding. The objectives of this society are:

To help finance mission halls, new churches and vicarages
To assist with the stipends of clergy & lay workers
To help maintain and re-order churches and church halls
Grants are also made for the church community & outreach activities

The trustees meet three times a year to discuss any applications, so do check these dates before applying. To find out how to apply click on the link below

Leeds Church Extension Society Website