Giving

at our church

 

Members of St. Thomas contribute to the life and work of the church in many different ways. While the information in this part of the Website relates to financial giving, other pages on this site illustrate the variety of ways you can get involved and contribute to St. Thomas'  many ministries.

How can I give to the work of St. Thomas' Church?

 

Give Online Now

You can give a one-time or a recurring gift to St. Thomas from this website using the services of CanadaHelps.org, just click on the icon directly below:

Other ways to give...

Place your contribution in a collection plate

We do not have a regular collection at St. Thomas as they do in most other churches. We leave the collection plates at the entrance to the nave and rely on people to leave their offerings when they enter.  Envelopes are available there for people to leave information for tax receipts.

Pre-issued offering envelopes

You can use offering envelopes that are issued on an annual basis. This method has distinct advantages both for you and the church.

For the contributor:

• Allows you to give in private as Jesus commanded. (Matthew 6:1-4)
• Your offering can be in the form of cash rather than cheque
• Envelopes are dated and, therefore, your offering can be designated for specific Sundays.
• Tax Receipt

For the church

• Reduction of paper work and book keeping.
• Studies on offerings can be done without reference to names thus securing privacy
• Year-end tax receipts are easy to prepare

Pre-authorized remittance (PAR)

A modern option for giving to your Church

Over the centuries God's people have used many methods to return a portion of their blessings in thanksgiving In the very early days it was “in kind”, sheep, goats, grain, etc. As money became more common, offerings changed to gold or silver, then paper currency and more recently cheques. In this age of electronic banking, it has become common for people to pay insurance, mortgage, cable TV, etc. using P A R (pre-authorized remittances). More and more people are regularly supporting the church by the same method. The Anglican Church of Canada uses the administrative services of the United Church of Canada. to provide this option to you.

PAR does not replace envelopes or eliminate cash or cheques in a congregation. It is simply one more option that we have.

What are the advantages:

For the contributor:

• Regular support of your church in the amount that you choose.
•  Continual support of your home church when you are away.
•  Avoidance of 'catch up' periods 

For the church

• 1. Regular, dependable flow of contributions
• 2. Reduction of paper work and book keeping
• 3. Reduction in bank ovedrafts 

If you decide that you would like to participate, then you should decide the amount you want your monthly offering to be. Fill out an application form (click here for a copy). Attach a sample cheque from your account marked, “VOID.” Place both in an envelope and place on a collection plate. You will be advised when your request has been processed.

Planned Giving

Many Christians think of giving as weekly contributions to the church or annual gifts to charities. But there are many other ways to contribute financially, such as through deferred or planned gifts. These are gifts which can be made over time or as a bequest. Planned gifts include annuities, stocks and bonds, real estate, or life insurance policies which name a church or charity as beneficiary. Canada's tax laws encourage charitable giving with significant benefits for the donor.

You may support the mission and ministry of this parish or any other parish or diocese you wish, or of General Synod, Anglican Appeal, Anglican Foundation, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, the Aboriginal Healing Fund or another Anglican-related institution.

The following are just some of the ways you can become involved with planned giving.

• · Charitable Gift Annuity
• · Gift Plus Annuity
• · Gift of Residual Interest
• · Charitable Remainder Trust
• · Wills
• · Gifts of Life Insurance
• · Outright Gifts
• · Stripped Bonds

 

If you have any questions on these or other ways of giving, please Contact Us Form.

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, "He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.''   (Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, 9:6-9)

And they came, every one whose hearts stirred them up and everyone whom God's spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering. ... Exodus 35:21

Quick Links

Principles of Christian Giving

 

Why should I give to my church

 

Brochure on Christian Giving

 

Learn more about CanadaHelps.com

 

A sermon on Christian Giving:
Experience the Joy! Open handed giving in a tight fisted world