First of all may I wish you ALL a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year! But what does it mean to be prosperous? Definitions include thriving, flourishing, fruitful, as well as financially successful. In the book of Jeremiah 29 verse 11 God proclaims a message to the Jews in exile which is just as relevant for you and me today.
‘For I know the plans I have for you” declares the LORD. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.’
As we look forward into 2017, both for you as an individual and St Saviour’s as a church, we should be regularly asking God to show His plans for us in 2017.
However, we need your gifts and donations to enable God’s work to continue. In recent reports by our treasurer (see blog Out of Pocket), expenditure in 2016 was higher than income by at least £15,000. Although we have been able to pay our bills through a recent legacy we received, this situation cannot continue.
As you are making plans for 2017, please pray about your giving to St Saviour’s. If you usually put money in the plate as it comes round, think about putting it in a yellow Gift Aid envelope (if you are a taxpayer) or joining our Parish Giving Scheme and making a regular payment to St Saviour’s through Direct Debit payments. More information about how you can give to St Saviour’s is available here or from Pat Smart.
Finally, please take a look at my Vicar’s letter in our new Ignite magazine (coming out on 8 January) to find out more about our ‘Rhythm of Mission’ and plans for renewal and outreach in the year ahead and be praying for these initiatives.
God bless, Andy
