Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a hard sell.
We know many people are worried about money right now. Many businesses are shut down as we try to contain the Covid-19 outbreak here in Quebec and everywhere. People are waiting to see if the government really comes through with needed income support. For some, these are new worries; for others, they’re all too familiar.
For many of us, money troubles are something to leave at the church door. We go to worship to feed our souls, to calm our fears. Church shouldn’t get mixed up with anything so worldly as money!
Wouldn’t it be nice if that were possible? But churches need to be heated and cleaned and repaired. Even if we didn’t have a building, there’d still be salaries to pay, worship supplies to buy, and all sorts of little expenses right down to coffee and milk!
At SouthWest, we have never been pushy about taking up offerings. Of course we pass the plate every week but we never want anyone to choose not to come to church because they can’t afford to give. I’m going to repeat that: we never want you to stay away just because you can’t put something in the plate.
Right now, of course, no one’s putting anything in the plate because we are prevented from meeting. We don’t have any idea how long this will go on, and that’s why we’re asking you, if you can, to consider other ways of giving. Some of you are already on P.A.R. (Pre-Authorized Remittance), a program through the United Church of Canada. We thank you for your steady contributions.
Even in non-pandemic times, there are advantages to being on PAR. You don’t have to scramble every week to find cash or a cheque to bring to worship. Your monthly donation becomes part of your budgeting, something you don’t have to think about. But it’s also simple to change the amount at any time if your financial situation changes. Those steady amounts also make it easier for churches to budget and plan ahead. Please see the brochure and form attached below if you think you might be interested in signing up for PAR.
If you’re not sure about a monthly donation, it’s also possible to make a one-time donation to SouthWest through our website, Southwestunited.net. Just click DONATE in the top right corner of the home page and follow instructions to give using PayPal or a credit card.
We pray that no one in our congregation would have to worry about money. We pray that those who have a little bit to spare might see fit to share.
We pray that all of our extended family might stay healthy, and that God gives us the courage to weather the isolation and anxiety this crisis brings.
We pray that we may all be together again, singing, praying, sharing soup, sharing coffee and cake, very soon.