29 March 2026

An elder expressed concern about the increase in ‘Giving to Grow’ payments. The increase was noticeable. ‘I think other congregations are facing the same situation of increased payments.’ I replied. ‘But that doesn’t make it good.’ he concluded. I said no more.

But I did remember life in my first charge. In those days, we made a ‘Mission and Service’ payment to benefit central funds and the work of various departments – Education, Social Responsibility, Overseas Council etc. Like ‘Mission to Grow’, the sums increased year by year.

It was my youthful perception that it was a source of pride that the congregation’s allocation increased for it meant something significant was happening – the congregation was increasing its weekly contribution to the offering plate.

More significantly, Kirk Sessions and Congregational Boards were encouraged to add more to their annual payments. One of the most regular contributors was the Guild. In Forth:St. Paul’s this amounted to an additional £100 per annum. It was all recorded in the Red Book – a real source of pride.

All that incentive is gone and with it the idea that an increase in the ‘Giving to Grow’ allocation is a source of pride. For in that case giving must be increasing and the congregation  helping to sustain the life of another parish. If more is asked of us, we need to make a greater sacrifice to fulfil the expectation.

At the start of Holy Week, the poverty of our sacrifices are illuminated by the sacrifice of Christ – celebrated as he enters Jerusalem on a donkey, our King, our peace-maker. His sacrifice has the potential to unite the world but  to complete the task, he requires our sacrifice too and that is good!

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