Our aim is to have our income equal to our expenditure. This aim is not always easy to achieve. Our income streams are offerings and other donations, tax recovered on gift aid, rental income, dividend income from our investments, and income from our café.
Expenditure includes our Ministries and Mission contribution to the Church of Scotland, salaries for our employees, utilities, equipment and maintenance of our buildings and everything required to help the Church Centre, including the office and café to function. We cannot reduce these costs and in fact they are likely to increase during the coming year with the predicted increase in gas and electricity prices, plus planned maintenance work required on the building.
Currently our expenditure exceeds our income. However, given the current circumstances with inflation over 10% and the cost of everything (food, utilities, petrol etc.) going up it feels wrong to ask for supporters to donate more money when people are already generous. But donating in other ways, for example by giving your time as a volunteer – helping on a Sunday with welcoming people, arranging the flowers, delivering flowers after the service, making coffee, helping in the café are just a few of the ways you can donate your time. Alternatively, you may have a special skill or gift that could be used – singing in the choir, helping with Sunday School, writing articles for the Shuttle, serving on a committee, organising events – there are lots of opportunities. If you are interested in helping in any way, however small, please speak to the Minister in the first instance.
If you do wish to donate money, that is very welcome too. If you have not completed a gift aid form and currently pay UK tax it would be very helpful if you could do so as this increases any donations you give by 25%. Gift Aid forms may be obtained from the treasurer who can be contacted by emailing treasurer@marchmontstgiles.org.uk
Some members and supporters have remembered us in their wills, leaving a legacy. This is one of the most valuable and lasting ways you can continue to support the mission and ministry of the Church. If you wish to do this you can specify a particular project or area that you wish to support, or if there are no restrictions on the gift your money can be used in the way most urgently required when it is received.
