As we do every year, we want to mobilise the whole church in a focused thanksgiving to maintain and increase our culture and habits of year-long rejoicing. While the main emphasis is an outpouring of thankful hearts to God, the opportunity to give gifts is an expression of paying it forward. Concrete generosity both expresses, and also leads to more thankfulness.

Below are eight projects. For those who are willing and able, hopefully there is something you’d be keen support.

For bank transfer, use the regular account:

• • Account: St Pauls Anglican Church
  • BSB: 062-259 
  • Acc. No.: 00908164
  • Ref: See below

Mission Partners (ref: MissionProject)  

1. Support Michael and Liz, with Wycliffe Australia as they create new songs about Jesus for least reached people groups. They are seeking to proclaim, “Good News in Anyone’s Language”.
   • for the purchase of equipment to assist songwriters and musicians to create gospel music for use in local churches.
   • for travel and accommodation costs to help facilitate Ethno-Arts training in a neighbouring country.

2. Give loving care for our mission partners, Ado and Clair, who work in South-East Asia seeking to make and develop disciples and local leaders. Ado had to return to Australia for cancer treatment.
   • for the costs of dental surgery prior to his radiation treatment
   • for flights back home when possible
   • for the additional costs of living in Sydney until December

These two projects will cost about $7,000. Any surplus will be used to support our existing Mission Partners here and overseas.

Local Primary School Scripture (ref: [your name] SRE) ( tax deductable giving handled by our church)

We teach every week in our local public schools: Bangor, Illawong, Alfords Point, Tharawal, Menai and Lucas Heights. Funds can go towards materials as well as an allocation of time of staff who serve overseeing and teaching SRE.

High School Scripture (tax deductable giving must go directly through donate.generate.org.au)

Menai Anglican works together with local churches to employ a SRE teacher for Menai High School, and as we hope to start soon at the high school of Lucas Heights Community School. The current employee is Alex Wiles from Menai Baptist Church. He is doing an excellent job and the funds are low. Connor Davaram and volunteers from our church work with him for the lunch-time group. For tax-deductible giving you can do so through Generate’s website donate.generate.org.au.  Enter “Menai” in the “I want to give” box or by telephone on 1300 369 596. Target: $5,000.

General Offertory (ref: GenOff)

This is the main way that we support the ministry at MAC, including staffing, utilities, hospitality and other expenses. Most Menai members give online, or via envelopes at the door. Under God’s provision, in past years, the June Thanksgiving Gifts have made up the difference between the year-to-date giving and the budget.

Christian Education Centre (ref: [your name] CEC) (tax deductable giving)

This fund covers repairs, upkeep and renovations on the part of the church built in 2001 (hall/court; three childrens’ room and new garden room), including repaying a proportion of the loan for our building works in 2022.

Children’s Safety and Playground (ref: playground)

Child safety is important, but after 10am, the youngest children have nowhere to go. This project will involve pool fencing and simple play equipment for children in the garden behind our church. This job will scale according to how much money is given.

Repair and upgrade of Gardening Equipment (ref: gardening)

Many people serve in mowing, edging and gardening, but some of our equipment is not safe and needs replacing. Money raised will be used to replace the edger and will be used in repairing the ride-on-mower.

Making the disabled toilet more accessible (ref: accessible)