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Supporting Our Ministry

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We are very grateful for the many ways in which support is offered to our ministry. Here are some of the ways which you can help the ministry of our churches

Prayer

We know that many people support our ministry faithfully in prayer. We appreciate this and all of our team value your prayerful encouragement

Volunteering

If you live near to our churches then we are always eager to receive offers of help volunteering in our church and community centres. You may email our Centre Manager for more information. Wendy Rider - Centre Manager

Finance

We are grateful for the committed giving of our own congregations and many others who support our work. If you wish to make a donation to any areas of our ministry then we are always very grateful. If you wish to make a donation please contact our treasurer by Email or send cheques to St Mark's Church, Calder Rise, Bedford. England MK41 7UY.   Made payable to St Mark's Church.

Gift Aid

If you are a UK tax payer and you already give to the church, or wish to do so, simply tell us and we can claim back the tax on your gift. You can cancel this at any time. You must notify the treasurer if you cease to pay tax equal to the tax reclaimed by the church. If you pay tax at the higher rate you can claim further tax relief in your Self Assessment tax return. If you change your name or address please notify the Treasurer.     please contact our treasurer by Email

Legacies 

Making a will is important for lots of reasons, it is especially important for your family. Please also consider making a gift to your church or an important charity. This is a way to make a real difference to the possibilities for our ministry. Read more about legacies

 

Legacies

Points to ponder on making a will

  1. Making a will shows you care. It is a way of expressing your faith in exercising stewardship over the worldly goods God has entrusted to your care.

  2. It gives an opportunity to continue to carry out the responsibilities you accepted during your lifetime.

  3. It means that whatever you leave will be used in the way you want with the minimum of trouble for the bereaved.

  4. You don't need a lot of money or goods for it to be worthwhile making sure that they go to benefit who you want them to. Most people will leave some assets-what is legally referred to as their "estate" - and it is sensible to decide what you want to happen to them and put this down formally in a will.

  5. If you do have "reasonably substantial" assets, greater than the tax free allowance which at present is £255,000, making gifts in your will to a charity which you would like to help can also help reduce your estates liability to inheritance tax. (Gifts to charity are exempt from Inheritance Tax).

  6. If you don't make a will then legal rules will decide what happens to your estate and your relatives may well not receive what you want them to. At the same time if you don't make a will charities that you might wish to help will not benefit from your estate either.


Hints on making a will.

  1. Whilst you can legally write your own will it is best to go to a solicitor. This will give you expert help in making sure that things are dealt with in the best possible way.

  2. If you have already made a will it can be added to or changed; again you should get expert help.

  3. You must sign your will and two witnesses who do not benefit from it must certify your signature.

  4. It is normal to appoint at least one, preferably two executors whose duty it will be to carry out the instructions in your will. It is wise to tell your executor where your will is kept and to keep a copy at home or in another safe place.

  5. It is also a good idea to review your will regularly and whenever there is a major change in your family or financial circumstance - for example, marriage or death of a close relative.


What do you want to do with your money?

Obviously you will want to make sure that you have acted responsibly in making provision for your dependants. It may be a chance for you to continue your support for the church or some other cause which you have supported during your lifetime. Our churches were built by generous from people both during their lifetime and in their wills. To maintain the fabric and ministry of our churches we are dependant on future generosity.
 

Sample wording for a legacy

I bequeath to (St  Mark's Church) or (Putnoe Heights Church) the sum of £..... (...... Pounds)   OR  a   ............% of the residue of my estate for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the treasurer of the said church shall be a full and sufficient discharge of my duties.