Generosity Week is a week set aside in the season leading up to Harvest, to thank God for his generosity to us, and help us to find ways to respond. It provides a route into thinking through how as a church we can grow a spirit of generosity and increase our giving.
The national week is 29 September – 6 October 2024, but churches have the freedom to choose a week around that time that best suits them.
Some of the things that churches do in Generosity Week include:
- A Generous Church Review, to provide a baseline/starting point
- Plan two Sundays’ worth of services, one on gratitude and one on generosity
- Think about regular giving to the church, or offering our time as a volunteer
- Look at the church and its interests and see how we can increase our generosity
- Review the resources on the generosity week web page, to see what might be most helpful for us.
Read the detail on the Church of England site here. Download the Generosity Week newsletter here.
Quote from Rev Dr Sam Wells, vicar of St Martin in the Fields, London, to his congregation:
“If you don’t give because no one’s ever asked you, I’m asking you now.
If you don’t give regularly because you’ve never got round to it,
I’m saying today’s the day.
If you don’t give much because you think St Martin’s doesn’t need it,
I’m telling you that it does.
If you don’t give a lot because you don’t have a lot, I’m saying your giving something is an example to everyone else.
If you don’t give more because no one’s ever said thank you,
I’m thanking you right now.
If you already give until the pips squeak, I’m saying that’s wonderful, and nudge the person next to you to do the same.”
Listen to the song, Generous Giver, here.