Get Involved – Contribute Financially

As one of Peterborough's larger church buildings, ministering to the community, providing pastoral care, as well as the ongoing ministry of the congregation, George Street United depends on the generosity of its members and adherents as well as some revenue from Trust Funds to meet its expenses. There are many ways that you can give:

Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR)
 If you have automatic deductions from your bank account to pay for insurance or your mortgage, then you understand the PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) principle. It means monthly contributions throughout the year. This contribution method allows us to plan our budgets more accurately, because pre-authorized donations guarantee us a steady income stream. If you'd like to arrange a PAR, you should:

• Decide the amount of your monthly offering

• Fill in an Authorization Card from the church

• Attach a sample cheque from your account marked "Void"

• Return it to the church office via mail or the offering plate

Your account will be debited on or about the 20th of each month. PAR cards are available at the back of the church to place on the plate stating that you are giving through PAR.

Offering Envelopes – Cheque or Cash Offering
Ask us for an offering envelope number and a year's supply of envelopes for your cheque or cash offering. If you are visiting or do not have or want a supply of these envelopes, please use the Visitor's Offering envelope provided in the pew.

Post-dated Cheques
Supply postdated cheques, made payable to George Street United Church. We will hold your cheques and deposit them on the cheque date.

Planned Giving
You can help secure our ministry for future generations through a bequest or other Planned Gift.

Bequest
Making a bequest in your will is the most common type of Planned Gift. This can be for a specific amount or a share of the residue of your estate. You should consult with your lawyer about the drafting of your will or a codicil in which a gift to George Street United Church or the M&S Fund is to be included.

Examples of a clause in your will for a specific amount are as follows:

• "To pay to George Street United Church the sum of $____."

• "To pay to George Street United Church the sum of $____, to be added to the ____ Fund of the Church and dealt with as part thereof."

Rather than leaving a specific amount in your will, you may wish to leave the whole or a portion of the residue of your estate to the Church.

Gift of Shares (or Mutual Funds)
When you make a gift of shares to the church you pay no tax on the capital gain on those shares. Yet your charitable donation receipt is for the full value of the shares on the day they are received by the church.

United Church Gift Annuity
Enables you to arrange a future gift to George Street United Church or the Mission and Service Fund (M&S) and yet receive an income on those funds for as long as you live. The income you receive is mostly tax-free. You also receive a one-time charitable tax receipt for a portion of the Gift Annuity.

Gift of Life Insurance
You can donate an existing policy and receive a charitable tax receipt for its cash value. Alternatively, you can purchase a new policy and receive a charitable tax receipt for the premiums you pay.

In Memoriam Gifts
This is a truly meaningful way to acknowledge that you remember someone close to you, and to express your sympathy and respect to surviving family members and friends. We will notify the family of your donation.

Commemoration of a special occasion
A gift to George Street United Church is a caring and significant way to honour a friend, relative, or colleague is to recognize a special occasion in their life with a gift of faithful stewardship.

Should you wish more information on how to support the work of the church through a bequest or other Planned Gift please contact the trustees in writing:

Trustees of George Street United Church
534 George St. N.
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3S2

The trustees are assisted in their work by a United Church Gift Planner from the national church. If you wish, you may contact the Gift Planner directly:

Keith Stam
United Church Gift Planner
1330 Leighton Road
Peterborough, ON
K9H 6W6
Phone: (705) 876-8670
Email: kstam@peterboro.net