News for regulars at the Vineyard as we start 2012

First of all: an update on the finances

I need to give you a heads up about the church finances. This is relevant for those of you who are regulars here, who consider the Vineyard to be your home. As you can guess, our income is squeezed at the moment with people losing jobs and income from bonuses and overtime. Those who are self-employed are also finding it difficult. This has a knock-on effect on our finances as the need for our work increases but the income doesn’t keep up.

So I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider your giving. Check on your regular giving and also consider making a one-off gift. I would like our income to increase but I would also like to raise an additional £10,000 this month. That might mean a combination of one gift of £5,000, four gifts of £1,000 and 10 gifts of £100. Or any other combination. If you would like to make a gift, of whatever size, we would be very grateful and we can look forward to doing some great kingdom stuff in 2012.

You can take a giving leaflet and form from the resources table, you can adjust your giving over the internet, you can place cash and/or cheques in the offertory box on the resources desk. If you are a tax payer please tick the box or let us know that you have given and you wish your gift to be gift-aided so that we can reclaim the tax you have paid.

Click here for more information.

Doing Justice, Loving Kindness, Walking Humbly in 2011

In 2011 we were able to see justice, kindness and a humble walk with God in a number of areas:

What lies ahead in 2012?

• The Child Contact Centre is launched officially on 7 March.
   
  
  
• Nik and Maggie Gee are planting a church in Harrogate; Alex and Karen Griffin are planting in Sheffield. If you would like to make a gift to help them in these endeavours we will be giving you that opportunity on Sunday 22 January (for the Gees) and on Sunday 15 July (for the Griffins).
  
  
• Leeds: we are a community of faith based in Leeds and part of our mission is to bless the community in which we live and work. Leeds has an official vision which is directing how the City is being led through to 2030.
  I am inspired by this vision and I want the Vineyard to play its part. The vision is for Leeds to be the Best City in the UK.
  
  When I was talking this through with one of the chief officers she made it very clear to me and kept repeating that being the best city does not mean being the richest or the biggest but being the most harmonious.
  
  The literature about this and the research on which it is based is very interesting. Leeds is a great city but is hampered by a wide gap between the well off and the deprived. That gap is extreme and the city leaders want to narrow it. I want our activities and the gospel to make a difference in this.
  
  
• London Olympics: The Olympics are coming to the UK and that presents a great opportunity to share good news and to serve our community. The teams from China, Vietnam and Tanzania as well as the Dutch swimming team are based in Leeds.
  
  
  
  
• The Olympic torch will be coming through Leeds on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 June. We will be looking for ways to do kingdom stuff for these events. In addition we would love to send a team to London to work with other churches near the Olympic site.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The Big Lunch - Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration. Extended bank holiday weekend on 2-5 June on 60 anniversary of her coronation. We have been collecting Christmas trees in our communities – how about your housegroup hosting the Big Lunch?