Generosity in Action
Generosity is at the heart of our faith, we believe in a generous God and our own generosity is a testament and hallmark of our faith in action.
This Autumn there a number of opportunities to set aside some time to remember and celebrate God’s Generosity to us and our Gratitude to Him, as well as explore how we might grow in our Generosity.
Generosity Week
September 27th to October 4th, 2026
Why a Generosity Week?
Generosity is at the heart of who God is, and who we’re called to be as his people. It’s about grace – God’s overflowing generosity towards us, and our joyful response to that. It’s an opportunity to explore, teach, and celebrate generosity as a whole way of life: time, talents, hospitality, and yes, financial giving too.
Some parishes already talk about giving with real confidence and joy, weaving it naturally into worship and teaching. Others find it harder – it can feel awkward, transactional, or like “the money talk”. Generosity Week is a chance for every parish to start (or continue) a conversation gently and positively, rooted in Scripture and gratitude.
What’s involved
Before Generosity Week begins, various resources will be available:
- Sermon notes based on the Gospel lectionary readings for September
- Prayers, liturgy resources and study materials
- Simple, low-pressure ways to introduce or explain the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS)
You can use as much or as little as suits your context – some parishes may want a full month of themed teaching, others might simply include one sermon or a giving testimony during a Sunday service.
Myth-busting the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS)
Because financial giving is part of a healthy generosity culture, I’d like to address a few common misconceptions we hear:
- “Does the diocese keep some of the money donated?”
– No. 100% of what a donor gives through PGS comes back to your parish, in full. - “Is it complicated to set up?”
– For donors, it’s a simple direct debit; for parishes, PGS handles Gift Aid automatically, saving your treasurer time and admin. - “Is it just another way of asking for money?”
– Not at all. PGS is simply a mechanism to make giving easier and more sustainable, so people can respond to God's generosity in a way that fits modern life (e.g. reducing reliance on cash).
Next steps
- Please save the dates in your parish diary now: September 27th to October 4th (Harvest Sunday can be on either date)
- Download a full resource pack here, with preaching guidelines and liturgical resources.
- If you’d like a conversation about how Generosity Week might work in your context please get in touch with Jude Greenfield, the diocesan giving adviser.
Other resources available
- Reflections on Generosity hosted on the Everyday Faith App
- An exploration of Godly Generosity by Cheeky Pandas with video teaching, craft ideas, silly games and new worship song by Pete James
- Exploring Generosity in Groups, using the story of Martha and Mary, comprising eight films and a study guide.
- Celebrating our Legacy exploring the material and spiritual legacy we have received from the things that we value, and what our role might be in passing on that legacy to future generations.
- Teaching and Preaching on Generosity – you may download an NCT Teaching and Preaching booklet which explores the theology underpinning what we teach about giving, before moving into practical suggestions in how to preach and teach well about generosity.
- Resources for Services, including Daily Morning & Evening Prayer outlines and weekly Eucharist and Service of the Word orders and service content packs.
You may find out more by visiting the Generosity Week resources page.
Cornerstone
Parishes wishing to look more closely at their own financial situation, their congregations attitudes to giving and to make a change in their generosity are invited to participate in Cornerstone; an online generosity tool, which can help change the trajectory of your parish finances. Cornerstone comprises 3 main elements:
- Insights - Using Parish Returns data, Cornerstone identifies different types of giving and shares comparisons with other churches both in the same diocese and nationwide.
- Pathways - The information a church receives from the Insights phase gives them a picture of where they can focus their efforts. A Pathway takes a single topic and breaks it down into steps, none of which take longer than half an hour. They’re a great way of encouraging people to volunteer who may be uncertain about something they haven’t done before and welcome some help.
- Grants - All churches have completely free access to over 650 grants, curated for churches. Each grant is described and there is a link to the grant making body so you can read further and apply.
We will be running an Autumn programme of workshops to support you in your use of the Cornerstone as you seek to develop generosity in your communities. This programme will include the opportunity to conduct an informative survey amongst your congregation, to find out what they think.
Click here to find out more, to download the project pack and book your place.