St. Matthew Society

Have you remembered St. Margaret’s Church in your will? Has your will been reviewed and updated within the last five years? Did you know that retirement plan benefits can be left to St. Margaret’s while providing substantial income tax and potential death tax savings to your family?

 If you would like to discuss these, or any related items, please contact Dave Leber, our parish representative to the St. Matthew’s Society. His number is 610-770-1534.

Canon Shallcross and Vestry members can tell you how valuable your actions can be for the welfare of St. Margaret’s. Consider the gifts of these three saints:

Elanor Leisenring – her estate helped build our latest addition, purchase a new organ and fund Mobile Ministries – our Van.

Dorothy Schaeffer – her gift made installation of air conditioning possible.

Paul Albert – his legacy helped support both our last seminarian at General Theological Seminary and the rector’s sabbatical in 1998; in addition to buying new acolyte robes and a new lectern Bible.

 Please look at the “fine print” on page 445 of the Book of Common Prayer.

What is the St. Matthew Society?

The St. Matthew Society is an honorary society established in the Diocese of Bethlehem to acknowledge and thank those who choose to support the life and work of their parishes through bequests and planned gifts.

Bishop Paul Marshall believes that planned giving – a ministry bearing fruit not during our lifetime, but for those who follow after us – is crutial to the future mission and ministry of the church.

The purpose of the St. Matthew Society is to encourage, support, and celebrate gifts to God that ensure that our parishes remain vibrant and vital Christian communities for years to come.

How Do I Enroll?

The St. Matthew Society honors planned gifts to parishes and their endowment funds.

Such gifts may be designated either for your Episcopal congregation or for a ministry of the Diocese of Bethlehem.

Enrollment forms and additional information are available from both Canon Shallcross and Dave Leber.

What Are the Benefits of Membership?

With your permission, your name will be listed as a Member of the St. Matthew Society.

Members of the Society will be honored each year at a special celebration.

Most importantly, by adding your name to the roll of the St. Matthew Society, you will have looked beyond this life to witness to the fact that all that we are, and all that we have, comes from God and will one day return to God.

What Is Planned Giving?

A planned gift is usually made from assets accumulated during one’s lifetime rather than from current income.

Although planned giving may involve financial or estate planning, it is not only for the wealthy. No gift is too small!

Planned gifts help parishioners to provide for family members while also remembering the church. A planned gift often reduces taxes and produces a larger gift to family and parish than thought possible.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

This page was updated on 8/2/2004.