The Giving Tree

Advent is a time to celebrate God’s great gift of love by sharing gifts with others.

This Advent, begin or continue a Giving Tree tradition in your church. By hanging ornaments on a giving tree you can celebrate the gifts your congregation is sharing at Christmas in a very real way.

It’s easy to give

There are three diﬀerent types of ornaments. They can be used to support Gifts of Change or to give year-end gifts to Presbyterians Sharing or PWS&D. People can choose an ornament according to the gift they want to give.

Ways to give:

Gifts can be made via the oﬀering plate with designations clearly marked. Receipts are issued by the congregation and the funds are submitted to the national oﬃce with the regular congregational remittances.
Gifts can be given online through your congregation’s website, at presbyterian.ca/donate OR via a customized online giving page set up for your congregation. Contact Eugenie Fung to help set up your custom page with a special URL link that can be shared with donors. A notification email can be sent to a designated contact at your congregation when a gift is made.
Cheques can be mailed to the national oﬃce with the Giving Tree and congregation’s name clearly marked. Receipts will be issued by the PCC.
Download an excel document to help you track donations at presbyterian.ca/givingtree.

Note: If your congregation doesn’t want to collect the funds and issue the receipts, invite participants to give online or mail cheques to the national oﬃce. Any gifts given directly to the national oﬃce will appear on your congregation’s year-end remittance report and the congregation will be emailed tallies before Christmas.

Gather the materials

Order ornament sets, bulletin inserts and Gifts of Change catalogues online at presbyterian.ca/order, by email at or by phone at 1-800-619-7301 ext. 331. We suggest ordering a bulletin insert for everyone in the congregation, and one set of 24 ornaments and 5-10 copies of the Gifts of Change catalogue per 50 people.
Download PDF images of the ornaments for your website or church e-news at presbyterian.ca/giving-tree.

Set up your tree

Place the tree in the sanctuary or other public area. If you already have a mission tree (e.g., mitten tree), combine the two projects. The tree could also be made out of paper, drawn on a window (with erasable marker!), quilted, etc. Be creative and do what works for your congregation!
Place three baskets by the tree, one for blank ornaments, one for Gifts of Change catalogues and one for ribbons.

Encourage gifts

Announce the project in your bulletins, church newsletters, emails and during the service, inviting people to give.

Celebrate

At the end of Advent, add up the total amount on the ornaments and celebrate your congregation’s generosity. Be sure to include the amounts sent into the national office. Request your update from Eugenie Fung .

Share your ideas

Let us know what your congregation is doing and share your activities to inspire others. Email your stories and photos to .
Have fun working together to give gifts that will change lives.

Resources

Giving Tree Bulletin Insert (Inserts bundled in packs of 25.)
View | Download

Ornaments (Ornaments bundled in packs of 32. Suggested quantity: 1 pack per 50 people)
View| Download

Gifts of Change Catalogue (Ordered individually. Suggested quantity: 10 copies per 10 people)
View | Download

Giving Tree Tally and Remittance Forms for Treasurers This remittance form has been adapted to help treasurers submit Giving Tree gifts. Use this excel sheet to tally Giving Tree donations and remit your Giving Tree totals with your regular PCC remittances.
Download

Order all the Giving Tree resources now by clicking below or calling 1-800-619-7301.

Order Giving Tree Resources

Questions? Contact us today by email or call 1-800-619-7301 ext. 240.