Stewardship with Rev. Susan Ranous
October 13, 2023
GIVING AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP
How have you experienced giving in either your local church or other churches? For me, I’ve experienced the passing of the plate, a basket at the back of the sanctuary, online QR codes or, sometimes, nothing at all.
Did you know that the original offering in churches was about money? It was about offering of self. Why? Because churches were supported by the government.
When we talk about the offering, sometimes we feel guilty, sometimes we barely mention it; often the music played during the offering is almost funeral-ish – after all people are giving up their money! It’s a sad time.
Giving to the church, i.e. giving to God THROUGH the church isn’t like paying a bill or paying tax. We are worshipping God through our offering. Part of this should not include telling visitors that they aren’t required to pay; only members are.
In the United Methodist Church, when we become members of a local congregation, we promise “to support The United Methodist Church; and to uphold the local congregation with one's prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.”
We need to worship God. Giving is as important as music, scripture, the message and prayers. It is not a bill; it isn’t about obeying a law, but it is about needing to give back to God because of the grace we have received from God.
Once we recognize the importance of giving, not the importance of the church to receive money because it has “needs”, but the need of the giver to give, we have some other hurdles to get over. Often offering times can be awkward. There’s a spontaneous prayer and we all hope that time goes by quickly. Sometimes the pastor advises the congregation that the ushers will be by to take the offering. What take? The congregation is giving! The ushers should be receiving. And we need to reinforce each time why people are giving.
What happens when people only give once a month (because they’re paid monthly, maybe)? What happens when people give electronically? That plate gets passed every week. I encourage attendance cards or even a card that can be dropped in the plate that says “I give electronically.” It might be a pretty good way to let others know then can give electronically.
So, when we consider our offering time, we need to remember:
Our Giving is to God; it’s not to the church. It is done through the church. Therefore, giving to a sacred and holy act of worship worthy of an honored place in our corporate worship experience.
Our Giving is an Act of Worship; OR maybe it’s the central part of worship (or it should be). Throughout the Bible are stories of people coming to worship God with offerings in hand. Don’t get rid of the offering but redefine and redesign it to make it something that people look forward to and enjoy and celebrate – believers and guests alike.
Our Giving is to be a Celebration. Have you ever seen a video on youtube or somewhere else where the offering is danced up the aisle? It’s an exciting and major part of the service.” That’s as it should be because giving is intended to be an exciting act of worship, a celebration of our love for Him and His love for us. Gifts are being made to the Lord.
Consider these things:
- Offering time should be a big deal
- Don’t be apologetic
- Talk about the importance of giving
- Let there be personal testimonies of those who have been blessed BY giving or BY receiving
- Have lively music, great singing, heartfelt prayers
- Make it a time of celebration!
I encourage you to let giving and generosity be the cornerstone of your theology and the theology of your churches and congregations!
If you wish more information on this or would like to discuss stewardship and its relationship with discipleship, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com. I’d be happy to help.
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