Generosity GemsJuly e-Newsletter
Stewardship Worship Resources
Mark Allen Powell in his book Giving to God writes, "The offering is an act of worship, an instance in which we are invited to give up something we value - our money - as a sacrifice to God. In many ways, it is the high point of the liturgy. We come to church to worship God and at no other point in the service are we provided with so pure an opportunity for worship as this."
When I first read that statement, I thought to myself how we spend so little time as worship leaders planning and presenting the offering as that time of high liturgy of worship and praise. Sometimes we just drone out "now let us receive our tithes and offerings." What can we do to make the offering a time of profound worship? A few practical ideas come to mind:
Have a child come forward to introduce the offering.
Once a month have a member of the church say two or three sentences about a significant ministry effort of your congregation and then add to it - "Your worship of God, your sacrificial gifts of gratitude, make possible this work and ministry. Let us with joy bring forth our gifts."
Have the children collect the offerings in their hands and bring them forward for the glory of God.
Instead of ushers going to the people for their offerings - get the people up and moving forward with their gifts of praise and thanksgiving.
I can imagine you have other ideas of how to lift up the offering as that high point of liturgy. Please share your ideas with me through an email, and I will pass them on in a future Generosity Gem.
Written by Gene Orr, Program Director, The James Company gorr@jamescompany.com
|
