As a third generation pastor, I have often thought about the way that we take offerings in our churches.  I was the pastor of a church that did not pass an offering plate in the Sunday morning worship services.  We placed an offering plate on a table and people gave as they entered or left the time of worship.  The current trend in many churches is to share a disclaimer before the offering plate is passed.  The pastor or worship leader will say something like this, "This is our time to receive our offering.  If you are visitor, do not feel any obligation to give."  Other churches ask people to fill out a registration card to be dropped in the offering plate when it is passed.  I have visited churches where there is a strong appeal given before the offering plate is passed. 

Recently, my reflections have shifted from how we take offerings to how we receive them.  In a recent staff meeting at the CCCC office we were studying the Book Philippians.  In referring to the offering sent to Paul by that church, Paul says,

"the gifts that you sent...They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)"

This was an "ah-hah" moment for me and the other staff members.  We needed to spend time praying over the gifts that we receive to support the ministry of the CCCC.  So, we determined to have a prayer time every Wednesday before the weekly deposit is made.  We literally hold the deposit in our hands and praise the Lord together for the gifts that we have received, thanking God for his provision.

In light of this, I will not comment on how you take your offering.  There are a lot of ways to "do church" that honor the Lord and align with Biblical teaching.  But, I would recommend that you spend some time in prayer, either in the public service or at a private gathering of church leadership, receiving those gifts as "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God."