WITNESSING TO GENEROSITY

 

            When we give inside church, during worship, it is a matter of public worship, and we are witnessing to our generosity. When we can’t pass the offering plates, that public witness is much more subtle.

            How else can we witness to our generosity?

·         Testimonies

·         Telling stories of generosity

·         Telling what generosity accomplishes in service of God’s mission

            Don’t fixate on the face that offering plates aren’t being used like they used to be. I don’t know how to break it to you, but they may never be used the same way again!

            And that’s okay. We just need to provide opportunities to give in as many different ways as possible. There need to be a variety of ways to give. Have you noticed fewer and fewer people actually have a checkbook or cash on them now-a-days. That means passing the plate wouldn’t work, even if we could.

            There has been appositive result of the pandemic, and that is churches that hadn’t been providing online opportunities to give had to start online giving when their church buildings were closed.

            Let’s embrace new and varied ways of giving, but, most importantly, keep offering central to worship and invite everyone to give.

 

            REMINDER: The Stewardship Academy is being held April 23^rd, May 21^st, June 18^th and July 16^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you are interested in a registration form or information on the academy itself, please let me know (susanranous@unyumc.org)