| Stewardship NotesOffering: A Response to God’s Grace
By Rev. LeeAnn Inman,
Orange Park United Methodist Church
“What’s the most
important part of the worship service?” That was the question Dr.
Tom Long, professor of homiletics at Chandler School of Theology,
recently posed to clergy gathered for continuing education.
Sensing a trick question, the crowd avoided the preachers’
predictable response, “SERMON.” Scripture, music and prayers of
the people showed up on the impromptu list, as did children’s
sermon. Dr. Long reflected on the list, and then added his top two
most important parts of worship to our discussion.
“What about the offering and benediction?” The offering,
especially when it happens after the reading and proclamation of the
word [scripture and sermon], becomes our response to the gospel, our
reaction to the gift of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, our opportunity
to share in God’s ministry through the mission of the church.
Instead of an awkward intermission or “seventh inning stretch,”
the offering becomes a moment of truth, when our faith becomes a real
and personal response to God in Christ, our creator, provider and
savior. We literally lift these offerings of ourselves up to God as
the offering plates are brought forward and placed on the altar. This
is worship!
The benediction, the prayer at the end of worship, sends us into
the world with God’s blessing to share the good news of God with a
world hungry for that saving word.
At Orange Park United Methodist Church, we stand and sing a prayer
as the ushers prepare to pass the offering plates.
“We give Thee but thine own, whatever the gift may be. All that
we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee. AMEN.”
As we pray, so we give…and the offering becomes less about what
the church needs to pay the bills, and more about how we respond to
God’s grace.
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