Giving to God

One of the little things I missed last Sunday was that moment near the end of the worship service when I drop my offering envelope in the plate - last week, and this Sunday, I sent the offering over to church (via my patient husband, who has done lots of helping and "gopher"-ing these days!). It's a small thing, for sure, but I notice when I am in worship, and place something in the offering plate, that it helps me see how my one gift is part of a bigger picture.

In and of itself, it is small, but joined with the other gifts given that day, or sent ahead, or given electronically, its meaning and power multiplies. I see it among other gifts in the plate, and I think about where those gifts will go

• some for ministries, the supplies and resources that are used in worship, in learning experiences for all ages, in welcoming and reaching out to so many in our communities;
• some for people, the staff who do their work for the congregation with the focus of honoring God, and the church members they help guide in areas of service;
• some through the greater United Methodist Church, reaching out around the globe and forming bridges of care and connection that are our foundational layer of mission and outreach;
• some for ongoing and "hidden" needs of the building, so that we have places to gather, and can be a resource and presence for so many in the wider community;some for special outreach that meets urgent needs;
• and all of it as an expression of love for God in Jesus Christ, of love for all those this congregation will touch, of love for every neighbor.

Starting next week, we'll all be receiving by mail an invitation to consider our giving to God, through the church, for the coming year. This is an opportunity to reflect again on what God has given us, what God would ask us to give, and what our gifts can mean as they join with the gift of many others for the purposes of God's love on earth.

-Pastor Greta