Fr. Howie is writing a series of “Praying Shapes Believing” articles that appear in our weekly Sunday worship bulletins. Whether it is your first time, or your thousandth, reading, reciting, and praying the traditional Rite II worship from the Book of Common Prayer, it is worthwhile to ask why. We will examine some of our prayers and collects to help us find more meaning and connection in the ritual. See all topics in the Praying Shapes Believing series.
The Offertory
The phase in the liturgy when offerings of money and of bread and wine for the Eucharist are collected and presented at the altar.
What is it?
The making of offerings as a gesture of thanksgiving is a very old form of worship. The actions of gathering and presenting remind us that we all can participate in the building of the Kingdom of God, and that the community we share is itself a form of offering.
Why do we do it?
By offering to God a portion of what we have received, we enable the love of God to become a reality in the world through the work of the church. By placing this giving in the middle of worship, we are reminded that our stewardship of all of God’s blessings is a holy obligation.
What it says about God
God gives us everything in abundance.
God desires our thanksgiving as much as our material resources.
Messages for how we live
The practice of gratitude brings us closer to God.
Our generosity makes real God’s blessing in the lives of others.
For more – Read Acts 4:32-35. Can you picture a church living in this way?