Comments on: Passing the Plate Poll Results

By: Karolyn

Karolyn — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:49:24 +0000

We have the plates in the front of the church. We do our announcements first, then prayer concerns. As part of the prayer, Pastor blesses the offering and the congregation, then worship begins. As an act of worship, people bring their tithes and offering anytime during worship. Worship flows into the time when Pastor speaks the Word for the morning. We are small right now but I don’t think it will change as we grow.

By: timmydou

timmydou — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:17:37 +0000

We do an offering every week, mostly by passing offering plates. Sometimes we take it as people exit via plates, boxes, mailboxes at the back. One thing we always do no matter what is to invite our members and regular attenders to participate in giving back to the Lord. We have a very high rate of participation compared to the average church in our denomination.

By: timmydou

timmydou — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:16:36 +0000

By: Joie

Joie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:51:35 +0000

Tithing is like the one tree in the garden—it is an act of worship and honor to God—who owns it all anyway. I don’t care how it is collected—I want to give my tithe because I want to honor God. I love Him. I am grateful for all He is and does for me. I want to bring Him joy and smiles and yes, make Him proud that I am His. The tithe is His because He is honorable. The offering (different from the tithe) is a pleasure for me because my heart is connected to His. He loves to give gifts to His children and surprise those who are not with goodness. I want to be part of that with Him.
The offering is often my favorite part of church service because it enables me to give back to God. I think of it as my time to bless Him. It is definitely a time of worship for me.

By: Brian Klassen

Brian Klassen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:49:53 +0000

It struck me after reading the article and comments that we must not consider the act of giving a portion of what God has blessed us with a form of worship – and it is. We have no trouble singing, praying and holding our hands high, but when it comes to giving back to God what is His, it’s difficult at best and doesn’t even come close to a worshipful experience. I agree with Anthony. This should be a celebrated experience right alongside with singing, baptism, and communion. Don’t miss out – give to God what is His and He will bless your socks off.

By: JR

JR — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:26:01 +0000

Personally, I prefer the offering method of churches in Africa, also seen in some ethnic churches in America. The congregation forms a line around outside aisle of the benches/chairs/pews and they dance, sing and wave their offering in the air as they file past the offering container at the front of the church to drop in the money they hold in stewardship for God. How I wish the strait-laced WASP churches would be so exuberant about giving back to the LORD a portion of what he has blessed them with! Why do American churches feel embarrassed about collecting the Lord’s money – even putting boxes in an out-of-the-way place so people give secretly? Think about what visitors would take away from these two styles of giving. One teaches that we hold our money in an open hand and give joyously to needs, the other says giving is shameful – something to be hidden. It goes against the message of Matt. 5:14-16 – we are to demonstrate our good deeds openly so that other men will see them and glorify God.

By: anthony thompson

anthony thompson — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:45:44 +0000

I think we always have this fear of, will people remember to give? if they forget to give, how does the maintenance of the church and employees earn a paycheck? I would love to believe people will remember to give… but they barely remember to arrive on time…
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By: Leanne Shawler

Leanne Shawler — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:10:53 +0000

I chose “pass the plate” although we actually pass nice little woven baskets. But I think, be it basket, bucket or felt bag, it’s still passing the plate.
If there were alternatives that would be easy for an older generation to do, I’d love to hear them.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:53:49 +0000

We stopped passing the plate years ago. We have two boxes at the back of the sanctuary. We tell our guests that we don’t pass the plate – those who call this their church home give using the boxes, and we didn’t invite them for their money.
Our giving has usually been up every year since we did that. We’re a smaller church (about 60 on a Sunday), so a drop in giving is huge for us.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:18:41 +0000

We have communion available each week on a table or two located on the wall of the worship area. On these tables, are not only the emblems of the Lord’s Supper, but also an offering basket for collection of the offering. It works well for us at this time, meeting in a local elementary school.