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Amerson Brothers Sign New Book; Lead Upper Room Chapel

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://photos.gbod.org

Discipleship Resources, one of two publishing units of the General Board of Discipleship, invited the brothers to Nashville for "An evening with the Authors" at Scarritt-Bennett Center on September 9 and to lead the Upper Room Chapel Service on September 10.

The Rev. Tom Albin, dean of Upper Room Chapel, with brothers James and Melvin Amerson, authors of Celebrating the Offering

Speaking to a gathering of local pastors and laity, the Amersons said that the reality we find in most churches is a tendency to disconnect giving from the act of worship.

Celebrating the Offering emphasizes that the offering is a part of the worship experience, although frequently it appears to be disengaged from the rest of the service and happens without much forethought.

"In my two decades of ministry, I have come to realize that any time the preacher or minister begins to preach on stewardship, the natural response of the people in the pews is to fold their arms and close their ears to listening," says the Rev. James Amerson, senior minister of Lolita and Point Comfort United Methodist churches in the Southwest Texas Conference.

The offering is not only a time to worship the Lord through the presentation of the believers' tithes and offerings, but it is also a time to recognize how blessed we are.

The Rev. Melvin Amerson reads from Celebrating the Offering

The Rev. George Donigian, editor of Discipleship Resources says, "Celebrating the Offering is important because many churches fail to think about how they invite people to give their offerings, and it often comes across as if the church is putting forth a commercial instead of really celebrating the grace of God and what is really represented in offerings."

Planning is essential in making the offering an integral part of worship.

"Pastors and worship leaders must be more intentional about reconnecting the offering as part of the worship experience," said the Rev. Melvin Amerson, stewardship consultant for the Texas Methodist Foundation.

The Amerson Brothers sign Celebrating the Offering during an "Evening with the Authors," sponored by Discipleship Resources

"Through planning and education, worshipers will begin to feel and see the offering as a time of celebration," he said.

Pastors and worship leaders can use Celebrating the Offering as a means of revitalizing the spirit of generosity in their churches.

In addition to sections that help children and youth celebrate the offering, prayers and litanies are included in the resource, which is designed for clergy and laity.

The brothers read from Celebrating the Offering, followed by a question-and-answer session on stewardship, and a book signing.

The General Board of Discipleship's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (www.gbod.org) is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 7017.