Home Worship Planning Preaching Resources Offertory Prayers and Invitation for October 2014

Offertory Prayers and Invitation for October 2014

Each month's Offertory Prayers includes an "Invitation to the Offering" (see below) along with a digital image for those who might want to use it. We hope you will find this a helpful way to remind the people in your pews that their offering travels to many places to make a powerful difference in the lives of people they may never meet. You can find great stories of the difference our giving makes at http://umcgiving.org.

Invitation to the Offering
The offering you made last week empowered ministry within our congregation and in response to the needs of our community. It also helped support the work of ministries beyond the local church that reach people who are in desperate need to feel the touch of love and reconciliation. Through the World Service Fund, your church supports a network of dedicated, faithful missionaries. Working with the support of our General Board of Global Ministries, servants like Clara Biswas do ministry in our name. Clara’s work with the children of Cambodia, who live in deepest poverty, has changed lives. In partnership with UM Women, her work has led to the building of a school near the garbage dump where these children scavenge to help their families. This ministry happens thanks to the generous support of United Methodists like you. I invite you once again to give generously as we worship God through the sharing of our gifts, tithes, and offerings.

Learn more about the work of our General Board of Global Ministries Missionaries at: www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Landing

October 5, 2014 -- Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide
God of law and God of grace: Our minds are on the commandments you gave through Moses on Mount Sinai, and we hang our heads. You’ve asked little, and we fall so short. We have put other gods before you: money, work, pleasure, and prestige. As we bring our gifts to the altar today, we come with the deepest gratitude for your love that does not let us go, even when we fail. We pray that we may be found by you, far from perfect, but standing on your amazing grace! We ask this in the holy name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen. (Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20)

October 12, 2014 -- Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide
Merciful God, we come this morning, striving to keep our minds and hearts focused on the things that matter: the things that are honorable and pure and worthy of our relationship with you. Yet the world calls us away, breaks our focus, and points us toward war and conflicts, financial uncertainty, and hurtful deeds by some that seem to be rewarded, not punished. As we present our tithes and offerings to you this morning, remind us that keeping our minds focused on you will lead to ways of living that bring you praise. Remind us also that getting our actions in harmony with your compassion can lead our minds and hearts to a place that brings you joy. We pray this in His name. Amen. (Philippians 4:1-9)

October 19, 2014 -- Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide
Holy God, as we prepare to present to you our offering and gifts, we can’t help but think of all we have held back. When Jesus told the Pharisees to render to the Emperor what was due the Emperor, and to God what was due God, we know he was speaking to us. We know we have been much more ready to give what is due to the powers of this world, and far more tight-fisted with what is due God: justice, mercy, compassion, and trust. All that we are is due our God, and we offer that now with gratitude for all we have received from your goodness, and with trust in your faithfulness. We pray in the name of Christ our Savior. Amen. (Matthew 22:15-22)

October 26, 2014 -- Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide
God who guides us on the journey, we offer our tithes and offerings to you, and pray that the gifts we give might be used to bring your kingdom here on earth. Often, it feels like we won’t get to see it; and like Moses we will make the journey, but never get to cross into the place you have promised. Strengthen us, by your Spirit, to stay true to the journey, and to look toward the destination, not with our eyes or ears but with our hearts. We pray in the blessed name of Jesus, our Rock and the light of the world. Amen. (Deuteronomy 34:1-12)

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