Offerings
Remarks on Passing the Plate
Robert A. Thayer
“Once you read these offerings, you may be inspired to mine your own experience for similar sermons to deliver before the offering. Most of the material here is personal, but this need not hinder its usefulness. Humor and whimsy often play a role in my remarks, as do irony and historical criticism. If people can be tickled, why not make them tickled to give?”
—from the Preface
The offering is so important, and yet worship leaders are often searching for resources that fit the occasion. Understanding both the difficulty of asking for money and yet its necessity, Thayer provides an inspirational collection of his personal remarks for use before the offering. These models demonstrate creative and practical ways to approach this topic with grace and ease. They show us how to turn the sensitive topic of asking for money into the art of giving and receiving.
Robert Thayer was parish minister for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brockton, Massachusetts. He is a former member of the Annual Program Fund Committee and a strong advocate for stewardship education in congregations.
Praise for Offerings:
"As a friend once told Thayer, 'The offering is the one place in the worship
service where the people can make a difference.' This book will help worship
leaders reinforce that message in our congregations. Thayer offers readers
concrete words to articulate what it means to give as a spiritual act. Telling
stories based on his personal experiences, he encourages and enables worship
leaders to articulate their own stories of generosity."
—Mary L. Miles, former Director, Annual Program Fund, Unitarian Universalist Association of
Congregations
"In recent years we've become more comfortable talking about money. But we
can do so much more! This collection of invitations for the weekly offering
provides the inspiration to consider a more generous sharing of financial
resources. Robert's work challenges our outlook of scarcity and cajoles us, in
good humor, to remember what a difference we can make with our money to better
support this liberal religious movement that we love."
— Angela J. Merkert,
Director, UUA Congregational Services, Central Midwest District
"With a touch of whimsy and the wisdom of his years in ministry, Robert
Thayer offers a rich collection of stories that inspire generous, joyful,
guilt-free giving and empower an attitude of abundance. Unitarian Universalist
ministers and lay leaders will appreciate illustrations from their New England
tradition in addition to the wisdom of Native American religion, Hebrew
prophecy, the teachings of Jesus, and the author's personal experiences.
Thayer's stories give greater meaning to the act of giving during the Sunday
service."
—Sarah York, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington,
and author, Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning
Death
For more information contact skinnerhouse @ uua.org.
Last updated on Thursday, April 5, 2007.
