The taking of an offering—which some Unitarian Universalist congregations call "Sharing in Stewardship"—is a time to lift up the collective responsibility toward the common good.
UU musician Kaye McSpadden (of All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis) has provided a list of songs to sing before or during the offering.
To write your own words for gathering the offering, Rev. Erik Wikstrom says, "Many congregations say the same words each time the offering is taken, yet there is an opportunity here to reflect on just what it means to be a self-sustaining and life-giving community. What is the meaning of giving? Of generosity? Of your congregation and its place in your wider community and in the lives of its members? Where does the money go? What does money mean? All of these—and more—are subjects that could be reflected on in the offering."
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The light of our chalice would soon flicker and die without the oil that nourishes its flame. And just as this flame cannot burn without oil, this religious community cannot survive or thrive without the financial, as well as personal, support of its members and friends—the oil that keeps the...Offering | By John Saxon | April 6, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Generosity, Money, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism
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We know that our financial contributions to this congregation come from sacrifice and hard work. We are so grateful for this, and commit together to ensure the funds we gather collectively do a greater good for ourselves and our world than they could have done alone. May there be an offering to...Offering | By Kayla Parker | September 25, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Gratitude, Responsibility, Stewardship, Unity, Vision
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Note: these words were written for a Sunday following a significant national tragedy Far too often, we are forced to confront the terrible things that people can do to each other. When these things happen, all we can do is come together in places like this church to remind ourselves that there is...Offering | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Brokenness, Community, Disaster or Crisis, Purpose, Secular, Solidarity, Trauma, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
Once upon a time, most folks used the offering plate to fulfill their pledges of financial support. Nowadays lots of folks click on their church websites or set up automatic transfers from their checking accounts. Some still write a monthly check, paying their "church bill" along with all the...Offering | By Paul R Beedle | April 24, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Commitment, Direct Experience, Generosity, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Spiritual Practice, Stewardship
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Unitarian Universalism is a grand vision of a world filled with peace and justice, love and joy. That vision is embodied in a few large congregations, numerous mid-sized congregations, and many, many small congregations....Offering | By Heather Christensen | March 24, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), Interdependence, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, WorshipWeb
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It is said, “The Lord loves a cheerful giver,” yet we’ll accept from a grouch as well. As the ushers prepare to take this morning’s offering, may each of us look into not just our wallets or our checkbooks to see how much we have with us. Let us also look into our hearts and see what is...Offering | By Erik Walker Wikstrom | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Christianity, Direct Experience, Faith, Generosity, Gratitude, Stewardship
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We say in our church that the offering is a sacrament of the free church. What we mean by that is that we believe it is a blessing to be able to govern and support our religious community ourselves—to make possible by our generosity everything we dream of and do to live out our shared values.Offering | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Generosity, Governance, Money, Responsibility, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism
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Today we have the opportunity to contribute to a special offering for the Unitarians in Eastern Europe [whose stories you have just learned]. One Transylvanian Unitarian minister, speaking about his congregation's recently revived connection between eastern Unitarians and western Unitarian...Offering | By Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Connections, History, Partner Church Observation, Relationships, Stewardship, Unitarianism
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This congregation is a theologically diverse religious community with membership open to all who are in accordance with our principles, mission and vision. We are a Welcoming Congregation to people of all sexual orientations, and we unconditionally welcome any and all of you to our community of...Offering | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), Generosity, Governance, Hospitality, Money, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism
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The purpose of the church is to encourage all who gather there to grow more generous in spirit and in action. This is the great end of all the world's faith traditions: to bring the human being closer to the divine by acts of creation and compassion. We now take an offering that allows us to...Offering | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Abundance, Generosity, Gratitude, Strength