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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Every day in our world, people are feeling vulnerable, frightened, and heartbroken. For those [of us] who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color, the effects of racism and oppression are an everyday lived reality — and these feelings are not new....Offering | By Lena K. Gardner, Susan Frederick-Gray | October 25, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Generosity, Multiculturalism, Race/Ethnicity, Stewardship, Vision -
As we approach the time for our offering, give what you will: for the church that has meant so much to you, for the church that meant so much to those who came before you, and for the church that will mean so much to people you will never know. Give what you will, for you are a generous people.Offering | By Michael Hall | August 11, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Abundance, Generosity, Humanism, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism
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I come on Sunday feeling weary, having worn out the snooze button on my alarm clock. I come on Sunday feeling frightened, having seared my eyes reading the latest news. I come on Sunday feeling burdened, having fretted about my work day worries....Offering | By Jessica Lin | April 6, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Direct Experience, Faith, Generosity, Living Our Faith, Money, Responsibility, Unitarian Universalism
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A religious community is like a river formed from the many streams of our lives that meet and merge and flow to the sea....Offering | By John Saxon | April 6, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Community, Generosity, Money, Stewardship -
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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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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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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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