29-October-23 (Matthew 27:34-46)

"The two Great Commandments are guidelines for all we do in our lives of faith as individuals and as the Church. As such they are appropriate for this time of offering as well. When we consider what we will give back to God for the work of the Church, there are no better guidelines than, support that which embodies our love for God and communicates our love for all people, all our neighbors.
In as much as the Church lives out these commandments, we give to make sure it has the resources to continue to do so. In as much as the Church fails to live these out, we give of our time and our resources so that it can be reformed.
Let us consider that as we take up our offering for today.

Prayer:

Join me now in prayer.
God who has so richly given to us. We thank you that we have learned generosity from you. We pray that you would take these gifts and bless them and put them to use so that both we and these gifts can be even better messengers and examples of our love for you and our love for others.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN.