When We Generously Give

Calotta Edsell

 

Call to Worship

All praise and glory to God for God’s perfect plan for each of us.

Praise be to God.

All praise and glory to God for all the abundance of provisions to us.

Praise be to God.

All praise and glory to God for revealing the holy word to us.

Praise and thanks be to God.

Let us worship God.

Call to Confession

We think we are all knowing, independent and confident people. We often make decisions based upon our own ideas and not ask for God’s holy guidance about serving God. We do not pray, or read God’s word before making up our minds about how we are to conduct our life or serve in the Church. We live in the world and not in God’s kingdom because we think we know best. We are often influenced by others and our own desires to be in control. So let us confess our sins before God.

Prayer of Confession (unison)

 Gracious God, please forgive us and have mercy upon us. Guide us and direct us to do your will on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to listen to you and your teachings and to be faithful servants. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Children of the loving God, be assured of forgiveness and mercy. As promised in the scriptures, our earnest prayers are heard and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our transgressions are forgiven. Praise be to God.

Prayer for Illumination

God of all, open our minds that we may understand your word. Open our hearts that we may learn how to be generous. Open our spirits that we may act as a response to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Amen.

Scripture Possibilities for the Sermon

• Proverbs 3-1-18

Prayers of the People

God of Generosity and Giving,

We come to you thankful for the ministries that we are able to do as one congregation—(fill in some of the ministries your church does locally). We realize that we are a single church made up of individuals and we can do great things.

We also recognize and thank you for the fact that we as Cumberland Presbyterians are a connectional Church. And because of that, we are able to do even more when we generously give part of our tithes and offerings to Our United Outreach, the unified budget of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. We know that together with other churches we can send missionaries to global communities to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and build relationships between all Cumberland Presbyterian churches throughout the world. We know that together we are able to publish Cumberland Presbyterian resources including the Encounter so that our people can learn about our unique history, tradition and theology. We know that together we can train ministers and laity through leader development denominationally and can provide funds where there is a crisis. All these things that are done through Our United Outreach are done only because we first give. We learn to give because you O God have taught us how through your most precious gift of your son Jesus Christ. Help us to show our gratitude with our tithes and our offerings and to thank you that we are able to do all we do together with other Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. Amen.

 Invitation to the Offering

As everything we have is a provision of our Creator, may we give back at least a tenth to the church as we are told to do in the scriptures. We are taught that giving is a blessing, and we know that we can never out-give God. Let us give of our tithes and offerings with cheerful hearts.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Gracious God, as you bless us with such an abundant supply, every need met and with our cups overflowing, we thank you. Please accept our tithes and offerings so they may be used for the building of your kingdom on earth. We ask that you show us the ways that we can best serve you and use these gifts to glorify you. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Charge and Benediction

As a child of God,

Go from this place filled with the Holy Spirit

and be mindful of God’s perfect plan for your life.

Be all that you were created to be

and may the light of Christ shine through you

in all that you do, say and think each and every day. Amen.