“A Collection” and “An Offering?”

     Pastor John Sanders, my religious mentor during my college years, taught me many things about the religious life.  I assisted Pastor Sanders as a “student vicar” while attending Newberry College, a Lutheran school in Newberry, S. C.   We didn’t always agree on everything.  Actually we didn't agree on many things!

     One Sunday morning, while I was giving the offertory invitation, I announced to the congregation something like this: “The ushers will now take up a collection for the work of the church.”  Soon thereafter, Pastor Sanders asked me to visit him in his parish study. Whenever he summoned me to his study, I anticipated his goal was to improve my theological learning curve! As was his nature, he was quite direct and a little agitated when he said, “Bill, in our church we do not take up a collection! We receive an offering!  Do you know the difference?”  My response to his question was a dismal failure.  He then handed me a theological gem I have held onto all my life.

     Gently and scholarly, he told me that a collection is very secular act, taken in offices, at public assemblies, or at parties for a particular reason, perhaps to help someone out.  “A collection,” he said, “was not a religious act, but is a kind of passing the hat for a cause.”  On the other hand, he taught me that an offering is a personal, private, and spiritual response--a committed response--to something wonderful in our lives.  It is our opportunity to offer in gratitude a gift back to God for the many graces we have received.  He also said we don’t “take up” the offering; we “receive” the offering from the people. He said that if we are truly gracious, giving an offering can be a joyous event in the life of the giver.

     These words have changed the way I feel about giving back to life, to the holy, to my religious community.  I realize that I can never give enough to show how thankful I am for the gifts of life, my family, my work, and my mission here on planet earth.  I give my offering, not because I feel I have to, or because I feel others expect me to.  I don’t allow the expectations of others to determine my generosity.  I give in response to the many wonderful graces in my life--- and, I have been greatly blessed!  One of those great blessing is being your minister here in Milford!

     Steve and I are grateful for our thirty-seven years together.  We are grateful we are finally legally married (well, in some states and countries)!  We are grateful for good health.  Because we have moved back to New England,  we are thankful!  We are grateful for you, the members and friends of our wonderful UU congregation here in Milford.  I think you get the idea.  We are proud to be members of our church.  We will also renew our annual financial pledge, our offering, to express a committed response to all the gifts which have been given to us. 

       As we prepare for our Annual Meeting on April18th, I ask you to prayerfully consider your pledge to the church for the coming year.  Our pledges will help the Budget Committee and Board of Trustees work out a Budget for the church year 2010-2011.

                                                                                    With Love, Your Minister Bill