By Amanda Hines
I remember the very first Sunday my parents told me I was old enough to be in “big church.” Gone were the days of playing in the nursery during the worship service. As I held my dad’s hand, we weaved our way through the sanctuary to sit in our pew. I remember the point in the service all the adults sitting on the first row got up to hand bowls to people to pass throughout the pews. My dad later informed me that all of those people were the deacons.
I noticed people putting money and envelopes into the bowls. My dad quietly pulled out his wallet and handed me a one-dollar bill to put into the bowl as it came to us.
Later, I said to my dad, “Dad, I’m gonna be a deacon when I grow up cause they get to keep all the money in the bowls; even the twenties!” My father quickly took that as a teaching moment to tell me that the deacons do not in fact keep the money. He told me how the money goes back to the church so the church can keep doing God’s work. He further explained how all of the things I loved at church like singing in the children’s choir, going to Wednesday night music and missions, and going to camp were all possible because people gave money to the church. I responded by telling him he needed to give more than one dollar because I loved all of those things. (I later found out that he gave more than one dollar a week.)
Reflecting on that memory now as an adult, I’m reminded of the way I was invited into the practice of giving. I looked forward to putting that one-dollar bill into the offertory plate because it became a way for me to participate in the life and purpose of my church.
As we gather to worship this morning, we will take time to reflect on all we are able to do and all we hope to do as a community of faith. We’ll be reminded of God’s steadfast faithfulness as it’s found in creation. We’ll sing of how God gives us strength for today and hope for tomorrow and how our moments and days can flow into endless praise. And we’ll consider how our participation in the life and purpose of Wilshire matters. Friends, let’s worship together.