Offertory Prayers and Invitation for October 2018

Each month’s Offertory Prayers includes an “Invitation to the Offering” (see below) along with a digital image for those who might want to use it. We hope you will find this a helpful way to remind the people in your pews that their offering travels to many places to make a powerful difference in the lives of people they may never meet. You can find great stories of the difference our giving makes at http://umcgiving.org.

Invitation to the Offering

Your offering last week empowered ministry within our congregation and in response to the needs of our community. It also supported the development of the next generation of church leaders around the world through events like the Global Young People’s Convocation, held this past July in Johannesburg, South Africa. More than 330 United Methodist young adults gathered for five days of conversation, worship, and fellowship. Delegates from 40 countries in four regions of the world came together for the leadership development event, organized by Young People’s Ministries, a division of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. This ministry happens, thanks to the way the people of The United Methodist Church live and give connectionally. I invite you to give generously as we worship God through sharing our gifts, tithes, and offerings.

We invite you to learn more about Discipleship Ministries’ Ministry with Young People. Visit https://umcyoungpeople.org/events.

Note: The following prayers relate to lectionary texts selected for use in Discipleship Ministries’ worship resources.

October 7, 2018 – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide

God of grace and goodness, your blessings in our life have been so abundant that when trials come, we become disoriented. Our needs have so often been met, that when we’re challenged in life, we wonder what’s wrong? Why isn’t the world perfectly aligned to meet our desires? This morning, we give our tithes and offerings, with hope that we might ground ourselves in gratitude for the blessings that we so easily come to take for granted. We pray for eyes to see clearly the bright mountains and the dark valleys, with grateful hearts for both. In Christ, we pray. Amen. [Job 1:1, 2:1-10]

October 14, 2018 – Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide

God of the cosmos and God of every heartbeat: Your work touches every corner of creation; yet, when times are hard, we wonder if you’ve deserted us, and we become tight-fisted and fearful that sharing with others will leave us empty handed. As we bring these gifts to your altar, give us the eyes to see and the hearts to know that you never desert us and never send us away in need. In the name of your Son who came to remind us of your closeness and to give his life so that ours might be eternal. Amen. [Job 23:1-9, 16-17J]

October 21, 2018 – Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide

God of great blessing, but even greater lessons, remind us again who gives life and who receives it. Sometimes, like Job, we need to have our questioning answered with a lesson –we need to learn that we are not the ones in charge in the universe. The gifts we bring this morning are not a down payment toward future favor, but a token of a debt we will never be able to repay. May we gain wisdom in the giving, and may these gifts be blessed for your glory, not ours. In Christ, we pray. Amen. [Job 38:1-7 (34-41)]

October 28, 2018 – Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide

Extravagantly Generous God, there is nothing we have, there is nothing we require, there is nothing we long for that does not pale when placed beside the relationship you’ve offered to us. As we bring our gifts to you, remind us of the covenant you put before Israel: “If they will be my people I will be their God.” Receive what we give in gratitude for your invitation, and help us be your people, reflected in our love for you and for all your children. We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Christ, who gave all there was to give for us. Amen. [Job 42:1-6, 10-17]

October Offertory Prayers & Invitation to the Offering were written by the Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship & Connectional Ministries, Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church. [email protected]

United Methodist News Photo by Eveline Chikwanah