Out of Their Abundance

Think, for a moment, about the sound two coins make as they clink into each other. Or better yet, if you have two coins lying around, gather them in your hand and shake them. What does that sound make you feel? Is it satisfying or scary? Is that the sound of abundance or scarcity? In the active soundscape of today’s text, the sound of two coins would easily be drowned out. Except, Jesus noticed and makes us notice too.

In the age of online giving (and don’t get me wrong, online giving is a wonderful development), we don’t get a chance to hear the offering very much, do we? The clink of coins is lost. Perhaps the value we place in pennies, nickels, and dimes has been lost, too. We no longer hear, see, or feel the weight of what happens when our small offerings come together in praise and honor of the God of abundant life. So, maybe this Sunday is our opportunity to change that, if only for one day.

I recently spoke with a pastor who told me about a practice in her congregation where the children go around with cans or jars to collect coins from the congregation during the offering. This first struck me because the pastor used the phrase “noisy offering.” It is a noisy offering because of the coins and perhaps also because of the children, but it’s a joyful noise because of both! The pastor then told me that they count up the coins every quarter or so and give the children a choice about which local nonprofit will receive the money. This church gave an extra $1000 to local initiatives last year through their “noisy offering.” Coins add up!

So, maybe today is a day to take up a noisy offering! Let the children and the children at heart collect coins from the congregation. A few weeks ahead of time, tell everyone when to bring their coins to church. Consider pouring all the coins collected into a bowl at the altar. Give the congregation the opportunity to hear what God does when we hand over our resources for God’s use.

But also remind the congregation that this is the sound of the widow’s offering. This is the sound of giving everything to God, trusting that God uses what feels like not enough and too much all at once to be everything we need when we live and work together as a community. So, consider what nonprofit(s) in your community will receive the blessing of this noisy offering. What community partners get lost in the ruckus of the marketplace? Maybe Jesus is calling your church to notice, support, and amplify their work through God’s abundance and some clinking coins.