Friday - What's a tithe?

Prayer:  Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.   Amen.  (Presbyterian Church, USA and Cumberland Presbyterian Church   “The Service for the Lord’s  Day”  Westminster Press, 1984)

Read:  St. Matthew 6: 19 - 21

An Offering of Thanksgiving…

Presentation of Gifts

Doxolgy

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord’s Prayer

When the Lord’s  Supper is not celebrated,  Worship continues with the presentation of our tithes and offerings.   We give financially to the Church to continue the work of Christ in the Church, Community, Denomination, and World.      We often think that a “tithe” means 10% of our earnings.  The idea of tithing comes from the Old Testament.  But in the Old Testament,  a tithe was a minimum of 10% of our earnings.   Remember that  our Presentation of Gifts also includes what we do in and for the Church.  Those who teach Bible Class,  or Sunday School,  or voluntarily clean the Church, or pray constantly for the Minister – Elders, or  type the bulletin… the list is endless of the offerings that we bring each Sunday.    Tithing is not just money but also the work of our hands that we give freely to the Church.

Once the Offerings are collected,  we stand and sing the Doxology.  This is a hymn of thanksgiving.  We praise God for all the blessings that God has given to us each and every day.   

A prayer is said over the gifts that have been presented.  This is a prayer of thanks for all of God’s people and the gifts that we bring in the name of Jesus.

Then a prayer of thanksgiving is prayed.  This prayer gives thanks for the gifts of God in creation and redemption… for our worship this day….   In Worship,  and in our daily lives,  it is extremely important to always say a prayer of thanks.  In order to mature as Christians,  we must say thank you to God.

The prayer of thanksgiving is concluded by everyone repeating the Lord’s  Prayer.   The Lord’s  Prayer is a prayer that Jesus gave to the disciples.  This is a prayer that after centuries of Christianity,  we still pray today.  How neat is that to know that Andrew and Peter, James and John and Paul all prayed this same prayer!

Prayer:  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him all creatures here below.  Praise Him above the Heavenly Host.  Praise Father, Son,  and Holy Ghost.   Amen.

Many blessings!