CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Everloving God, we come before you humbly ever grateful for your mercy and your forgiveness. Your endless patience is unfathomable to us, when we are so confounded by our own behavior. What is it, dearest Lord, that takes possession of the human heart so causing it to do harm to a fellow who is made of the same flesh and bone; who is alive by virtue of the same beating heart. What is it that goes awry in the human mind and spirit that drives us to wield a sword instead of campaign for peace? We fear irrationality and chaos, but more than these we fear acts of hatred calculated to eradicate innocence. Help us, Lord God, to remain strong in our will to love one another as you have loved us. Make us unstoppable in our efforts to live your goodwill message. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
“1837” What is it? Not a random number or a date; it is a cost. We took the average “weekly” attendance during 12 months — 185 people— and divided it into the yearly budget: $340,000 ÷ 185 people = $1837.83 per person annually. Dividing that amount by 52 weeks brings us to $35.32, which is the weekly cost of the seat you are sitting in. It comes out just about the same using: $340,000 ÷ 52 weeks = $6538.46 needed per week ÷ 185 people = $35.34 per person. Many people can’t tithe $35.34 a week to the church. Some folks have never really given it much thought. The fact remains that according to these numbers many of you are being underwritten by those individuals who do tithe. I am underwriting about three of you, whereas others are underwriting as many as six. Every gift matters.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God Bless these gifts. thank you. Amen.
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