Luke 21:1-4 

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, 4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.

PC(USA) Book of Common Worship

“The Christian life is marked by the offering of one’s self to God to be shaped, empowered, directed, and changed by God. In worship, God presents us with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ. We are claimed by Christ and set free. In response to God’s love in Jesus Christ we offer God our lives, our gifts, our abilities, and our material goods, for God’s service.”

If we are honest, we must acknowledge that everything we have and enjoy, even the breath in our lungs, is a gift from God. In response to God’s goodness and steadfast love, we are called to respond in gratitude and generosity ourselves. God has blessed us with so much and in our offering and subsequent prayer of dedication, we are returning a portion of those blessings to God and providing them with the assurance that God will use them, in the context of this church family, to bring about God’s kingdom here on earth. We are thanking God, offering our gifts, and dedicating them to God’s purposes.

Prayer

Loving God, we have so many reasons to say “thank You” to You. Your generosity, grace, and mercy are astounding and we pray that the gifts we offer in worship and throughout the week might be used in Your name. Help us to be generous with our money, but also with our talents and time. Strengthen us to recognize Your blessings, to be grateful, and to respond accordingly. Amen.