PAR-ty TimePAR-ty TimeA Discussion of Stewardship

For Use with Children

Do you ever wonder about Do you ever wonder about things?things?

I do

Why do we pass a collection plate?Why do we pass a collection plate?

Well, everyone knows THAT, don’t they?

Do You?

Are you sure?

Lets ask again. What do you seeLets ask again. What do you seewhen we pass the collection plate?when we pass the collection plate?

What do you understand?

Do you ever wonder:• Does everyone put something in the plate?

• What does it all mean?

• Why?– Why take up a collection?– Why does the church collect money? Sounds like

you want to tell me about it!

Thought you would never ask!Thought you would never ask!

Lets get started.Lets get started.

OK, I’ll take

notes.

What can Adults tell Children about What can Adults tell Children about taking an offering in church?taking an offering in church?

• Why?– Why take up a collection?

Simply put –• It is “The Offertory”. Jesus shared his life with us. It pleases God when we share what he has given us.

– Sharing is a way of saying Thank You.– Giving helps us see that everything we have is part of God’s love for us. We need to share. – We share what is important to us. – (If it is not important we just give it away.)

Besides, Besides,

• It is practical. Like any family, our church family has needs. We use money to pay for things we need.– We have to pay our bills and meet our commitments.

Others are dependant on us to keep our promises.– We are in this together. We share the responsibility.

• We all share in the benefits of doing this. We have a church, a Sunday School,

and even enough to help others.• We share the responsibility. Being Church is the job of all God’s people.

when we make our offering

It’s a CelebrationIt’s a Celebration

ThenThen

Our celebration is something like

having a partyhaving a party every week,

maybe even every day!

It takes a lot of work

and planning

and money

to make sure it all happens!

a building, heat, light, water, furniture

salaries,the wider church

supplies, books,

equipment

activities, helping othersspecial events

That’s OK. Just That’s OK. Just remember…remember…

Money? I don’t have much

money.

● We share what is important to us, even money

--We share because making an offering is one way to say Thank You to God for all He gives us including our money.

The money we offer in the

collection is a symbol of ALL

that we share.

The Offering The Offering in the in the Collection Plate Collection Plate is a Symbolis a Symbol

• It is a symbol of God’s gift of Jesus.• It is a symbol of everything for which we are

grateful.• It is a symbol of the many ways we respond to

God’s gifts.• It is a symbol of all the gifts we share with God

and his people.A symbol is something that has a meaning A symbol is something that has a meaning

beyond what we can see right away.beyond what we can see right away.

Oh, like a metaphor!Oh, like a metaphor!

SometimesSometimes

You You

AstoundAstound

Me!Me!

• We share what we can.– Some share their time – Some share their skills and

abilities– Some share their money or

other valuable thingsTime, Talents and Treasures are all gifts

God has given us to shareshare.

Not all offerings look the same because not everyone shares in the same way.

I’ll have to think about it

You You ShouldShould Think About It Think About It

• Everyone should consider their offering very carefully.

• An offering is how we respond to what God gives us.

Then I will pray about it too!

Good!Good!

But - what was that about a Party?

Party?Party? Oh, yes.

We make our offering joyfully.

It is a privilege, so we celebratetogether

Check your notes

• Not everyone gives in the same way

• Not everything we do is just for us – we help others too.

Can only people who put Can only people who put money in the plate come to money in the plate come to

the party?the party?

BUT…BUT…

This isn’t really about a party.This isn’t really about a party.It’s about an offering in the It’s about an offering in the

collection plate.collection plate.

Not a Party, then.

But I keep hearing people talk about a PAR – something when they talk about collection.

More and more people no longer place an offering envelope in the plate every week.

Instead, they support God’s work by allowing the bank to make automatic payments to the church every month. They say they are “on PAR”.“on PAR”.

.

Oh! Now I Understand!Oh! Now I Understand!

Then PAR could help everyone plan the party!

PARPARPre-Authorized RemittancePre-Authorized Remittance

means

It’s easy for the people, and the church knows how much they will get!

You’ve got it!You’ve got it!

These people share.

They still help us too.

Some churches give them a special token

to put in the plate

to symbolize their contribution.

PA R

So it’s a PAR-ty party!So it’s a PAR-ty party!

Yeah!Yeah!