This week’s reflection comes from Maren and Peter Donley
When Peter was just a toddler, we were at church (as usual) and it was time for the offering. At our congregation, ushers passed offering plates through the rows of chairs beginning in the front of the congregation and then brought the offering to the altar before communion. I don’t remember how, exactly, but the plates passed Peter before he realized it was time to make his offering.
When he saw the plates behind us, he turned to us with a horrified expression, and big tears welled up out of the corners of his eyes. He started to cry (loudly!) and, before I could comfort him effectively, wailed his distress at not having the opportunity to share. He yelled, “But Mommy, I didn’t have a chance to GIVE!!!!!”
Peter’s consternation was real.
Several adults around us chuckled. I’m guessing that their laughter was a slightly uncomfortable recognition of the difference between the way Peter approached offering, and their own approach.
Chris and I managed to calm Peter only when we explained that there would be many, many opportunities to give.
Peter’s enthusiastic desire to give, and his thrill at the idea that there would be “lots and lots” of opportunities to do so, called the adults around us (myself included) to account—for the reluctance to give, and for an inexplicable lack of joy in this part of the service.
In his moment of distress, Peter reminded the whole congregation that giving is a privilege actively to be sought. It’s something that we get to do with the resources we’ve been given, and it’s fundamentally joyful.
I sometimes require a reminder.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
