"Table Conversation on Gifts and Giving"

Sunday, May 20, was our Commitment Sunday for our Capital Campaign.  San invited several UPC members to join him at the Communion Table for a "Table Conversation on Gifts and Giving."  One of the guests at the Table was Allene Evans.  Below are her remarks on giving. 

San Williams asked me to talk a little bit about tithes and offerings. Actually, the other day I  said to San that I wish we Presbyterians talked more about tithes and San said, good idea, Allene, would you do that? And so, with a some apprehension, here I am to do just that.

I wish I could stand before you as a long time tither, as I know many of you are. I was certainly raised to be one. But somewhere along the way, I decided that tithing did not really apply to me. After all, I am not a fundamentalist. And I was making offerings, I had good use for the money, etc, etc…

Well, a few years ago, I had some clients who were talking to me over a period a time about making plans for tithes and offerings and it gradually dawned on me that not only were they assuming, without any thought or discussion that 10 % -- the tithe --would be given, but that they would also be making a substantial offering,, an offering in addition to, not instead of, a tithe. Their free, easy and even joyful references to tithes and offerings started me seriously thinking about the subject. I went to the internet, googled tithes, and found a wealth of discussion about tithing.

I said to my husband Tom, I really think we should start tithing and I started in on the various discussions I had read about how to compute the tithe, whether tithing applied to before or after taxes, etc. And Tom said to me, Allene, if you are serious about tithing, I cannot believe we are having this conversation, as good as God has been to us. And of course as soon as he said that, it was clear to me that we were talking gross, not net. And we became tithers,.

I am sure this is too theologically simplistic but for me the tithe is a tangible reminder that all that we have comes from God, and like grace, cannot truly be earned or even owned by us. And I wish I had come to tithe sooner and wonder if I had heard more talk about it at church whether that would have moved me along sooner in my journey of faith…

So quickly then, to the offering… The Capital Campaign has focused on joyful giving. San has preached powerfully and Craig Deats has talked eloquently on this topic. At Mo-Ranch, Tom and talked about our offering, over and above our tithe, And again, Tom provided great clarity to our discussion. Tom said, let’s think about what amount of money we might spend every week on going out to dinner, to a movie, or some other event. How much money would that be if we added up what we might spend going out every week for the next 20 years? Would it be worth it to us to give that amount? And could we stretch to pledge to invest that amount in our church home over the next 3 years, now when it is needed the most? We talked about what amount of money a week for 20 years is it worth to us for our family and especially for our 6 year old daughter Elizabeth to have this wonderful church home? What amount of money a week is it worth to our family to be part of this community that is full of people who love us, and who especially love Elizabeth and  nuture her in the faith and give her a safe place to be in this perilous world. What is it worth to our family to get rid of the smell of mold in the basement class rooms and choir room? What is it worth to us to provide a functional and respectful space for the Micah 6 food pantry, a peaceful and comfortable place for college students to gather during the day, another smaller, worship space, a fellowship hall large enough for all of us to gather, to help rebuild our sister church in the Congo? We talked about and prayed our family’s financial investment in this endeavor called UPC. And so, we have made our offering with some trepidation but mostly joy… 

So for those of us who are not now tithers, or who have not yet pledged a contribution to the capital campaign, I lift up for your prayerful consideration the joy of the tithe and offering. Thank you.