So the church services are canceled. We will not be gathering on Sunday; no singing hymns together, no sermons, no choir, no children's church, no passing the offering plate.
And yet you might be wondering, "If we don't have service, how can I still give my offering to the Lord?" Please understand, I never try to compel people to give. It's not my intention to guilt anyone into doing anything they don't freely want to do. God loves a cheerful giver, not a guilt-ridden giver. So what you give, and how frequently, is entirely between you and your Lord.
But there are many among us who do want to know how this situation will affect the way they can give. So for those like that, please let me point out four different ways you can give during this time of quarantine:
1. Just wait until this whole hullabaloo is over and give a cumulative amount when we gather once more. Not meeting for a few weeks will not cause the church to disappear; we will meet again, and when we do you can bring your offering with you.
2. Give online. This could be a great time for you to discover our new online giving option. There's a button on our website for giving, as well as on our church app (which you should have, if you don't have it yet. Get it; it's great.). Online giving is secure, and it's done using a credit card or bank account. Just please be aware that we use a third party to do the transaction, so there is a fee. You have the option of letting the church pay the fee out of what you give, or of paying the fee yourself.
3. Put a check in the mail. In spite of all the new technology we still get regular mail.
4. Finally, you can drop off an offering check at the church when someone is here. Our usual office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30-3:30. I recommend calling before coming.
That's it! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call the church office. I'd love to chat with you.
May God richly bless his church as we follow him!
Pastor Doug