Mix Things Up A Little

In church today the youth helped take up the offering. As could be expected, the kids were not quite, shall we say, sophisticated about the matter as the adults normally are.

Ours is a contemporary church, non-denominational, and pretty relaxed. At one time we rather prided ourselves on not having a lot of structure and frowned upon routines. We’ve not been heavy into tradition, and yet…yet, there are some expectations about when and how we do things on Sunday morning.

For instance, we start by 10:01. And we end by noon. The announcements usually follow the third worship song that we sing. That sort of thing.

So, the offering. The youth had the principles down for standard protocol in passing the little baskets around. One in each aisle, each usher passing the collection baskets to alternate rows of the section they are “working.”

Today, though, the kids seemed to have forgotten the middle sections. There we were, sitting and watching other “cheerful givers” drop their monies and checks into the baskets all round us. And yet, no one came to ask us for our contribution. The side sections were being served by the teen ushers, but what happened to our section?

The dynamic was fascinating to watch. Whispers arose. The song was forgotten by many who were distracted by the obvious mistake of those kids. The youth leadership was sitting near the front, watching the proceedings with a look of grave concern on their faces. “Who messed up here? What in the world are we gonna do?”

Meanwhile, around me the adults continued to whisper back and forth…it was really uncomfortable for many. I could imagine someone wondering, “How can I give to the church if they pass me by?” “Surely someone will see the error and step in to receive our offerings here in the middle?” “Those kids, just don’t seem to get it.”

Ah, then the young man came by with the basket. He had started at the BACK of the church. Big, red, flashing lights were reminding him that this is not SOP, you don’t start at the back, you start at the front! Sighs of relief arose. The collection will be completed. Clumsily, but at least it will be done.

Then, however, the realization that there was only one usher for our section. Not two. Uh-oh. Now what? More whispers. “Who do I pass this basket to when I am done putting in my offering?” “Hey, this still isn’t right. You mean I have to pass this thing up to the next row myself?”

As yet another moment of dis-ease was registering, out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the guys who is often up front on the worship team. Oh, look! Richard to the rescue! Of course, who else? He is always serving, it seems, and happily. Now he was gathering those wayward baskets, smiling as he did so, if to say to those who had lingering concerns, “It’s alright. We’ve got it under control. Your gift is in good hands. We’ll get through this just fine.”

And so, the offering was indeed completed, and we moved on. But it was an interesting moment. I think it was good, actually. I mean, here we are, somewhat proud for not adhering to a lot of traditional trappings. And - boom – the offering gets done a bit differently and some people seem disoriented and distressed.

I’ve got to think that this was a way for God to remind us that there is nothing particularly sacred about the way in which the offering is received. Really. Get over it!

And maybe He was also telling us that we need to lighten up a bit. If we don’t want to get stuck in routines and too much structure, this kind of exercise might be just the thing we need to do more often. Mix the order up, try some new things, be less predictable.

As I finish this entry, I am aware of yet another application, one for me personally. perhaps God is reminding me to be open to new things in all of my life, to not get too comfortable in how I go about my daily routines and expectations. Could He be leading me to question - in fresh ways - what my life is really all about? Hmmm.

I hope the kids are leading worship next week at church.