Offertory Prayer

This page has four short sample prayers to use when blessing gifts and tithes to God in church services. We also consider how to pray for an offering, including the kind of things that are good to say and how to conduct a collection during worship. We also take a brief look at the characteristics of Christian giving, and feature an inspiring film to show whilst the collection is being taken:

An Offertory Prayer

Lord, we thank for Your faithfulness.
Thank you that we can always trust in You.
You are an abundant God and out of Your great mercy you have given us so much.

We give you this offering today.
With it we worship You and give our whole selves to You.
Please now take it and use it for Your kingdom and Your glory.
Extend and multiple its reach and influence we pray.
May it be a great blessing to many.
We ask all this in the powerful name of Jesus.
Amen.

(prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)

Film for Offering

This is a short (two minute) film suitable for showing whilst the offertory is being taken during a church service:-

How to pray for an offering in church

There are three elements to offerings during services – what we might say before the giving takes place, what the contents of a good offertory prayer are, and how the gifts might be received at the end.

What should we do before an offering prayer?

Before taking an offering during a worship service, it is important to encourage the congregation in their giving. Here are some ideas of what you could say:
1. “God loves a cheerful giver” (1 Cor 9:7, ESV) - St Paul encourages us to give with thankfulness, not out of duty or obligation.
2. The Widows Mite (Luke 21:1-4) – It’s not the amount that is given that counts with God, but the sacrificial heart of the giver.
3. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” (Malachi 3:10, NIV) – It’s important to present all our gifts to God. This commands a blessing from Heaven.

What do you say when giving an offering?

When saying a good offertory prayer, there are three things to keep in mind. Remember to thank God for his goodness and provision – our giving flows best out of a thankful heart, not one that is resentful or reluctant to give. You might also want to pray for the ones who have given their gifts (e.g. the congregation or those in the meeting) and ask for God’s blessing and provision to be with them. And finally, in your prayer you will commit these gifts to God. Here you could mention a specific work that the offering is going towards or conclude more generally by presenting the tithes and offerings to the Lord.

How should you offer the gifts at the end?

Traditionally, collection baskets or bags are passed round the congregation, and then stewards bring the offering to the front for the minister or priest for blessing. People are often invited to stand at this point as the prayer takes place. With the advent of smartphones, card machine scanners and online giving, many church goers are not giving physical money anymore. The leader of the service may also want to acknowledge this and incorporate this into the offering prayer or allude to it before praying.

A Simple Prayer of Thanks

Good giving flows out of a heart full of gratitude to God: