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REGULAR OFFERING

The intention of the Mutual Mission program has been that the funding come directly from members within our congregations (and not be a line item in the church budget).  If a Session would prefer to add such a line item to their budget, there will be no objection.  However, the intention has always been to make the funding of Mutual Mission directly dependent on members. 

The participation in the “Two Cents A Meal” program is explained in the name: an offering of two cents per person at the table for each meal.  The concept is active participation on a level that need not preclude anyone – the daily contribution of a family of four for three meals would be just under a quarter, 24 cents. 

Can wrappers, with a prayer and the Mutual Mission logo, are distributed to assist people in remembering to make the two cents a meal offering.  Keeping the can in the kitchen or dining room provides a visible reminder (see further below under promotion). 

Below we will suggest some ways that you might go about having a regular Two Cents A Meal offering.  These ways are meant as suggestions (and you may find other ways).  Remember to get approval from your Session for the regular offering and work with your pastor.  Their support and help is essential.  As for the offering itself, have your church treasurer forward the money to the presbytery, designating it for Mutual Mission. 

Here are some suggested ways of implementing a regular Two Cents A Meal offering:

·         Set a specific Sunday aside for the collection of the Two Cents A Meal offering, e.g. the first Sunday of the month, the first Sunday of every other month, the first Sunday of the month each quarter (January, April, July, October).  The key thing is to set a regular schedule for the collection.  You will need to have this schedule approved by your Session.

·         Encourage those to keep a can with the Mutual Mission can wrapper in a visible place in their homes and place of work (as coordinator, it would probably work best for you to supply the cans with the wrappers on them, or you may simply distribute the can wrappers).  Keeping the can in a visible place at meal time such as the kitchen table or kitchen counter works well.  In addition, some people have found it convenient to keep a Mutual Mission can on their dresser (for pocket change at the end of the day).  Also, putting the cans out for church functions involving meals is a good way to keep the Mutual Mission effort before your congregation.

·         Have replacement cans with the can wrappers available for people to pick up after turning in a filled can at an offering opportunity.

·         If you have a “time with the children” during your worship, use this time to have the children collect the offering.  Some pastors have the children walk up and down the center aisle collecting the offering.

·         Have a basket in central locations where worshippers may place their offering at the beginning of the service; then have the ushers bring it forward with the rest of the church offering.

·         Suggest that people recycle their pennies and simply write a check for the amount of their offering.  Some churches also post in the bulletin what one’s offering could be.  For example, on a monthly schedule (on an average of thirty days a month), one person would contribute $1.80, two persons $3.60, three persons $5.40, four persons $7.20.  You can make your own computations according to your schedule. 

In all cases of promoting a regular offering, be in touch with your pastor.  His or her help and support is essential to the Mutual Mission program.   

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