Liturgical Moment of the Week: The Offertory Sentence

Fr. Brian+

Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name. Bring offerings and come into his courts.

I hope you recognize that phrase. I say it every service! It is taken from Psalm 96:8. In liturgical jargon, it’s in the category of Offertory Sentences.

We use multiple offertory sentences, and the Book of Common Prayer gives many recommendations (while also saying that any Scripture reflective of offering is suitable). I have listed the BCP sentences below. I enjoy saying the offertory sentence, and I want to highlight its importance in our service. 

Three aspects make up the offertory sentence:

1. Giving tithes and offerings

2. Supplying bread and wine for communion

3. Presenting ourselves to God

Most of us probably think that the “offering” refers only to money. It certainly does refer to giving to the Church and others as part of our stewardship of the resources that we manage for God. But don’t miss the other two aspects of offering.

The church provides the bread and wine for communion. Have you noticed that members of the church bring those elements forward at the beginning of communion? It’s an action that says, “we the Body of Christ are providing the very elements that will become the Body of Christ.” It’s a beautiful part of the service and a way to include the entire congregation over time.

Thirdly, we offer to God ourselves, as the Rite I Eucharistic I Prayer says, “...we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee…” (BCP: 336). When I pray those words I place my hand on my heart, representing that I’m offering myself to God, even as I’m facilitating you offering yourselves to God.

So the next time you hear Father Frans or I saying this well worn statement, receive it afresh. Hear it as if for the first time. Give yourself again to God.

Offertory Sentences (BCP: 376)

One of the following, or some other appropriate sentence of Scripture,may be used

• Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High.   Psalm 50:14

• Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into his courts.   Psalm 96:8

• Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.   Ephesians 5:2

• I appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,which is your spiritual worship.   Romans 12:1

• If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.   Matthew 5:23, 24

• Through Christ let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his Name.

• But do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.   Hebrews 13:15, 16

• O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power; because you have created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.   Revelation 4:11

• Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. For everything in heaven and on earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.   1 Chronicles 29:11

or this bidding

• Let us with gladness present the offerings and oblations of our life and labor to the Lord.