In another parish, a pastor on a Sunday morning, set a large woven basket on the altar; the sermon was about thankfulness. The pastor had a stack of $20 bills ($200 worth), and for each bill – held it up and told the congregation a thanksgiving about the church and placed the bill in the basket. “I am thankful for you -a community who is willing to, and does, open their doors to 200 people throughout the week; people who need a safe place to heal and be in fellowship.” The money was a thanksgiving offering in addition to the pastor’s tithe. Congregation members were invited to bring their tithes and thanksgivings forward. (In this instance it was the pastor, but, this thankful giving can be mentored by anyone and everyone).
And lest the children or poor be forgotten, each week congregation members bring items for the food bank. Children, at the time of the offering, take turns choosing from those items to put them in a basket, bringing them up with the offering and communion elements, setting them in front of the altar as part of their thanksgiving practice.
Attitudes of thanksgiving and abundance can be cultivated by these and other activities.