November is when people think about giving. That’s what Giving Tuesday – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – is all about!
A global day of giving powered by social media, #GivingTuesday was established in 2012. But Giving Tuesday has nothing on the history of generosity among Lutheran women. The women of the church have been gathering and giving together for a lot longer than that – since as far back as the 1800s, if not earlier.
I think we can call our tradition of Thankoffering services a movement. Beginning in the 19th century, Lutheran women kept Thankoffering boxes in their homes to collect offerings made in thanks for blessings received throughout the year. From that came the custom of holding Thankoffering services to rejoice together in giving and gratitude.
Thankoffering services are often held around this time of year, but God’s blessings aren’t limited by the calendar, and neither is our gratitude. Please think of all the ways you can support all who are created in the image of God as you make your year-end gift lists. Your generosity really does make a difference.
This message is excerpted from “Lutheran women thought of #GivingTuesday a century ago” by Audrey Novak Riley from the November 30, 2020, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
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