“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7B). This is a familiar phrase that often shows up in stewardship and fundraising campaigns, possibly even on the front of your offertory envelope or online giving form.
It is one of those lines of Scripture that is easily memorized and often applied. God loves a cheerful giver, but what does a cheerful giver look like?
As the plate is quietly passed from person to person during the offertory hymn, do you see or feel joy in the communal giving, or is there just a sense of duty or familiarity? How do you personally feel as you give? Do you experience joy and gratitude as you present your offering or process your online giving?
The service for the World Day of Prayer (WDP) 2026 was written by the women of Nigeria. The WDP Moose Jaw team invited the local Nigerian community to plan and lead the World Day of Prayer worship service for Moose Jaw.
Their approach to giving, their joy and engagement with God in thanksgiving for blessings, opened the eyes of all in attendance to what truly joyful giving can look and feel like.
Their giving started with an uplifting song accompanied by a variety of Nigerian musical instruments. A basket was placed in front of the altar and they joyfully danced their way forward, bearing their gifts to be placed in the basket.
Everyone in attendance was invited to join in with them, and most did, singing and dancing their gifts to the altar, infused with the pure joy of it. A hearty applause by all signalled the completion. Wow!
Personally speaking, I had never experienced such joy in giving as I did in that service. The vibrancy and celebration shown by the Nigerians in giving back to God changed me and the way I see our offerings.
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, tells us, The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work (NRSV).
God’s abundance is a grace-filled provision that enables us all to share in His work and answer His call.
Anglicans are sometimes, laughingly, called God’s “frozen chosen.” But being chosen doesn’t have to mean frozen. We have been blessed, and we can experience this and show our thanks in ways that move us out of our pews and into an embodied expression of gratitude.
Drawing on the World Day of Prayer experience, St. Aidan Anglican Church in Moose Jaw made a step in that direction on Easter Sunday. As our offertory was collected, the children paraded around the church waving flags, carrying banners and making music.
A vibrant air of celebration and thanksgiving was undeniably felt! It was a start.
On Pentecost Sunday, the Nigerians in the congregation will lead our offertory in the same way as they did on the World Day of Prayer. As some won’t be able to sing and dance their way to the altar, while some might not feel comfortable, the offertory plate will be made available, but all will be encouraged to join in as they are able, including online givers.
Singing and dancing each Sunday is not likely to become the norm, but as you present your gift, how might you do so in a way that shows your thanksgiving and celebration, acknowledging how the Lord has blessed you?
Perhaps start with a smile. Let your actions demonstrate your joy or actually change you into a cheerful giver from the inside out! Let your gratitude flow in celebration. Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Deacon Arleen Champion is from St. Aidan Anglican Church, Moose Jaw, and a member of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle Stewardship team.
offertory donations at the altar, during this year’s World Day of Prayer at St. Aidan, Moose Jaw. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
