November 2009

Notes from Chris McLain, Missionary to Swaziland 

It is hard to believe that it is already November. This year seems to have flown by. Even though I am on the other side of the world and we are in spring, not fall, the beginning of November always seems to bring thoughts of thanksgiving to my heart and mind. Yesterday I attended a farewell / thanksgiving service for one of the pastors in the Central Swaziland Circuit which is the circuit I live and do the majority of my work in. The difference between the African culture and the American culture when it comes to thanksgiving prompted me to write this article.  

Thanksgiving services are held to give thanks through offerings for people who have come to serve in the church, for people leaving or sometimes just to honor a person’s life. In the church, this time of the year is when they focus on giving thanks. Different weeks usually have different themes. For instance, you may be asked to give out of thanks for your parents, or your family, or your home, or because some one who has served so faithfully is leaving. There are many reasons for giving thanks. Everyone is reminded that scripture tells us to give these thanksgiving offerings above and beyond the 10% scripture directs us to tithe. (They also have a similar giving period in winter called Malihamba which is giving to mission out of thanks for what God has given.) 

At a thanksgiving service, individuals and groups come up to a table put in front of the pulpit to directly give their offering. They always come up singing and dancing. Some will stop and tell what they are specifically thankful for, but others will lay their offering on the table and then go back to their seat.  There are calls for the thanks offering from all of the different groups in the church for example, from the choir, from the Manyano (Methodist Women), from the Young Men’s Guild (Methodist Men), Sunday school, the church stewards (church council), etc. Each person attending the service who is a part of the group that is called out comes singing praises, dancing as they come up to give their offering. In addition, at a circuit level thanksgiving service there will also be a call for each society (congregation) to come up and present their offering. It is considered an honor to contribute as a member of the different groups, services or congregations so most people come up more than once to offer their thanks.  

Some people who are able come up with larger denomination bills. Others will bring up coins. It is not unusual to see someone lay down a twenty Emalangeni bill and take a ten back in change. Or to see someone put down a 20 cent coin and take back 5 or 10 cents change. For many, especially in the rural areas, a 20 cent coin is a lot because money is very scarce. In addition, they may only have 20 cents or 50 cents but want to put a little in for each group they are a part of. Getting change back is quite acceptable. I even saw one person yesterday put money on the table and then realize the person behind her had no money left, but was coming up anyway as a symbol of belonging and support of his group. The woman reached back, took a small coin as change for her donation and slipped it to the man so he could actually put something on the table. They give freely according to what they can. Some may give a sack of maize, vegetables or a chicken, goat or pig. I am told that if the thanksgiving service is not for an individual the church will then sell the items that are donated for the money. 

Yesterday’s’ thanksgiving service – just the act of giving, not including the scripture, prayers, sermon or songs before – took about 2 ½ hours. This was just for people to sing, dance and give praise as they came up to give their thanks through the offering. Imagine, if our church had regular thanks giving offerings where people actually went down to the altar and left their gift of thanks perhaps taking a moment to tell all what they are thankful for, or if on Sundays we were all required to come down to the altar to present our tithe. Wow, what an impact that would be. I know that when I think about giving an offering actually in thanks for something or someone, I tend to give more than I probably would have otherwise. When one puts a monetary value on something such as the impact one has had on your life or how blessed you are to have what you have it seems I always have to go back into my wallet and dig out more. 

Another interesting activity that goes on during the giving of thanks offering or during a regular Sunday offering is that the money is counted right then and there in front of everyone. There are usually two or three people seated at the table. When each group is done donating, the money is quickly counted and recorded. Then if it is a thanks giving service the amount donated by each group is periodically shared with all in attendance. Talk about everyone knowing what you are giving. I wondered if we could ever get away with that in the States. What pressure that would put on people to openly give according to what they could and more importantly according to what blessings they have received. Ish. (Ish is a Swazi expression for wow, amazing, etc.) 

I must admit, that personally, because of my very American upbringing, I generally don’t like the offering time. One reason is that everyone seems to want to go up at the same time. In my American mind I can’t help but think “Why can’t they just do this in an orderly fashion?” It reminds me more of fighting my way through a crowd at a football game than being at a church service. However, I do so enjoy seeing people I know and love, shaking their hand or getting a hug right in the middle of everything. Watching the joy on their beautiful faces as they come up to give is so touching. The willing, gracious giving of the people, especially those that have so little, always amazes and humbles me. They are openly praising God and giving thanks when according to the world’s measure of wealth they have so little. I wish I could be more like they are. But this white lady can’t dance let alone dance while walking. Not that anyone seems to care. 

The idea of coming up and actually placing one’s offering on the table or altar each week, not just during pledge time, seems so right. It is a time specifically focused on giving back to God. It’s not a time for talking or letting the mind wander elsewhere, but to focus on all that we have to be thankful for. Wow. Now that’s what I call Thanksgiving.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalms 100:4-5 

See you in December!