Generosity Week Podcasts

God in His generosity created the Garden of Eden – a place of wholesome abundance. He filled it with plants that were beautiful to look at or delicious to eat. Sometimes both. How often do we take the time to look closely at God’s creation and wonder at its beauty? Do we ever stop to gaze at the miracle that is fruit, or vegetables, or grains? 

Take a drink and a notepad to your back garden or nearest green space. Don’t feel you need to go somewhere special – it’s so rewarding to take the time to see a familiar place differently. Give yourself a full ten minutes to concentrate on the beauty of God’s creation; jot down any thoughts and give thanks for all that God has given us. If you can’t get out, take some time to look at an every day fruit or vegetable and observe how wonderfully created it is. Thank God for the abundance of His creation – the care, the detail, the love.

Prayer offered by Revd Trevor Marshall, National Giving Ministry Advisor:

God of all creation, give us a heart to be good stewards of what you have made. Give us the wisdom to use what you have provided us with for the benefit of all. Give us to courage to stand firm when your creation is a risk. May we use what you have generously given us to be generous to others and to proclaim the Good News of your Kingdom. We ask this in in the name of your Son, our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

You might also like to download the corresponding Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

The Bible asks us: ‘Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?’  Worrying achieves nothing and increases the burden we carry.  Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light, but sometimes that just doesn’t chime with our experience.  Let us put our energy into striving for the kingdom of God, instead of worrying about things we can’t change in our own strength.

They say a problem shared is a problem halved and some of us like to talk about our problems.  Sometimes we’re not as keen on listening, so today try listening to someone.  Be generous with your attention and listen (at least) twice as much as you talk.  If the person shares a problem with you, don’t try to solve it, just give them the gift of being heard.   Later, pray that their load is lightened and that their faith can overcome their fear.

Prayer offered by Rosa Speyer, Parish Giving Advisor, Diocese of Hereford:

Loving God We thank you for always providing us with enough. Help us to see the joy in this and be grateful for all that we have and no longer fearful of what we lack.

Generous God, you inspire us to follow your example and accept only what we need and share the rest with others. Help us to encourage others to do the same.

Faithful God strengthen our faith in this abundant living, so fear is destroyed by our flourishing, loving, generous living.

We ask these prayers in Jesus name, your faithful son, our loving Lord who gave his life that we may live.

Amen

You may also like to download the corresponding Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

The people of God found themselves in the desert with little to eat, moaning that they would have been better provided for as slaves. God made an abundance of food literally fall out of the sky in the form of manna – but then they complained that it was boring.  Do we find ourselves moaning about not having enough – or not having exactly the thing we want - when in reality we have an abundance of everything we need?  Let’s take stock and be grateful for everything God lavishes on us. 

Do you have more than you need? Take a few moments to look in cupboards and hidey holes to see what you’ve got that goes beyond your daily needs.  Think about giving the surplus away so that God’s generosity to you may be shared with those whose need is greater.   Let’s challenge ourselves to not only give away the worthless things, but the things we’ve been meaning to sell or seem ‘too good’ to let go.

Prayer offered by the Revd Paul Child, Giving Advisor, Diocese of Durham:

Loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being, thank you for the times you bless us with so much more than our daily bread.

Help us not to take your generosity for granted, and to seek to reflect your abundant grace in all that we do; for the glory of your name. Amen.

You may also like to download the Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

In today’s psalm, God assures us that he will not abandon us when times are hard and we find ourselves in dark places: ‘My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’ Can we  follow the example of the psalmist and lift our eyes heavenward rather than be downcast when times are hard? Can we trust God to keep watch over us and keep us safe from harm? 

Go somewhere you won’t be disturbed, and light a candle.  Watch it burn for a few minutes. During that time, remember a time when life was hard, but you came through it.  Bring to mind the good things that came from that experience.  They may be huge life-enhancing lessons, or simply a determination to never let that happen again.    Ask God to help you remember that the light of Christ will never desert you.

Prayer offered by Liz Mullins, Generous Giving Advisor, Diocese of Rochester:

Living God, when times are tough and the future looks bleak may we reflect on your gifts to us, take joy in these blessings and resolve to be generous with them.  When things are dark may we see the light of Christ shining in that darkness.  When we are struggling let us hold fast and place our trust in that our generous God who has given us everything in abundance.

You may also like to download the Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

In today’s reading from 1 Kings we hear about the widow who was commanded by Elijah to make him a meal of a little cake before she made one for herself and her son. Although Elijah only received a small cake, he made sure that the widow received a much greater gift. When we strive to make a difference to someone’s life, we can give so much more than we know. Let our small acts of generosity be seen as the start of something greater than we can imagine.

It’s one thing giving away spare items that we don’t need – and sometimes that’s hard enough. But cash can be even harder to part with. Today, why not think about making a loan to radically change someone’s life? Organisations like lendwithcare.org will pass your loan on to someone who wants to work their way out of poverty. That way, a small amount of money can completely transform someone’s life – and the lives of their children. 

Prayer offered from the Diocese of Liverpool:

God of grace,

When we work together, we can do more together.

When we give generously of our time, our talents, our treasure we make a difference through us;

in our homes, our places of work, our communities – and in ourselves.

Create and sustain in us a generous discipleship that opens hearts and changes lives.

Give us grace to  plant, nurture and share

the  good news of Jesus in our living and our loving.   

Amen.

You may also like to download the Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

God loves us with a love so great that he gave his only Son so that we might be saved. He wants us to respond to that generosity by loving him and following his commandments. And although we may feel super-virtuous when we’re generous to others, we are simply reflecting God’s generous love to us and following his second commandment – to love our neighbour.

Share your passions with others!  Think about what stirs your spirit - what makes you cry, or laugh, or despair, or hope.  Research charities and organisations that work in those areas, get to know them really well and share what they do with others you know – either in church, or homegroup, or among friends.

Prayer offered by the Andy Wright, Generous Living Advisor, Diocese of Lincoln:

Creator God, who is with us always and who can turn all things around;

May our gifts both honour and please you.

May we sow the seed and reap and share in the harvest, that your blessings might be released.

May we live out your commandment to follow Christ in all that we do and with that we have

Help us to nurture and share our resources, so as to build your church and flourish your Kingdom

And give us the strength to trust you that you will provide for all that we need.

You may also like to download the Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

Following Christ should mean that it is obvious by our words and deeds that we are his disciples. It is only through what we say, what we do and how we are that we can encourage others to come to know Christ and his redeeming generosity.

Take a deep breath … and talk to someone about what it means to you to be a Christian. This can be a really good opportunity to think it through. It could be someone who doesn’t know that you are a Christian, such as a neighbour, a colleague or even a stranger on the bus.  Or you could volunteer to help with some initiative in your church that reaches out to those who are preparing for baptism, confirmation or their wedding, or who are part of your wider church family in some other way.

Prayer offered by Dennis Fancett, Giving Ministry Advisor, Diocese of Newcastle:

Merciful God, help us to see that your Church is your chosen way of reaching our hurting world with your message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Help us to play our full part in allowing both our local church and our Diocese to be everything you have called us to be, and to be active and fruitful in our mission and ministry.

Thank you for everything you have given to each of us, and inspire us and envision us to give cheerfully and joyfully back to you. Amen

You may also like to download the Morning Prayer Service for this theme.

God gives each of us gifts that bring us into the body of Christ – the differences are what make us individuals. Although we have different gifts, we are all part of the same body and our differences are crucial to the body functioning healthily.  However insignificant a gift seems to us, It is through our generous use of our gifts that we can grow the Kingdom of God in our communities and churches.

Take some time to write down your strengths – if you find it hard to get going, or feel a bit silly ask a friend or two (by text if necessary!) for their help.  Other people are often a lot less hard on us than we are on ourselves.  Once you’ve got a nice long list, ask yourself if those strengths can be used by your church in any way.  Most church leaders are hoarse from asking for volunteers, so see how much time you’ve got and offer one or more of your skills. 

Prayer offered by Jan Grey, Generous Giving Officer, Diocese of York:

Thank You Heavenly God, that You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.

Thank You Holy Spirit, that You can do immeasurably more than we can imagine or ask.

Thank You Jesus, for sacrificially giving of Yourself so we are inspired to live generously to enable Your Kingdom here on Earth. Amen

You may also like to download the Morning Prayer Service for this theme.