ELCW Thankoffering

A Thankoffering is an offering given as an expression of thanks. Women of the Lutheran Church have been gathering for Thankoffering services since the early 1900’s. It is a tradition, grounded in our celebration of community, in which we meet together as faithful women, joyfully giving thanks and praise for what God has given us.

There are moments in each day when we can and should be thankful to God. When any of these significant moments happen, we can thank God in many ways. Most often we offer a silent or verbal word of thanks. Some of the women of Emmanuel Lutheran Church have a tradition of combining our prayer of thanks with an offering gift, a Thankoffering. We place a monetary gift into our Thankoffering boxes as a further expression of thanks. This connection of offering and prayer helps us to recognize more fully how many blessings we receive. It allows us to complete the circle of giving -- God gives to us and we, in turn, give back to God.

On Thankoffering Sunday (typically the third week of October), we have the opportunity collectively to give thanks and present our offerings. The moneys we have collected over the year in our Thankoffering boxes will be received. Pew envelopes may be used for cash or check offerings, please make checks payable to Emmanuel Lutheran Church Women.

Our Thankofferings help us to be more aware of God's many blessings to us each day. In turn, our offerings extend the mission of the Women of the ELCA and the ELCA at large.

“'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'”
Matthew 25:34-40, RSV