GRATITUDE (WHY?)
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes. 5:18)
“Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior…Gratitude is peace.” (Anne Lamott ‘Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers’)
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” (Anonymous)
“Gratitude is the attitude that sets the altitude for living.” (James MacDonald, ‘Lord Change My Attitude’)
The focus of the United Thank Offering (UTO) is to foster the personal practice of being thankful for our everyday blessings. These blessings may be large or small, i.e. getting a parking spot on a busy street, a call from a friend, a doctor’s good report, return of power after a storm, etc. The more we say “Thanks,” the more aware we become of events/things for which to be grateful.
The United Thank Offering invites every Episcopalian to participate in being thankful.
The Gratitude formula is easy:
Notice the good things that happen each day
Give thanks to God for your blessings
Make an offering to UTO for each blessing. Through UTO your
Blessings become blessings for others
Every penny donated to UTO is given away in grants.
Parishes are encouraged to hold two UTO Ingatherings each year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall, although donations to UTO are welcomed any time of the year.
All UTO materials are FREE; you just pay for the shipping.
Order fall materials by Aug. 16th here: https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/uto_orders
For more information: www.unitedthankoffering.org
Please feel free to contact me for any assistance.
Darrell Powell, UTO Diocesan Coordinator
uto@ecw-nc.org
Text at 412-828-0502
United Thank Offering
Blue Box Prayer
Almighty God, I give you praise
for blessing me in many ways.
Create in me a grateful heart
and with this gift a blessing start. Amen.