What impact might our intentional, collective generosity make this Easter?
Even though the frozen landscape outside my window might say otherwise, very soon we will be turning again to the story that is central to our Christian faith—Palm Sunday, the Passion, and Easter. This story is filled with so many quiet, tender acts of generosity. Love is offered over and over again, not for recognition or reward, but as pure grace in the midst of grief and sorrow. Remember our story—how Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus, how his friends prepared for the sacred Passover meal together, how Jesus washed the feet of his friends. The Cross. The women’s offering at the tomb. All acts of graceful generosity, deepening intimate relationships with love stronger than death.
Today we are invited to live into this same Easter generosity as an act of faith rooted in resurrection hope. Giving is more than a line in a church financial budget. Giving is a communal act of holy participation in God’s unfolding story of healing, justice, and renewal.
What impact might our intentional, collective generosity make this Easter?
Imagine congregational generosity realized this Easter season with our whole selves—in our learning, worship and service. Picture a “reverse” offering where worshippers receive slips of paper with a call to action—to support a local food program, to ask a political candidate about climate justice, to plant seeds in a community garden. Envision an Easter Sunday liturgy that celebrates the offering, not as a financial transaction, but as a proclamation of hope. Consider sharing stories in worship and in learning to connect hearts and minds with the real lives touched by our generosity—those who receive and those who give.
To give is to participate. To give is to proclaim that we are not alone. To give is to sing that we are connected to all our relations. To give is to state that we believe in life beyond death, in love beyond limits.
The Mission and Service Easter Appeal offers us a tangible way to embody this kind of giving. It is not simply about funding programs. It is about responding to Christ’s invitation to love our neighbours, walk with global partners, and share in resurrection hope that defies despair. Every gift becomes a witness to our belief that love can transform lives.
As we give, pray, learn, and hope together, our communities of faith are shaped into Easter life—open-hearted, open-handed, and open to the Spirit’s leading.
This Easter may your community lean into grace-filled generosity. Let our giving rise not from duty, but from the desire to share Christ’s resurrection hope with the world. Let our planning create space for acts of beauty and grace. Let our offering—whether of money, resources, time, prayer, or presence—become a sign of love to the people around us.
Because we are an Easter people, and generosity is our joyful response to the God who makes all things new.
—Rev. Melody Duncanson Hales offers stewardship support in Canadian Shield and Shining Waters Regions.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.