This year is the 75th Anniversary of the Alabaster Offering! This offering is used to help raise funds for land purchases and building construction needs around the world for schools, hospitals, churches, and parsonages.
The offering is based on the story of the woman pouring perfume on Jesus from a container carved from soft alabaster stone. Building on that biblical story, Nazarenes are asked to put off buying new perfume for themselves or postpone purchasing something for themselves and to give that money in the Alabaster Offering instead. In much the same way that the woman gave her bottle of perfume to Jesus, we have been called to pour out a lavish offering for others. Alabaster was first promoted using this phrase: "Give up a want to meet a need."
We will be taking our Alabaster Offering on September 10 thru 24th during our morning worship services. Your faithful giving to the World Evangelism Fund covers the administrative costs associated with Alabaster Offerings, allowing 100% of everything given to be used to provide places where people worship, heal, and learn. As you know, property in urban areas can be very expensive, at times making it impossible for churches, schools, or clinics to own property.
Alabaster funds can also be used to help with expenses of renting property for periods of time. Alabaster often makes it possible for the Church of the Nazarene to establish a sense of permanent presence, an indication that we are there to stay and carry out the work of Jesus.
If you would like to give online: Click Here and select Alabaster... or you can text 833-302-2025 the message ALABASTER. A video to introduce Alabaster can be found here.
