First Fruits

At the start of every year, the very first Mission Core Gathering (MCG), and the subsequent gatherings of every group down the line of every member should be consecrated to the Lord. It must be a most solemn and sacred occasion worthy of the Lord’s Holiness.

It's the time of the year when we have another opportunity to show our love and gratitude to our good Lord.

All or 100% of our First Fruits offerings goes to the CFC One Mission Fund (OMF) for our CFC Canada mission areas.

Part 1: Several Days Before the First Fruits Celebration

The Chapter Head

• Announces to the chapter that they will have a First Fruits Offering celebration (with details of the date, time, and venue). 

• Reminds all members to update their information in the CFC Members Portal accounts especially (but not limited to) their mobile number, email address, and home address.

• Downloads and prints the First Fruits Offering Form for the chapter. (Form for GVA South)

  • • To download, click File > Download > Select Microsoft Word or PDF Document.

    • To print, press Ctrl-P or click File > Print.

    • The form has two sections:  Blessings and Offering. 

• Brings the forms and small envelopes for the chapter to the event.

  • • Small envelopes are very cheap in dollar stores.

    • He may distribute the First Fruits Offering forms and envelopes before the event.

• Bring a bigger envelope or zip lock plastic bag for all the documents and offerings.

• Prepares for the exhortation. (See First Fruits Exhortation Outline)

• Prepares the slides for the First Fruits. 

  • • Option: Download the First Fruits PowerPoint slides. Click to open / download. Update it as needed. This includes a short video about First Fruits. Read the notes in some of the slides.

• Selects a couple who will give a witnessing for the First Fruits celebration. This couple has been generous in their First Fruits Offering (despite financial / spiritual challenges) and received blessings from God.

• Downloads and prepares the Excel file mentioned in Part 3 (below).

Couple who will give a witnessing (Optional but recommended)

• Prepares their sharing.

• May choose to write down what they will share and simply read during the event.

The Chapter Music Ministry

• Coordinates with the Worship Leaders on the songs for the opening and closing worship.

• Coordinates with the Chapter Head for the reflection songs (slow songs) during the offering proper.

• Practices for the First Fruits celebration.

Each couple

• Checks if the mobile number, email address, and home address in the Members Portal are correct. Updates them as needed.

• Fills out the form during the First Fruits celebration.

• Decides on which First Fruits Offering option to use. (GVA South options)

• Brings the offering to the First Fruits Celebration.

Part 2: First Fruits Celebration

1. The Service Team and/or Chapter Household distributes the forms and envelopes.

   • Before the celebration begins or as the members arrive, distribute the forms and envelopes for those who don't have them. 

2. The Service Team sets up for the First Fruit celebration.

   • Prepare an altar with crucifix, candles and flowers. Make an appropriate vessel, box, or container to hold the offerings -- one container/basket for the Blessings and another for the Offering envelope.

3. The Worship Leader starts the worship at the designated time.

4. The Speaker gives an exhortation: God's Call for First Fruits.

   • Prayer leader includes in his exhortation God’s Call for offering of “FIRST FRUITS”. (He may expound on the verses from Deuteronomy 26: 2-11 or from Leviticus 2:12-16)

5. A Couple Sharer gives a witnessing.  (Optional but recommended)

6. The Chapter Head explains the procedure.

   • The Chapter Head discusses the First Fruits Offering options. (GVA South options)

   • The Service Team may provides the forms and envelopes to those who do not yet have them.

7. The Music Ministry plays / sings a reflection song.

   • 1 or 2 songs depending on the number of people present

   • Everyone contemplates on the blessings from God and fills out the form.

   • Each couple fills out and cuts the form into two.

     • Blessings section - upper half

     • Offering section - lower half

   • Each couple puts the Offering section with the offering in an envelope.

8. Offering ceremony itself (First Fruits Offering Rites)

   • The Music Ministry plays / sings some reflection songs (slow songs) during the offertory. The number of songs depends on the number of members present.

   • The Chapter Head leads the First Fruits Offering Prayer.

   • The Chapter Leaders lead the First Fruits Offering. They are followed by the others, and ends with the music ministry (or as what is planned by the Service Team). Each couple may say a short prayer after they put the offering in their respective containers/baskets.

9. After the First Fruits Offertory

   • The Chapter Head reminds the chapter to update their email addresses and home addresses in the Members Portal are correct.

   • The Chapter Head makes announcements.

   • The Chapter Head gives blessing to those celebrating birthdays and/or wedding anniversaries in January and, when applicable, new leaders in the chapter.

10. The Worship Leader gives a closing exhortation and prayer with one or more songs (together with the Music Ministry).

11. Everyone goes into fellowship and later cleans up.

Part 3: After the First Fruits Celebration

When everyone else has left the venue

1. The Chapter Leaders gather, open, and summarize the offerings.

   • • Do these with the Chapter PFO (or a couple from the chapter household who can help and serve as witnesses). This is to ensure that all First Fruits Offerings are checked and accounted for.

     • Keeps all details confidential.

     • Separates the First Fruits Offering per ministry.

2. The Chapter Leaders download and fills out this First Fruits Collection Report (Excel file). 

   • • Reads the details in the "Read Me First" sheet of the file. Please follow the instructions there so the computations in the Summary sheet will be accurate.

     • Makes sure that you rename this to your Area/Sector and Chapter name before the next step.

     • Does not overwrite any of the Excel formulas to ensure accurate computations.

3. The Chapter Leaders deposit the cash and cheques to the bank.

   • • Gets all non-Canadian dollar currencies converted into Canadian dollars.

     • Makes sure the deposit slips have clear print-out of the transaction details -- amount, date, and so on.

     • Writes the CIBC branch name on the deposit slips.

     • Keeps the deposit slips.

     • If the bank does not accept cash deposit, kindly deposit the cash to your personal account, then do an e-transfer as described in the options (GVA South options).

     • For GVA South

       • • • E-transfer the cash to cibc.gvsouth@couplesforchrist.ca

             1. • In the e-transfer, mention your Area, Chapter, and "First Fruits 2025"

           • Deposit cheques to  01500 45-77418 in a CIBC Branch.

4. The Chapter Leaders email the First Fruits Collection Report (Excel file) to cfcvan@cfc.ca and the AGT MSG of your area/sector.

   • • For GVA South: gvasouthmsg@gmail.com

     • The Excel file must have these details.

       • • Name and branch of the bank

         • Pictures of the deposit slips

         • Date of deposit

         • Total amount of the deposit

5. The Chapter Leaders retain the Blessings and the Offering sections of the form and may shred them after reading and praying over them. There is no need to submit this to CFC Mission Center.

Part 4: A Week after the First Fruits Celebration

1. The Chapter Leaders continue to encourage members and leaders, who were not present in the First Fruits celebration, to give their First Fruits Offering.  You can do this with and through your Unit Leaders and Household Leaders.

2. The Chapter Leaders coordinate and discern with their PFO if the First Fruits teaching can be done at the household level for members who do not attend the First Fruits Celebration and other CFC events. This is for them to know and experience the CFC culture and for their spiritual growth.

Thank you for your help, patience, and understanding. 

Most of all, thank you for your generosity to help our missions! 

May God bless you all.

References for GVA North

• GVA North First Fruits Offering Form

• GVA North First Fruits Offering options