USA Today reported that the gift was 18 cents and a note saying: "Please don't be mad I don't have much. I'm homeless. God bless."
Revd. Patrick Hamrick of First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, said: "I think this represents a sacrificial gift.
"It took some bravery, I think, to write that.
"And for us, we acknowledge that individual gave out of his poverty proportionally a big deal."
He added that the note reminded some of a story in the gospel of Luke, Jesus sees rich people making a show of their wealth with their donations to the temple, while a poor widow gives all she has, two coins.
Jesus questions which person has really given more.
He said "You're literally right in between two very different worlds.
"We are, and we see that. Sunday mornings we welcome a big crowd of people to come have breakfast with us.
"Some of them are coming from shelters." The church's "Muffin Ministry" may feed 150 on a given Sunday morning.
So it was not unusual to have homeless people sat at the service on Sunday.
Revd. Hamrick said the church has no plans to find the donor, but will instead "honour the dignity of the individual who made this gift."
He added if the contributor came forward: "it would be amazing, because I have a feeling, there's been enough groundswell of support that this person could probably get some additional assistance."
