Our Church's Wider Mission

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here. Because we believe in extravagant welcome,
we insist that God’s table is open, not closed,
and God’s gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable…

We demonstrate this through public professions of our identity and purpose: multi-racial, multi-cultural, open and affirming, accessible to all. We advocate justice for all as an extension and expression of faith. We are open to new ways of being church and forming Christian community. We affirm that cultural differences expand our ability to welcome more people. We strive to keep our perspective global in our partnership with people of faith around the world.

 

Gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission benefit the full range of the United Church of Christ mission across the country and around the globe. Further information can be found at: http://www.ucc.org/ocwm.

 

Special Mission Offerings

United Church of Christ Special Mission Offerings (SMOs) exist to allow congregations and individuals to meet people at points of critical need in their lives. Though many options exist for direct, individual support of these needs, the SMOs allow a common witness and make a collective positive impact. Our church has identified four areas where these critical human needs exist: 

• in places lacking health and educational resources and/or where disaster has struck; 
• within systems of injustice which oppress daily life and opportunity; 
• in the lives of church leaders without sufficient resources to live with dignity; 
• in the nurture of youth and congregations just beginning their lives of faith.  

We believe these SMOs collectively serve to lift people closer to the abundance and wholeness to which Jesus Christ has called us to work together to bring about.

One Great Hour of Sharing
Supports partners in countries with ministries that fund health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources. This offering is received on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Further information can be found at: http://www.ucc.org/oghs.

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Strengthen the Church
Supports church growth, pastoral and lay leadership development, youth and young adult ministries within conferences and administered by Local Church Ministries. This offering is received on Pentecost Sunday. Further information can be found at: http://www.ucc.org/stc.

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Neighbors in Need
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. This year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities. Further information can be found at: http://www.ucc.org/nin.

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Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund is a Special Mission Offering that congregations have been supporting for over 100 years.  The offering is administered through the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the charitable arm of the Pension Boards.  Funds provide direct financial support to those who serve the church and are facing financial difficulties.  Active and retired clergy, lay employees, and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and/or Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks. This offering is received on the Sunday before Christmas. Further information can be found at: https://www.pbucc.org/index.php/christmas-fund-home.

Information for these programs provided from the UCC website at:  www.ucc.org/ocwm_special-support.