Special Offerings News - Let’s Build God’s House

We are your Church, O God. We belong to you. In these bewildering days where we find our lives speeding up and slowing down almost at the same moment, bind us to you, who hold time in your hands. Sharpen our eyes to see the resurrection. Open our lives to share your Pentecost fire. As the world swims in chaos, show us pathways of peace. As the world constructs divisions, make us practitioners of reconciliation. Where the world sows hatred, plant us as a garden of compassion. In these shifting times we have much to grieve and much to learn; grant us your wisdom, we pray. Invite us, anew, to be your living Church in the world, serving your people and praising your name. Amen. Blessings, Bryce Wiebe Director, Special Offerings

Engaging with One Great Hour of Sharing During a Pandemic For more than 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. In fact, OGHS is the single, largest way Presbyterians come together every year to work toward a better world. OGHS materials should be in churches now. If you have not yet received your standing order, or if you would like to request additional materials, please call Customer Service at 800-533-4371. Additional resources, including videos, Minutes for Mission, and a brand-new Bible study, can also be found on our website. Access resources → Pentecost Standing Orders Have Shipped All Pentecost Offering standing orders have been shipped. We understand that USPS is holding a number of shipments they have been unable to deliver to churches who have temporarily closed their buildings. If you have not received your standing order, or if you would like to request additional materials, please contact customer service at 800-533-4371 or email customer_service@presbypub.com. All resources, including Minutes for Mission, curriculum and a sample sermon, are available on our website. Download resources online →

The Offerings Can Be Taken at Any Time Each of the four Special Offerings is connected with a liturgical season, but they are not restricted to be received then. We have gotten a lot of indication from congregations that they would rather receive One Great Hour of Sharing when they are back in their church building together as a community. We fully support this decision, recognizing that for some of our congregations, that might be a while. Continuing this pattern, congregations might want to kick off their Pentecost Offering season on Pentecost Sunday (rather than conclude on Pentecost Sunday), and participate in the Offering throughout the summer months. We support your congregation participating in the Special Offerings however they fit best in your context. If you have more questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Contact us →

Sunday School Class Engages Creatively with Links of Love The Covenant Kids of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, Texas, recently gave through the Presbyterian Giving Catalog, donating items such as fishing nets, water filters and supplies for displaced students. Their Sunday school teacher, Laura Baake, shares, "We decided on the student kit and prayed for children in a refugee camp. They wanted to help one child continue to study and we were able to meet all our goals." In addition to their giving, they also participated in the new Links of Love activity where, together, we are creating a visual representation of Presbyterian generosity. The children made the links their own, adorning them with stickers, Bible quotes and smiley faces. Read the story →

Become a Matthew 25 Church Matthew 25:31–46 calls all of us to actively engage in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Matthew 25 is a bold new vision and invitation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with over 460 congregations and mid councils that have already pledged to become a Matthew 25 church by working to build congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism and eradicate systemic poverty. We invite you to join us on this journey! Find out how →

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Congregations and Members

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Building the Household of God

As I travel around the country, I am inspired by the faithfulness and generosity of PC(USA) congregations. Whether large or small, many of our churches are renewing their commitment to outward focused ministry, through things like the Matthew 25 invitation, or deepening their participation in the Special Offerings. As we enter Lent, the church is poised to reach out, again. In the same way Jesus sought out those who were in need during his earthly ministry, we are joining together with God, with one another, and with those experiencing hunger, poverty disaster, or oppression to build God’s house. Thank you for your ministry. We are, indeed, the Church. Together. Blessings, Bryce Wiebe Director, Special Offerings

One Great Hour of Sharing Resources For more than 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. In fact, OGHS is the single, largest way Presbyterians come together every year to work toward a better world. OGHS materials should be in churches now. If you have not yet received your standing order, or if you would like to request additional materials, please call Customer Service at 800-533-4371. Additional resources, including videos, Minutes for Mission, and a brand-new Bible study, can also be found on our website. Discover resources →

Partnering with Illustrated Ministry We are excited to announce that this year, Special Offerings is partnering with Illustrated Ministry, LLC. In addition to designing the cover of our 2020 Action Kit (pictured), Illustrated Ministry will be creating a bulletin insert that corresponds with each Offering in an illustration of a stained-glass window. We also have coloring sheets available that you’re invited to use at your presbytery meetings, during a children’s Sunday school class, or wherever else you see fit. We look forward to this opportunity to get hands on with the interpretation and artwork of the Special Offerings and are grateful to Illustrated Ministry for their partnership. Download Action Kit →

Engaging with One Great Hour of Sharing How do you celebrate One Great Hour of Sharing? Do you collect tooth fairy money like our young friend Paul (pictured)? Do you participate in a nation-wide fishing derby to see which congregation can collect the most coins in their fish banks? Maybe you create an elaborate bulletin board or utilize something as simple as chickens to increase participation. Whatever you do, we want to hear about it! Email us your stories at special.offerings@pcusa.org. And if you are looking for inspiration, we implore you to read what others have done. Read stories of engagement → Children’s Curriculum for 2020 This year’s Special Offerings curriculum writer is Becky D’Angelo-Veitch. Becky, a Certified Associate Christian Educator and Director of Faith Formation at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York, will be writing our children’s curriculum (which is free to download) for all four Special Offerings. We were fortunate enough to run into her at the Association for Presbyterian Church Educators annual event in Little Rock last month and show her the final product for One Great Hour of Sharing. Download OGHS curriculum →

Update Your Pentecost Offering Standing Order Though we are fast approaching One Great Hour of Sharing season, Pentecost Offering resources will be headed your way soon. The last day to make changes or add to your Pentecost standing order is March 12th. To make changes, please contact the PC(USA) Store at 800-533-4371 or customer_service@presbypub.com. Pictured is a sneak peak of the 2020 poster! Change your standing order →

Links of Love The Presbyterian Giving Catalog recognizes how the power of each individual gift, when joined with others, makes a significant and lasting impact for people and communities around the world. And we want to demonstrate this truth through a fun, engaging activity called Links of Love that will make visible the collective efforts of generous Presbyterians just like you! We’re building a paper chain, one that stretches as far as the eye can see, made up of a collection of smaller ones sent in by congregations like yours who have participated. Each congregation’s paper chain will be constructed with links that represent a gift given. We invite you to join our efforts and share your progress on social media using the hashtag #smallgiftsbigimpact! Explore activity →

You are receiving this email because you signed up to stay informed about PC(USA)'s ministry and giving opportunities. Presbyterian Mission, an agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202 800-728-7228 | 502-569-5000