Our Church's Wider Mission - 5
for 5
At the time of our initial award, the Blair Congregational Church
was one of only
about 750 United Church of Christ congregations (out of over 6,000) to attain
this standard. Today there are over 1,000 5 for 5 congregations.
"A 5-for-5 congregation is one that gives to OCWM through its church
budget, while also providing parishioners the opportunity to participate in each
of OCWM's four special mission offerings received during the year--One Great
Hour of Sharing, Neighbors in Need, Strengthen the Church, and the Christmas
Fund." Definition from
http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/oct03/celebrate.htm
The Christmas Fund
provides pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, and
emergency assistance to clergy families in need.
One Great Hour of Sharing supports programs internationally for
sustainable development, emergency relief, social services, refugee advocacy and
resettlement, and for both international and domestic disaster preparedness and
response.
Strengthen the Church supports leadership for new church starts
and revitalizing congregations, leadership development, and programs for youth
and young adults.
Neighbors in Need supports ministries aof justice and compassion
throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The Council for American Indian
Ministry receives one-third of the offering. Stewardship and Church
Finances Ministry, Local Church Ministries
"Because of your generosity, you participate actively in a broad
spectrum of ministries, offering a compassionate and effective response to human
suffering caused by disaster, famine, and war; raising up new congregations,
renewing existing ones, and strengthening youth programs; speaking prophetically
and working toward a world that is more just; and keeping the covenant made with
the wider mission of the church in both the Conference and national settings,
from helping churches and pastors to 'find' one another through the call process
to spreading the good news of the United Church of Christ through the UCNews,
from sending missionaries overseas to nurturing the worship life of our
congregations both large and small." From a letter congratulating our
church from William C. Green, Team Leader, Stewardship and Church Finances
Ministry of the United Church of Christ
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