What does that mean? It means we fully support Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM). We participate not only in OCWM Basic Support to the Wisconsin Conference and the national ministries of the UCC, but also the four special mission offerings – One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, and The Christmas Fund.
To learn more about Our Church’s Wider Mission programs visit www.ucc.org
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)
One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM), is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that helps individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disasters, conflict, or severe economic hardship.
The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water, food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons, and emergency relief and rehabilitation. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response.
This offering is received on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
Strengthen the Church (STC)
The Strengthen the Church offering supports church growth, pastoral and lay leadership development, youth and young adult ministries within conferences and administered by Local Church Ministries. The support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill on its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the emerging needs of local communities.
This offering is received on Pentecost Sunday.
Neighbors in Need (NIN)
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the UCC 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 the 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 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. Funding is provided through donations to the Neighbors in Need offering.
This offering is received on First Sunday of October as part of World Communion Sunday.
The Christmas Fund
Provides direct financial assistance to retired and active United Church of Christ authorized ministers and lay employees and their surviving spouses, including pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assistance to clergy families, and Christmas checks to hundreds of annuitants.
This offering is received on the Sunday before Christmas.