Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) - January 2009
OCWM is the name we use to describe the work we do as the United Church of Christ beyond the local church-through our conferences, national ministries, and UCC-related institutions. Our Church's Wider Mission is also the name we give to the financial support given by UCC members and congregations that make this broader mission possible.
Our Church's Wider Mission provides funding for the work of UCC Conferences and for the work of the UCC's national ministries. Some of the basic support is used for ministries to Conferences, local churches and members, as well as for ecumenical, prophetic and missionary ministries on behalf of the UCC.
http://www.ucc.org/ocwm
|
Slumber Falls Camp (SFC) - February 2009
Slumber Falls Camp is an outdoor ministry of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ. The twenty acre facility nestled along the Guadalupe River can host three simultaneous events at any given time. Cedar trees dominate the property, with cypress trees found along the river. An Indian mound and numerous fossils abound near the area known as Fossil Flats. While the camp is best known for its Christian summer camp for children ages 6-18, the facility is used by a wide variety of groups from all over Texas during most weekends of the year.
http://www.slumberfalls.org/
|
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) - March 2009
Through donations to the OGHS mission, we can reach out in the name of Christ to rebuild communities that have suffered disasters and minister to refugees. The UCC unites with eight other protestant denominations and Church World Service to fulfill this goal. The UCC annually gives $3 million through OGHS to humanitarian needs in the world. In this partnership with nearly 6,000 UCC congregations, we can share in this miracle of compassion.
http://www.ucc.org/oghs/
|
Young Life of Rockport - April 2009
Young Life doesn't start with a program. It starts with adults who are concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don't happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency.
So Young Life leaders log many hours with kids — where they are, as they are. We listen to their stories and learn what's important to them because we genuinely care about their joys, triumphs, heartaches and setbacks.
We believe in the power of presence. Kids' lives are dramatically impacted when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God's love with them. Because their Young Life leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose.
This is the first step of a lifelong journey; the choices they make today, based upon God's love for them, will impact future decisions … careers chosen, marriages formed and families raised. All ripples from the time when a Young Life leader took time to reach out and enter their world.
http://www.youngliferockport.blogspot.com/
|
Strengthen the Church - May 2009
Strengthen the Church is one of four special mission offernings within the United Church of Christ. This mission is for funding new church starts and invigorating existing congregations, nurturing lay and pastoral leadership, building youth and young adult ministries, and supporting the God is Stillspeaking Ministry and its extravagant for all within the United Church of Christ.
The offering is typically received on Pentecost - the day we celebrate the founding of the Christian church - but churches may choose to receive the offering on any Sunday; some choose their local church's anniversary or Thanksgiving Sunday.
http://www.ucc.org/stc/
|
Back Bay Mission - June 2009
The Back Bay Mission was founded in 1922 and is located in Biloxi, Mississippi. Back Bay Mission is one of 306 UCC-related health and welfare organizations that work with the poor, the sick, and the dispossessed.
This mission provides emergency assistance of food, shelter, and prescription medicine to over 5,000 people each year. Their thrift shop is a source of low-cost or free cloting and household goods to low-income people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
http://www.backbaymission.com/
|
Chicago United Eden (CUE) - July 2009
CUE represents the (C) Chicago, (U) United, and (E) Eden semenaries that are located in the Midwest United States. The United Church of Christ affirms the importance of maintaining a tradition of trained clergy, requiring graduation from high school, college, and seminary, or their equivalencies. Throughout the 39 conferences of the UCC in the United States, churches, associations, and conferences cooperate in regions to lend their support to seminaries. This support enabled students to receive scholarships, subsidizes faculty salaries, and meets special needs of the school.
http://www.nwoa.org/cue.htm
|
United Campus Ministry - August 2009
United Campus Ministry is an ecumenical ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples), the UCC, and the Presbyterian Church. This ministry is located at many colleges and universitices. Our local campus ministry is at the University of Houston campus. The money they receive is used to maintain a center on campus for students to come to between classes and study, talk to the Christian minister or counselor, make a sandwich, get a coke, use the computers, etc. There is a full-time youth minister who supervises the center. They also train students to do peer counseling and conduct Bible study sessions for students.
http://www.ucmhouston.org/
|
Eden Home - September 2009
Eden Home is a full service care facility for senior citizens located in New Braunfels, Texas. Their fully staffed department helps maintain a full and active social life for all their residents. Samples of available activities include gardening, bible study, bingo, dominoes, bowling, and live entertainment. Your donation goes toward the operating expenses of the facility such as salaries, maintenance, new buildings, resident equipment, and general operating expenses.
http://www.edenhome.net/
|
Neighbors in Need - October 2009
Neighbors in Need is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Neighbors in Need helps all facets of our society that suffer poverty, injustice, and lack of spirituality. Their causes range from civil rights issues, helping suppressed low-income communities, women's work place issues, housing, and education issues. Donations contributed to Neighbors in Need goes to a wide variety of areas. It's a real eye opener to learn just how much poverty, racial prejudice, gender bias, and poor educational facilities in our own backyard. This is an opportunity to contribute to help make a difference close to home.
http://www.ucc.org/nin/
|
Christmas Fund - November 2009
The Christmas Fund (formerly Veterans of the Cross), one of four special mission offerings of the UCC, is an important way of sharing our joy at God's renewing life-giving grace. THe offering, which is administered by the pension boards on behalf of the UCC, is an expression of joy and gratitude for those who serve the church. Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assistance to clergy families in need and Christmas gift checks to hundreds of annuitants.
http://pbucc.org/interior_art_special.asp?id=CF_DONATE
|
|