Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM)
OCWM links to online resources and ideas for the promotion of Special Mission Offerings includingStrengthen the Church, One Great Hour of Sharing, Neighbors in Need and The Christmas Fund. Interested in a brochure on Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) and how to understand it? Link here to go to our OCWM Page. This contains resources that you can print out yourself.
Special Mission Offerings: Our Church’s Wider Mission Special Support
Our Church’s Wider Mission Special Support comprises gifts to the four Special Mission Offerings in the United Church of Christ, per capita dues, and gifts that are specially designated for the Conference, national setting or UCC-related institutions. By mandate of the General Synod, each local church receives promotional material for the four Special Mission Offerings:
One Great Hour of Sharing: Giving Help, Hope and Life
Supports partners in more than 70 countries with ministries that fund development projects, feed the victims of famine, provide services for displaced people, and respond to natural disasters. These ministries are the responsibility of Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources. Received annually on the fourth Sunday in Lent.
Strengthen the Church: Faithfully Building the Body of Christ
Supports church growth and leadership development in the conferences and through the national offices of Local Church Ministries. Received annually on Pentecost Sunday.
Neighbors in Need: Justice and Compassion Like a Mighty Stream
Supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, including ministry carried out by the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM) and by the national offices of Justice and Witness Ministries. Received annually on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday of October.
The Christmas Fund: Remembering Those Who Serve Our Church
Provides financial aid to retired and active ministers and their surviving spouses and children who face overwhelming financial demands, a ministry carried out by the Pension Boards. Received annually on the Sunday before Christmas.
Annual Stewardship Theme Materials including worship resources, posters, bulletin covers, theme related bulletin inserts, stationary including letterhead, envelopes and note cards, pledge cards for a single commitment, double commitment, faith-promise pledge, and a time and talent pledge card.
Capital Campaigns are much more fun with a team of experts. Priscilla Bizer and Susan Mitchell, UCC Capital Campaign consultants, can be reached by email or by calling 866.822.8224 or 866.822.8224 / Ext. 3834.
Changing Lives testimonials and the Plain Talk video about Our Church’s Wider Mission are on the UCC channel on YouTube.
Electronic Giving makes it easy to receive offerings consistently, even when church members vacation or spend winters away.
Financial Articles and Resources
Making Sound Strategic Choices in Anxious Times
Alban Institute consultants Susan Beaumont and Alice Mann offer UCC pastors some suggestions for guiding the budget making process during tough financial times.
Narrative Budgets
These include examples from nine UCC congregations.
Stewardship Messages
Offers inspiring, biblically based reflections for use in your newsletter, on your bulletin board, website, as an insert in your giving statement or Sunday Bulletin.
Financial Literacy
As recommended by the UCC Pension Boards, Financial Literacy offers helpful guidance through articles, tools and frequently asked questions for all financial stages of life.
Financial Fitness
Through America Saves, a nationwide campaign with a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. This is a program congregations are using to help low-income seniors is a Benefits Check-Up offered by the National Council on Aging which directs you to over 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.