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By making a secure online gift to the Christmas Fund, you can help us give to those in need who have served the church
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CHRISTMAS FUND
The Christmas Fund Offering (formerly the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross), one of four Special Mission Offerings of the United Church of Christ (UCC), is an important way of sharing our joy at God's renewing and life-giving grace. The Offering, which is administered by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance of the Pension Boards on behalf of the UCC, is an expression of joy and gratitude to, and 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 the families of clergy and lay employees and Christmas Gift Checks to hundreds of annuitants. As the United Church of Christ celebrates 50 years of ministry in 2007, the Christmas Fund celebrates 105 years of continuous ministry this year. Facts taken from a 1953 publication indicate that: "In 1902, a little money was collected and special Christmas gifts were sent to ten older ministers." The same article also reports that $121,054 was received for the Christmas Fund in 1952. A little more than 50 years later, in 2006 the Christmas Fund received $1,438,000 and nearly 1,500 families were assisted. Our goal is to be able to provide at least $1,500,000 in assistance from the 2007 appeal. The theme for the 2007 Offering is: "God is with us" (Matthew 1:23). The words spoken to Joseph by a heavenly messenger while he slept heralded good news that the incarnation of God in the Christ Child was imminent – good news that a new day, God's day, was about to dawn. The church today is the incarnate presence of the Christ. We are called to be the presence of the Christ in the lives of those who have served the church so faithfully, as well as to usher in a new day for God's whole earth. Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care. |
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For more info visit www.christmasfund.org |
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Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through
the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through
our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors.