Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Every year Unity actively promotes and supports the four Special Offering opportunity’s in co-operation of the PCUSA. These are the One Great Hour of Sharing, the Pentecost Offering, the Peace and Global Witness Offering, and the Christmas Joy Offering and they allow us to provide financial support to national and local missions throughout the year.
One Great Hour of Sharing
Restoring Hope, Feeding the Hungry, Empowering the Oppressed
Typically received during the season of Lent, each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Gifts sent to One Great Hour of Sharing have help provide for —
$4.1 million granted by PDA in the United States and 57 countries in the first half of 2020
94 grants impacting 20 countries given by PHP in 2019
50 years of ministry for SDOP
over 17,000 people trained nationally and internationally by OGHS ministries
5,676 PDA work team volunteers served in 2019
234 certified PC(USA) Earth Care congregations helped care for creation
51,000 trees planted around the world
over 5,000 projects in economically poor communities in the United States and around the world have had an opportunity to develop solutions to their own challenges since SDOP’s inception
$190,000 recovered in stolen wages for hospitality workers in the U.S.
1,097 Presbyterian congregations purchased eco-palms for sustainable forestry and livelihoods
The Pentecost Offering
Nurturing the faith of those who are the church to come
A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Gifts sent to the Pentecost Offering have helped provide support for —
1980 first Presbyterian Youth Triennium was held
$15 million raised for ministries that benefit younger members of God's family since 1998
Unity has used portions of th Pentecost Offering retained to impact young people in our community by making gifts to —
Highpoint Youth Group
Pride Center of Terre Haute
14th & Chestnut
CASA of Vigo County
The Peace and Global Witness Offering
Equipping Peacemakers in Congregations and Around the World.
A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace. Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness. Gifts sent to the Peace and Global Witness Offering have helped provide support for —
1980 Presbyterian Committment to Peacemaking is established
10 International Peacemakers selected for 2021
Unity has used portions of the Peace & Global Witness Offering retained to share the Peace of Christ in our community by making gifts to —
CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center
Liberty Village
Operation Vanguard
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The Christmas Joy Offering
Supporting Past, Present, and Future Leaders
The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The Offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage. This has been a Presbyterian commitment for nearly 140 years. Gifts sent to the Christmas Joy Offering have help provide for —
$1.1 million in gifts from 2017 are being used to provide critical financial support and grants for current and retired Presbyterian church workers in their times of need
26 countries represented in the last 25 years at Presbyterian Pan American School
98% of graduates from Menaul School go on to college
84% of faculty at Stillman College hold terminal degrees
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic event.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The core budget, including staff and administrative costs, is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing, and its program work is additionally funded through designated gifts.
To make a special gift designated to PDA address checks to: Presbyterian Church (USA) and mail them to Presbyterian Church (USA) P.O. Box 643700 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
or you can call 1-800-728-7228 to give by Credit Card
You can even make a Text donation sending “PDA” to 20222 to give $25 to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance General Relief account.
Souper Bowl of Caring
Unity is proud to be a yearly participant in the Souper Bowl of Caring efforts to collect and provide.
In 1990, a simple prayer: "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat"was delivered to a small youth group at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC led by Brad Smith, who was serving as a seminary intern at the time.
This gave birth to an idea. Why not harness the energy and enthusiasm of Super Bowl weekend, a time when people come together for football, food and fun, to unite the nation for a higher good? Individuals and groups could collect dollars in soup pots and canned food for those in need and send every dollar and food donation DIRECTLY to a local charity of THEIR choice.
The first year, they invited 22 area churches to join the team and collected $5,700 with 100% of donations distributed to local-area charities.
That was 1990. Since then, Souper Bowl of Caring has become a national, grass-roots, youth-inspired movement where ordinary people are doing extraordinary good. Over $170 MILLION in dollars and food has been generated while benefiting thousands of soup kitchens, food banks, meal programs and other hunger-relief charities in local communities.
Thousands of participants including: churches, schools, youth groups, community partners, grocery partners, local businesses, media partners, NFL teams and passionate individuals have experienced for themselves, the joy and satisfaction of giving, serving and inspiring people across the country to follow their generous example.
