One Great Hour of Sharing, March 11

No home cook waits until dinnertime to shop for that meal.  Cooks stock up beforehand on the food they need to feed their families.  Think of One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) in the same way.  If we waited until a disaster struck before asking for help, precious lives might be lost while the resources are being gathered.  So when churches across the United States receive this annual offering on March 11th, we are stocking up beforehand on the resources not only to feed but also to shelter and care for people in need.

When Hurricane Maria caused death and destruction in Puerto Rico in 2017, the United Church of Christ responded immediately with aid to help local congregations and agencies cope with the disaster because, thanks to OGHS, we had stocked up beforehand.  Gifts to the OGHS offering has also helped people living in 45 countries, seeking to improve their lives.  We help them develop clean water resources, provide prenatal care, improve nutrition and overcome illiteracy. 

It is easy to feel overwhelmed when we look at all the areas of need in God’s world.  Wishing and dreaming of a  better world means nothing if we don’t realize God gives us community to practice love and compassion.  Our gifts become blessings to people we don’t know and blesses us in ways we can’t expect.  We can make a difference beyond what we can imagine.

– From your Board of Stewardship and Mission