Christian Church in Ohio

Transcription

1 Christian Church in Ohio D I S C I P L E S O F C H R I S T A covenant network of congregations in mission: We are the Body of Christ gifted and called in covenant together as Disciples of Christ to be centers of transformation on the new mission frontier of our own communities Christmas Special Day Offering Butt tthe angell saiid tto tthem,, Do nott be affrraiid;; fforr see II am brriingiing you good news off grreatt jjoy fforr allll tthe peoplle Luke 2::10 You ll find in this packet everything you need to plan a successful congregational approach to the Christmas Special Day Offering. As you may know, this special day offering of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is the only one which remains solely in Ohio for the benefit of Regional Ministry. From pastoral search committee guidance, to Camp Christian, to our men s and women s fellowship gatherings, to pastoral care during crises our regional staff develop and strengthen the strong ties our congregations rely on as we seek to do ministry beyond what is possible when we work alone. You have the freedom to collect the Christmas Special Day Offering any time you choose, but the suggested dates are Sundays, December 11 and 18. Please remember to ask your treasurer to remit the 2011 Christmas Special Day Offering as soon as possible, and before year s end so your offering can be counted as part of your congregation s 2011 giving. Ohio Disciple Outreach Chairperson

2 Some Suggestions for a Successful Offering In consultation with the leadership of your congregation: Recruit someone to be the lead person for the Christmas Special Day Offering. Establish the dates for collecting the offering Establish a goal for the congregation to reach Publicize the goal and the dates through your newsletter, , Sunday bulletins, and every other form of communication your congregation uses Make sure you have envelopes and bulletin inserts for the weeks you will be receiving the offering, available at or by calling the Regional Church Office Make sure you have posters publicizing the Christmas Special Day offering, available at or by calling the Regional Church Office Recruit people to present the Moments for Mission Hand off materials for Children s Sermon, Call to Worship and Communion Meditation to those who will need them Thank those who have made contributions and encourage others to give Announce to the congregation the progress you are making toward your goal Make sure the Christmas Special Day offering is sent to the Regional Church Office before the end of the year so your church gets credit for it as a 2011 contribution.

3 Christmas Offering Moment for Mission The Hats We Wear All of us wear hats from time to time, either figuratively or literally. These hats symbolize our work, our leisure, and the many other activities in which we might find ourselves engaged. If you were in construction, you might be wearing a hard hat for protection. If you were in the fast food business, you would be wearing some form of a hat that proclaims the name of the business in which you work. If you were on the golf course, you might wearing a golf hat or visor. And, of course, hats are worn outside as protection against the elements. What kind of a hat do you wear to demonstrate your faith or how you wish to share it and express it to others? The Christmas Offering, which fully supports the ministries of the Christian Church in Ohio, is just such an opportunity to figuratively and even literally wear that hat that serves as a banner of your faith. Last Christmas, I was given the opportunity to help promote the Christmas Offering in my congregation. On the first Sunday of promotion, early in Advent, I stood before the congregation wearing a hat that I had picked up from Camp Christian. I then asked how many in that congregation had participated in camping programs, men s or women s retreats, or some other activity. A significant show of hands was seen. I then quickly described the thousands of lives that have been touched over the many years that Camp Christian has existed. Many more lives can be touched in the years to come. That will only happen as members share their monetary resources in support of the Christmas offering. The second Sunday of promotion, I donned another hat. This hat I had specially made with the words Christian Church in Ohio just above the bill of the hat. On the back of the hat were the words, Networked in Love. I called attention to the vision statement of the congregation and then reminded them that the Christian Church in Ohio also has a vision statement. To help us fully realize that vision seeks for every congregation to faithfully support the Christian Church in Ohio financially. I reminded all that one hundred percent of their gifts go directly to undergird the ministries of the Christian Church in Ohio. I closed my promotion by asking members of the congregation to prayerfully remember the great gift that God has given us through Jesus Christ and to thankfully to that gift by offering a gift for the Christian Church in Ohio. Nik Donges Anderson Hills Christian Church

4 Moment for Mission: Christmas Special Day Offering In my family there is one person who holds The Big Picture about how we celebrate the holidays. That person keeps the calendar up-to-date, knows what types of gifts would be desired and has a plan for buying, hiding and wrapping them. They know by heart the list of foods Aunt Sally is allergic to, and remember to schedule a carpet cleaner as well as a spiralsliced ham! One or a few work tirelessly behind the scenes, but really, when we gather it s the whole family that we celebrate--the joyous time we all have when that whirlwind of festivity takes center stage. In our church family we see and celebrate what we have all together in this place, but our ministry is supported, in part, by the behind the scenes work of the Christian Church in Ohio, our Regional Ministries. In our denomination, 33 Regions across the U.S. and Canada, are given specific duties to nurture ministers and provide congregations with opportunities for outreach and worship. Often recognized for running summer camps and retreats for men and women, Regions also prepare and authorize ministers for ordination or commissioning. And Regions partner with congregations to support the work required to call a new minister. So as our church prepares to celebrate Good Tidings of Great Joy this Christmas, let s not forget our special thank you gift to the Christian Church in Ohio for the behind the scenes work our regional ministers conduct on our behalf. We ve set a church goal of $ for this offering. Use the envelope provided (give explanation if needed) for your designated gift to the Christmas Special Day Offering. Your offering will be Good News to our Region. Won t you join me and give it with Great Joy?

5 Moment for Mission: Christmas Special Day Offering If you were here last Sunday you heard us say that our congregation has set a goal of $ for this year s Christmas Special Day offering. (Tell them where to find envelopes and how to mark their check.) Our denomination marks special needs with Special Day offerings throughout the year. This Christmas offering is the only one which goes solely toward Regional Ministries. 100% of the money you give will go to the Regional Church Office for support of the ministries in Ohio that our Disciples congregations share. I know this offering might not feel as fun as filling a shoebox and sending it overseas, or as personal as taking a gift tag off a tree and helping a particular family. But I want you to know I support this Special Day offering. The word special in the title really does mean something. Maybe you don t see evidence of Regional Ministry in our midst, but it is there, and it s working on our behalf. Regional ministers oversee Camp Christian. They ensure the people who want to become ministers are well qualified to serve the church. Regional ministers help pastors and their families in times of crisis, and they assist congregations who are looking to call new pastors. They engage in outreach trips to Chile and to the Congo things our congregation alone could not accomplish.. Won t you join me in sending a special thank you gift? Please spread the joy of the season as you make your offering to the Christmas Special Day offering.

6 Children s Sermon Good News of Great Joy But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people Luke 2:10 Has God ever told you any good news? If God wanted to get a message to you how do you think it would be delivered? I ve got some wild ideas: I think God might tell me good news by whispering in my ear, or writing it out in shining stars against the night sky, or telling me in a dream. God might have my teacher blurt it out, or my dog carry it to me tied to a bone! I told you they were wild ideas! (If you feel brave, ask for their ideas, if not, just plow ahead.) The story of Jesus birth that we tell at Christmas includes a whole host of angels, a whole choir of them telling the shepherds the good news of great joy that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and that he would save them--help everyone. A choir of angels is a pretty wild way for God to get a message to us! But God has other, quieter, more normal ways, too. Sometimes it s the loving voice of our pastor that helps us get God s message. Sometimes it s a camp song that tells of God s love, sometimes it s a friend s visit that helps us remember to have joy. This week and next everyone at our church has a chance to share God s Good News of Great Joy as we give to the Christmas Special Day Offering that helps the Ohio Region of our denomination. We get to share our joy by sending of money to support their work. Won t our offering be good news?

7 Call to Worship One: I ve got good news! God hears the troubles of the world, and seeks to make a saving path of compassion and justice. Many: Good News! One: I ve got good news! We are not alone. God walks with us to protect and guide us. Many: Good News! One: It s our turn to pick up the song of angels and announce to the world God s plans for healing and grace. Will you respond with joy? Many: Great Joy! One: Now open your heart to worship, and offer to God all the joy of your faith! Many: Great Joy!

8 Communion Meditation Good News of Great Joy But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people Luke 2:10 I think about those shepherds on the hillside outside of Bethlehem so many years ago. They were just doing their usual work, going through the motions, expecting dawn to come as usual but not expecting angel choirs, and the astounding news of God s arrival as the Christ Child. We gather at this Table so often that it can feel like a habit, just the usual work, the same old pattern. But today, as we come closer to the celebration of Jesus birth, may it dawn on us what an astounding thing happens here when we gather each week. God comes to us, forgiving us, offering us eternal life. The message of the Christ child comes to us through the ages. It comes to all who can imagine such good news of great joy.