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Holy Week resources and reflections

PMA to send Special Offerings gifts to churches and presbyteries

by Tricia McReynolds

Over the next couple of weeks the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) will begin remitting the portions of gifts to two special offerings ― Peacemaking and Pentecost ― that are earmarked for congregations and presbyteries.

Fifty percent of Peacemaking Offering gifts will be split evenly between presbyteries and receiving congregations, while 40 percent of Pentecost Offeringgifts will be remitted back to congregations.

“This process helps illustrate the healthy and growing partnerships that exist throughout the PC(USA),” says Linda Valentine, the PMA’s executive director. “We are absolutely pleased to be able to help raise funds for mission through presbyteries and congregations,” she added.

According to Sam Locke, director of Special Offerings, this is an especially exciting time for his office. “Hearing how congregations are investing in their communities through gifts to Special Offerings is really inspiring, especially when we have the opportunity to help share these stories with the entire denomination,” says Locke.

He adds that he wants to “encourage more congregations to share the projects these gifts are funding to serve as examples to other congregations who may be looking for new ideas” on how to use their gifts.

Soon, 263 congregations and 123 presbyteries will be receiving checks as large as $700 from the PMA to help fund their own designated projects.

Examples of projects funded by retained Pentecost and Peacemaking Offering gifts include summer camps for at-risk children, sponsorship of local youth sports teams, scholarships to attend churchwide events such as Presbyterian Youth Triennium or Peacemaking Travel Study Seminars, and projects such as A Place to Sleep in Shelbyville, Kentucky, which provides beds for children and youth, and was recently recognized nationally during this year’s Make a Difference Day.

Through the four churchwide special offerings, Presbyterians can help meet the needs of our sisters and brothers around the world. Whether by helping a community recover in the wake of a disaster, assisting a pastor’s family in their time of personal crisis or by making peace in classrooms by helping to prevent bullying, our gifts to the special offerings continue to be a strong catalyst for positive transformation in the lives of others and to serve as a visible witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

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