Five special offerings are collected every year benefiting local, national and international mission agencies.

The Caring Fund Offering
Established in 1981, The Caring Fund is a donor sponsored benevolent ministry that supplements the cost of care for those residents who have outlived their retirement resources. To date, this ministry has ensured that none of our residents have ever had to leave the Village because their funds have been exhausted. The Caring Fund recipients are residents who have lived far longer than their financial planning took into account; who have encountered unforeseen circumstances or medical conditions; or they are residents who have no family left to turn to for support. Last year 62 residents needed assistance from The Caring Fund. Ongoing generous support to The Caring Fund is vital to ensure that this ministry will continue to help to give those residents in need the security of knowing that they will be able to stay in their home, with all of the staff and fellow residents they have come to know, love and depend on.

The Caring Fund offering is collected on Father’s Day. For more information, visit www.gracepresbyterianvillage.org/help/caring_fund.htm.

Peacemaking Offering
Christians are called as Christ's people to be God's peacemakers as agents of reconciliation in families, individual lives, communities, churches, the international arena, and the whole of creation. Peacemaking is the human response to the divine gift of peacegiving. The Peacemaking Offering supports the peacemaking efforts of the church at every governing body level, and provides an opportunity to witness to God's gift of peace in the world.

 

Christmas Kettle
The Christmas Kettle, located in the Friendship Center, benefits different local mission agencies chosen each year. Donations can be made throughout Advent. In 2003, the Christmas Kettle collection was evenly divided between Good Shepherd Community Center, Interfaith Housing Coalition, Meals on Wheels, and Network of Community Ministries.

Christmas Joy Offering
Presbyterians have long celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ by giving generously to a Christmas season offering. Fifty percent of the receipts to the Christmas Joy Offering are distributed to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs that provide support to retired and active church workers and their spouses and families. The other fifty percent supports the eight Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.

The Christmas Joy Offering is usually received the Sunday before Christmas. For more information, visit www.pcusa.org/cjoffering.

One Great Hour of Sharing
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter future.