Our Ministries
We are a 5 for 5 church, providing support to Our Church’s Wider Mission and the Special Mission Offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen The Church, Neighbors In Need and The Christmas Fund. See below for more information about these 5 UCC Missions. Use the Ministries menu above to find out more about Ministry and Missions at St. Johns!
One Great Hour of Sharing
Channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources. This offering is received on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
Strengthen the Church
Re-imagines and builds the future of the UCC. Shared at the conference and national levels, STC largely supports youth ministries and full-time leaders for new churches in parts of the country where the UCC does not have a strong presence. Its also provides support for existing church's new initiatives. This offering is received on Pentecost Sunday.
Neighbors in Need
Supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Local Church Ministries. This offering is received on First Sunday of October as part of World Communion Sunday.
The Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund is a Special Mission Offering that congregations have been supporting for over 100 years. The offering is administered through the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the charitable arm of the Pension Boards. Funds provide direct financial support to those who serve the church and are facing financial difficulties. Active and retired clergy, lay employees, and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and/or Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks. This offering is received on Christmas. Eve
Our Church's Wider Mission
In the national setting of the United Church of Christ there are four Covenanted Ministry partners who are supported by gifts Our Church’s Wider Mission: The Office of General Ministries, Local Church Ministries, Wider Church Ministries and Justice and Witness Ministries. We work together to change lives!