special offerings

Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church participates in church-wide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that are a collective witness to Jesus Christ's love for the whole church. The One Great Hour of Sharing, and Peace & Global Witness Offering play an important role in defining what it means to be a connectional church. Over the years these offerings have provided ways for individuals and congregations to join together with each other and in partnership with other Christians in responding to a variety of concerns.

Every year 100% of the Christmas Eve Offering is donated to local and international mission partners who are serving the poor, hungry, homeless, oppressed, and afflicted.

One Great Hour of Sharing is a multi-denominational offering that makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, or severe economic hardship, and for those who serve them through gifts of money and time. Today, projects are underway in more than 100 countries, including the United States and Canada. While specific allocations differ in each denomination, all use their One Great Hour of Sharing funds to make possible disaster relief, refugee assistance, development aid and more.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) gives to three specific ministries of the church: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), Pesbyterian Hunger Program and Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People.

Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help people around the world. The Peace & Global Witness Offering is received during the Season of Peace which begins September 4 and ends on World Communion Sunday, October 2, 2022.

Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church has a history of generously supporting the Peace and Global Witness offering. Twenty-five percent of the offering goes to support organizations (the PC(USA) campaign to support Syrian refugees and the California chapter of Moms Demand Action) chosen after careful discernment by the Mission & Service Ministry Team. The remainder of the offering helps fund many worthy mission-related causes of our national denomination and the Presbytery of San Jose’s Peace and Justice Working Group.

In the coming months, there is an opportunity to move Congress to address not only hunger but

1. Food Waste

2. Creation Care

3. Racial Equity in Farming … all by shaping the Farm Bill.

Congress is gearing up to reauthorize the Farm Bill, and Bread for the World (www.bread.org) sees an opportunity to shape the Farm Bill in ways that matter to YOU. Come join this brief Zoom, learn briefly what the Farm Bill is and does, and share what YOU want Congress to do. This Listening Session is for Bread to listen to YOU.