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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
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Nov./Dec. 2004 |
The Bishop's Christmas Offering
My Dear Hoosier friends,
Christmas becomes a special time for our children. Unfortunately, many children here at home in Indiana and around the world don't receive the blessings of this special holiday, but we can make a difference in their lives through our gifts. Therefore, as has been the tradition in our two conferences, there again will be a special Indiana Area United Methodist Offering for Children.
Instead of receiving two Indiana Area offerings -- one at Thanksgiving and one at Christmas -- I have requested that we receive only one offering for children at Christmas. I encourage your congregation to receive a Thanksgiving offering as well for hurricane relief through United Methodist Committee on Relief or another mission or ministry of your choosing.
I first request that you pray for all the children of the world. The AIDS pandemic, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civil unrest in the Sudan are extreme examples of both children and adults under disastrous situations. I believe that God's spirit goes before us and hears our requests on behalf of the world's children.
Second, I ask you match your prayers with action, by receiving the Indiana Area United Methodist Offering for Children this Christmas in your congregation. Earlier this year, the area special offering committee distributed more than $80,000 in funds from this past year's offerings to 12 projects in Indiana, nine projects across the United States and eight projects in other needy places around the world. Those projects are listed on the bulletin inserts and envelopes in this year's promotional materials. The committee will equally divide this offering into thirds for projects in Indiana, the United States and the world.
The poster image for this Special Christmas Offering comes to use from Surviving Child Orphan Trust in Zimbabwe, one of several AIDS ministries in Africa. A portion of our Christmas Offering will go to the AIDS Awareness and Care for AIDS Orphans in Kenya and the Babyfold at Old Mutare Hospital in Zimbabwe.
As your congregation plans for Advent and Christmas, please include in those plans the Indiana Area Offering for Children. On behalf of the children whose lives this offering will make a difference, I thank you.
Grace and peace,
Bishop Mike Coyner
Your gift will help children programs like these
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Indiana -- North Indiana: North Indiana Conference Camp Programs; KidTown, Grace UMC (Gary); Kokomo Rescue Mission; NIC Children and Poverty projects, Royal Family Kids' Camp, Marquette Park UMC Children's worship - South Indiana: South Indiana Conference Division of Outdoor Ministries; Noah's Ark Children's Village; Vida Nueva, Brighwood Community Center and Brookside UMC (Indianapolis); Fletcher Place Community Center (Indianapolis); Fourteenth and Chestnut Community Center (Terre Haute).
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United States -- Henderson Settlement (Frakes, Ky.); McCurdy Mission School (Espanola, N.M.); Covenant Eudcation Center (Shiprock, N.M.); Red Bird School (Beverly, Ky.); Children's Sidewalk Church School Prog. (San Antonio, Texas); Hillcrest-Bruce UM Ministries (Ashland, Ky.); Wesley Child-Care Center (Cincinnati, Ohio); Camp Ministries (Jayuya, Puerto Rico); Nome Community Center (Nome, Alaska).
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World -- AIDS Awareness and Care for AIDS Orphans (Kenya); School Hot Lunch Program (Haiti); Community Outreach Program for Children (India); Kissy Clinic, Nutrition Program (Sierra Leone); For Love of Children, Central Methodist Mission (South Africa); Ukrainian Street Children Ministry; Ministry to Street Children (Rio de Janeiro); Ishe Anesu Project; Babyfold at Old Mutare Hospital, Mutare, Zimbabwe; and El Elohe, Home for Children (Mexico).
Programs supported by this offering are selected by the Indiana Area Special Offerings Committee. These programs are among those endorsed by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008