Your leaders build on the passion that is already present at Bethesda. Not only do we provide money to worthy organizations, but we support education, hands-on mission involvement, and ongoing prayer for our community and world. Each year we evaluate what we have done and try to use the resources God has given us to faithfully proclaim the Good News of God's amazing love!
Last year Bethesda gave over $72,000 to local and world missions. Most of these contributions were made from our budget. In addition we gave to our four special denominational offerings, "2Cents-A-Meal, Souper Bowl Sunday, General Endowment, and other causes that are highlighted in this brochure. You gave support for Brandon Hood to attend seminary, with hopes that he will become a pastor in our denomination.
In addition to money, we gave food and hundreds of pounds of canned goods to those in need in our community. We provided blankets through Church World Service and rabbits through Heifer International! Bethesda was involved weekly in Meals on Wheels, and served meals for Habitat for Humanity workers, just to mention a few causes. Read on. ..
Because we are Presbyterians, giving to missions of the Presbyterian Church, USA is a line item in our annual budget. Through this part of our giving we link arms with other Presbyterians within our Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly to spread the Gospel within our nation and around the world. These. funds provide missionaries in various countries, while supporting special projects for the hurting and hungry in our area. In addition, we give a "per Capita" offering, based on our membership to our higher judicatories to cover the cost of operations, so that everything we give to missions is used for that purpose. The 1 % Theological Education item in our budget supports theological education at our 10 institutions of higher learning.
The Pentecost Offering was first received by congregations in 1995.. Its gifts provide nurture and hope to young members of God's family. Our congregation keeps 40% of the offering to support work on behalf of children at risk. The General Assembly's share (60%) develops church leadership through faithfocused ministries with youth and young adults and supports advocacy for children on a national level. The Pentecost Offering is received on the Day of Pentecost.
This annual offering collected during the Christmas season is used in part by the Board of Pensions for supplementation of the pensions of retired Presbyterian Church workers, who did not have the current level of benefits when they retired. It is also used by the National Ministries Division to fund education at Presbyterian racial-ethnic schools and colleges.
Christians are called as Christ's people to be God's peacemakers as agents of reconciliation in individual lives, communities, churches, the international arena, and the whole of creation. Peacemaking is the human response to the divine gift of peace-giving. The Peacemaking Offering supports the peacemaking efforts of the church at every governing level, and provides an opportunity to witness to God's gift of peace in the world. 25% of the Peacemaking Offering is retained by our congregation for support of our own peacemaking ministry; 25% is used to support presbytery and synod peacemaking efforts; 50% is forwarded to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the General Assembly to provide assistance and resources for congregations and other bodies of the church.
This offering is for the Barium Springs Home for Children. Barium Spring's mission is to reach more of North Carolina's children who need:
Since 1888 Presbyterian Women have funded countless projects and medicallhealth missions through the Thank Offering. Presbyterian Women support services to the aging, challenged, children, homeless, youth, refugees, Native Americans, and women. Projects for educational purposes in the United States and overseas benefit from Presbyterian Women's donations. Health is improved by providing pure water, medical devices, prescribed drugs and sanitary facilities. Peace and justice endeavors for children, youth, women and families are encouraged. Programs that provide grinding mills, vans, furniture, cows and playground equipment are funded. The Thank Offering is celebrating 111 years of giving by thousands of women whose thanksgiving to God is made visible by their gifts.
Founded in 1946, Church World Service is the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States. Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works worldwide to meet human needs and foster self-reliance for all whose way is hard. CWS assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and "international policies, provides educational resources,' and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring. Bethesda provided 252 blankets in 2003 to this worthwhile effort. We join 20 other area churches supporting this program.
"The Coalition for Human Care" located on West Pennsylvania Avenue in Southern Pines, has a mission to meet emergency needs of clothing, food, and financial assistance for Moore County residents in distress, and to refer those with on-going needs to . . appropriate agencies. It was founded in 1986 by 12 concerned churches, but today 42 churches have signed its Covenant of Membership. For the last few years, the Coalition has given food to over 7,000 people, clothing to over 4,500 people and over $150,000 in emergency financial assistance. The Coalition depends on donations of food, clothing and money to serve its clients, and the work of volunteers is always welcome and needed.
This fund was set up by our Board of Deacons to assist church members in special times of need. Contributions come from our members, and monies are quietly given through one of our Pastors or Deacons.
CROP is the name given to community efforts at hunger education and fund raising for Church World Service. This CWS organization has provided service for over 40 years working through partner agencies in more than 70 countries for family health, food production, water resource development, and vocational training. Every year Moore County churches gather pledges for each mile walked, and join together walking for a great cause.
This offering is taken for The Presbyterian Homes, Inc., which provides financial assistance to those no longer able to pay for care or the full cost of care. Presbyterian Homes, Inc. serves some residents of modest means who could not afford to live at the retirement communities were it not for the generosity of Presbyterians across the state.
Approximately 4 to 5 times a year we open our doors to homeless families served by the Sandhills Interfaith Hospitality Network. We provide the following: breakfast and evening meal, transportation to and from the Day Center, and sleeping accommodations. Volunteers from our congregation provide all of these services so that our guests experience a supportive and caring environment. Families who are without a home of their own find in SIHN encouragement and assistance they need to move through the crisis of homelessness to independent living. Many volunteers are needed when we are hosting the families: to prepare and provide meals, serve as evening hosts, drive the United Way van, serve as overnight hosts and wash the bedding at the end of the week.
Our Assistance Team cares for those in physical need. We extend compassion to those in the community regardless of religious orientation. Systematic and social causes are addressed as well as individual and specific cases. The Food Pantry is stocked with food from the Sandhills Food Bank and our homes. No one asking is denied food. It is bought, bagged and put up by church volunteers, including our youth. Every Wednesday morning, volunteer church members on our Assistance Team help with bills for power, gas, kerosene, water and medications. In addition to this budgeted amount, we use funds given by the Moore County Charitable Foundation and a Trust Fund, as well as donations from the congregation.
The One Great Hour of Sharing is a story of phenomenally good stewardship administered by the Presbyterian Church USA. The offering has a fifty-year history, dating back to the churches' response to the devastation in Europe fol!owing World War It is The community of Christ's people helping, neighbors in the name of Jesus. This gives the Presbyterian Church monies that are available immediately to respond to disasters. It is also an efficient and effective way to change people's lives for the better, to reach poor and oppressed people, to restore hope. This annual offering taken on Easter is used for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (36%), Self Deyelopment of People (32%), and Presbyterian Hunger Programs (32%). . ..
We respond to world hunger through the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina. In 1976 "Two-Cents-A-Meal," was a project begun by Presbyterian Women to involve individuals and families in a corporate response to world hunger. On the last Sunday of every month, a special collection is taken for this purpose. "Two-Cents-A-Meal" is a small step in the battle against hunger and poverty. Every member is encouraged to contribute a few cents at every meal. This simple act is an expression of thanks for what we have received. 70% of the money collected is used for Agricultural Ministries in Haiti and Bangladesh. 25% is used for local hunger ministries, with the balance used to administer the allocations.
In September each year, we suggest each member of the church give $1 for each year of their age to the General Endowment. We encourage you to consider giving to this fund as one aspect of your stewardship.