Special Offerings

Westminster Presbyterian Church supports all four of the Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA), in addition to its General Mission giving which supports the basic mission and ministry of the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. That makes Westminster a "Five for Five" Church!

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

Gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering 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. The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is collected during Lent and dedicated on Palm Sunday. Children especially enjoy giving with their "fish banks" which are a traditional part of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering.

 
  Pentecost Offering
Funds from the Pentecost Offering support work on behalf of children at risk and General Assembly related ministries with youth and young adults. The offering is collected on Pentecost Sunday. Forty percent of this offering stays local.  For the past several years, Westminster has designated the local portion of the offering to the Paula Windsor Scholarship Fund, which helps pay the tuition at Westminster Nursery School for a child at risk.

Peacemaking Offering

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. The Peacemaking Offering is collected on World Communion Sunday. Twenty five percent of this offering stays local. In 2007, the local portion supports the Veterans' Weekend Jazz Vespers "Reflections on Peace" at Westminster on November 11. Past Peacmaking Offerings supported the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and other interfaith programs in Auburn. The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service was revived in 2001 following 9/11, giving people of various religious traditions the opportunity to express gratitude to God in the respectful presence of each other.  

 
Christmas Joy Offering

The Christmas Joy Offering recognizes the faithfulness of current and retired church workers by providing funds to help them through difficult times, providing supplemental pension and medical insurance benefits to retired ministers, missionaries, church workers and their families. This offering also supports minority education through its gifts to Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges. The Christmas Joy Offering is promoted during Advent, and collected the Sunday before Christmas.