Bishop Ward encourages churches to lift up the ministries of UMCOR on UMCOR Sunday, March 26 (or another Sunday that works best) and receive an offering in gratitude for the assistance the North Carolina Conference has received from UMCOR offerings after hurricanes and tornados.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
The fourth Sunday in March, this coming Sunday is UMCOR Sunday across the United Methodist Church. For many years, this fourth Sunday in Lent observance and invited offering was called “The One Great Hour of Sharing.” At the 2016 General Conference, the name was changed to convey the use of this offering.
We, in the North Carolina Annual Conference, know well the way that these funds are needed and used. Across many years, we have received the generosity of the Connection of United Methodist people when hurricanes and tornadoes and other times of need have happened in our midst. In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, thousands of United Methodists and other volunteers will come to North Carolina. Homes will be restored. People will be encouraged. Lives will literally be redeemed. This Sunday, be sure to invite the UMCOR offering into your congregation.
North Carolina is storm-prone given our Outer Banks, our ocean location. We are a debtor annual conference. In other words, we have received more from the United Methodist Committee on Relief from the generosity of United Methodist people than we have offered, and our generosity has been great.
This year in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, let us show generosity through the connection of United Methodist people, as others are in need and as the United Methodist Committee on Relief continues to give generously in our midst.
Thank you for your offerings this Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, March 26, or at any other time during this Holy Season.