This year marks the 75th anniversary of One Great Hour of Sharing, one of the four special offerings the Presbyterian Church collects each year.
Collected throughout Lent, this offering supports three organizations – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. From providing immediate assistance after disasters to ongoing development of communities, these organizations work together to help fulfill Jesus’ charge in Matthew 25 to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and support the poor and oppressed.
Below is an OGHS sample letter for pastors who wish to give their congregation more information about the offering. Simply copy and paste, insert the date of your special collection where indicated, and sign.
For more resources, click here.
OGHS Sample pastor letter
Dear Church Family,
In Isaiah 58, the prophet exclaims, “Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in” (Isaiah 58:12). As the people of Israel returned from the cloud of exile and struggled to rebuild their lives, Isaiah questioned their efforts: [Are you not called] “to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them?” (Isaiah 58:7).
Then in Matthew 25, we hear Jesus calling to us, “For I was hungry and you gave me food … I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing. … As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:35–40).
Isaiah and Jesus are making an important theological point: faithfulness to God causes us to find solutions that will mend broken things— broken lives, broken spirits, broken hearts, broken relationships—things that happen to all of us throughout our lives.
When we give to the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering on Easter Day, we are combining our efforts with those across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to repair peoples’ lives — people who are hurting, broken, oppressed, lost or on the margins of society. The exact people about whom Isaiah and Jesus are speaking. The people we are called to connect with every day, but especially in the light of the Good News of the resurrection.
I invite you to visit the OGHS website (pcusa.org/oghs) to find all sorts of information on how your gift helps people all over the world and offer prayers for those who will receive monetary support through this offering. Small changes which, when added together here and around the globe, make huge differences in the lives of our siblings in need.
It also happens that this year is the 75th anniversary of One Great Hour of Sharing—this is the perfect opportunity for our congregation to recommit to our participation in this important opportunity to do our part to participate in God’s ongoing repair of the world God so loves.
That brings me to my challenge. I challenge each of you to increase your gift to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering to benefit Presbyterian ministries to combat hunger, provide assistance after disaster strikes, and to work with sustainable community development. It is my hunch that you will see how giving opens your heart to God’s work in your own life. I hope that you’ll join us on Sunday, [date] as we collect this offering and tangibly witness to the repairing love of God in Jesus Christ through One Great Hour of Sharing.
Yours in Christ,
