Giving to St. John’s UCC

Are you a retiree using distributions from your IRA or 401K?

You can reduce your taxable income by directing a disbursement from your retirement account directly to St. John’s. Direct disbursements from retirement accounts to Charitable organizations are excluded from your reportable taxable income, but do count towards your required minimum distribution (RMD). Talk to your financial advisor to see if this is a good approach for you. If so, do the following:

• Ask your financial institution what information they require to make this donation. Contact St. John’s office to get this necessary information
• Instruct the financial institution to make a check out to St. John’s UCC. Include your name and envelope number in the memo section
• Contact the church office to fill out a form indicating how to allocate your contribution.

Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support (OCWM)

OCWM Basic support enables associations, conferences, the national setting, and some of our affiliated partners to continue providing the care and services that are vital to the United Church of Christ. OCWM Basic support is generally given at local churches, where the funds are then sent to their associations and conferences before being forwarded to the national offices in Cleveland. (Individual donors are encouraged to give through their local churches for Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support)

Strengthen the Church

Strengthen the Church is a special mission offering to reimagine and build the future of the UCC. Shared at the conference and national levels, STC largely supports youth ministries and full-time leaders for new churches in parts of the country where the UCC does not have a strong presence. It also provides support for existing church’s new initiatives.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) works with international partners to provide sources of clean water, food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons and emergency relief and rehabilitation. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response.

Neighbors in Need

Neighbors in Need supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Local Church Ministries.

This offering is received on First Sunday of October as part of World Communion Sunday.

The Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund is a Special Mission Offering that congregations have been supporting for over 100 years. The offering is administered through the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the charitable arm of the Pension Boards. Funds provide direct financial support to those who serve the church and are facing financial difficulties. Active and retired clergy, lay employees, and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and/or Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks. This offering is received on the Sunday before Christmas.