Neighbors in Need Oct

now thru end of Oct–Collecting for “Neighbors In Need”
Rarely have I seen a church without some form of ministry that helps feed people. From community meals to food pantries, churches across the country make sure people have enough to eat. But I always wondered, wouldn’t it be better if none of these services had to exist. What if everyone simply had enough to eat?
Our churches share compassion by not only providing for the basic needs of our neighbors but also asking deeper questions of why these inequalities exist in the first place. Our immediate call to alleviate the suffering of those around us is paired with a prophetic witness calling for systemic reform.
All congregations in the United Church of Christ are invited to take part in the Neighbors in Need offering to address just this. Two thirds of the offering support justice and witness ministries of the United Church of Christ with one third of the offering given to the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Your gifts directly fund the Neighbors in Need grant program. This grant, for UCC congregations and partners, offers funding for both direct service and advocacy projects.
Thank you for your generosity! – The Rev. Rachel McDonald UCC Headquarters
—First United will be collecting for the Neighbors In Need offering through the month of October. You can give via check (put NIN in the memo line), cash (you can put it in the NIN envelopes that are available on the bulletin table at the back of the Sanctuary), or online. Contact Mission & Service Board or the Church Office with any questions.