By Joyce E. Douglas, Diocesan UTO Coordinator
First, I would like to thank each of you who contributed to the United Thank Offering during the 2013 ingatherings (click here
to see reports). If you did not participate in the ingatherings last
year, it is my hope that you will join the other congregations
throughout our diocese in supporting this program with prayers and
offerings.
The United Thank
Offering is a program encouraging men, women, and children to share
their thankfulness to God through daily prayer and offerings, in the
Blue Box, and to pass those blessings to others. The power of the Blue
Box is unlimited. Your prayers and offerings have built churches and
schools, made needed renovations, fed the hungry, clothed the poor,
provided shelter for the homeless and provided care and support for
those with physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
The
times that have been set aside for the ingatherings are the Sunday
closest to the Day of Ascension, in the spring, and the Sunday closest
to All Saints' Day, in the fall. The months are usually April and
October. However, if this does not meet your church's schedule, you may
dedicate another month in which to hold your ingatherings. After your
ingathering, please have your church treasurer write a check to United
Thank Offering. The check(s) may be mailed to: Joyce E. Douglas, 4608 Coronet Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. (phone 757-496-0192) When your checks are received, they will be mailed to the United Thank Offering.
If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me. I am here to help you. If you
need UTO supplies, they may be ordered from the website of the National
Church: www.episcopalchurch.org/uto.
