One Great Hour of Sharing

The One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering, March 22, makes the necessities of life, such as food, shelter and clothing, a reality by sharing the goodness of life with those who hurt. When a catastrophe occurs, offerings to OGHS enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to reach out and ease the pain and suffering by providing humanitarian aid of food, shelter, health and peace.

Giving to OGHS enables UMCOR to keep the promise that 100% of designated gifts go to the specific causes. Unlike other mission programs, UMCOR receives no World Service or other apportionment money. This is why faithful support of OGHS offering is crucial.

Faithful support of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering is crucial.

One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. Each congregation is encouraged to celebrate the Special Sundays. Your congregation’s extravagant generosity to OGHS offering provides hope amidst despair.

One Great Hour of Sharing is observed the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22 this year. The offering can be received at any time of the year, though.

In 1946 OGHS began as a special effort of the Episcopal Church. In 1949 the observance became ecumenical. Originally, one special worship hour during the year was reserved for people of faith to contribute over and above their regular offerings. Today different denominations celebrate One Great Hour of Sharing on various dates, but the cooperative spirit remains.

The United Methodist Church relies on OGHS to support humanitarian aid through UMCOR. You can be assured that when catastrophes cause suffering, your denomination, impelled by Jesus' love and compassion, will be in the lead to ease the pain. UMCOR's specialized ministries are responding in disaster, fighting hunger, alleviating poverty, providing relief supplies around the world, and offering hospitality to immigrants and refugees. All assist the most vulnerable people whose need is greatest.

"The One Great Hour of Sharing offering on March 22, 2009, provides for those basic needs that make the rest of UMCOR's work possible," said the Rev. Sam Dixon, UMCOR deputy general secretary. "Without this offering so much of what UMCOR does to bring hope and healing to the world could not happen."

Most gifts coming to UMCOR have been designated for specific programs, and those programs receive 100% of those gifts. So part of the OGHS offering plus a small percentage of other general donations support UMCOR's cost of doing business.

Donations to OGHS also assist UMCOR programs that have not been fully funded through designated Advance gifts.

United Methodists' donations often become the springboard for additional funding.

The General Board of Global Ministries offers resources to help with the OGHS observance. They include offering envelope to insert into bulletins the day of the offering and a poster to decorate a bulletin board or church school classrooms. To order resources, go to One Great Hour of Sharing.

Resources about OGHS and the other five Special Sundays of the denomination are are also available from UMC Giving.

If you’re looking for support materials, there are resources available online as well as a link to the denomination’s online store where you can order free printed resources. If you would rather call and order resources, call toll free (888) 346-3862.

For additional materials, visit the One Great Hour of Sharing page on the General Board of Global Ministries Web site.

Resources include how to talk to your congregation about Special Sundays. Downloadable resources, available in both Word or .pdf formats, and color or black and white, include:

God calls us to be the hands, heart and hope of the church for people who are suffering. Through the One Great Hour of Sharing, we enable the church to answer that call.

About Special Sundays

Six times throughout the year, United Methodist congregations celebrate churchwide Special Sundays with offerings. Your support is critical to the survival of these important ministries and for sharing God's gifts around the world.

Churchwide Special Sundays with offerings enable United Methodists like you to offer refuge in times of disaster, promote peace and justice, provide scholarships and student loans, reach out to the community, teach skills to encourage self-sufficiency and share the love of Jesus Christ with God's people everywhere. Your support is critical to the survival of these important ministries and for sharing God's gifts around the world.

Online giving is available: Contribute.