Special Sundays

One of our traditional ways of sharing God's blessings is our celebration of United Methodist churchwide Special Sunday offerings. The United Methodist Churches have six Special Sundays. At CUMC we emphasize and educate our members during Sunday service.

• We celebrate Human Relations Day the Sunday before the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday where we strengthen our outreach to communities in the USA and Puerto Rico, encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth.
• On the fourth Sunday of Lent we celebrate One Great Hour of Sharing. Monies raised enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief to reach out throughtout the worldwide ministries of food, shelter, health, and peace.
• Native American Ministries Sunday is typically the third Sunday of Lent. Our offerrings are used to nurture mission with Native Americans and provide scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians.
• Peace and Justice Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost where we advocate for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global peacemaking ministries.
• World Communion Sunday is the first Sunday of October. We work to provide scholarships for U.S. (racial- and ethnic-minority) and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Student Day is the last Sunday of November. Donations are used to furnish scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities.

Contribution History

World Communion Sunday 2007

On this day we acknowledge the differences in race and ethnicity while we celebrate the oneness of shared beliefs. Our languages, our food and our skin color may differ, But each of us is called to participate in the ministry of Jesus Christ. This morning during Holy Communion, you will be offered a variety of breads representing countries around the world.

When you place your contribution in the World Communion Day envelope, you have assured individuals from the global United Methodist church, as well as racial and ethnic minorities from the United Methodist Church here, that they will be able to pursue various avenues of ministry in the United Methodist Church; whether it be as a pastor or an educator, a youth leader or a minister of music.

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World Communion Sunday 2007

Half of the offering provides Crusade Scholarships for international and US graduate students who are ethnic or racial minorities. 35% supports ethnic scholarships for undergraduate students. 15% funds Ethnic In-Service Training program scholarships. These scholarships are a crucial part of the United Methodist Connection.

A scholarship for Yema Luhahi enabled her to finish nurses training and to return to Congo and then Kenya as our missionary. Lahi Luhahi finished his Ph.D. on a scholarship and is now the Vice-Chancellor at Kenya Methodist University. Your gifts on World Communion Sunday made that possible.

Jean-Michele (mee-shell) Basquin (bas-keen) of Haiti, a student at South Dakota State University, will return to help the Methodist church there to shape a better future. Because of a connection that cares, more than 80 students a year receive the opportunity for quality education.

You are called upon by your church six times a year to open your hearts, and, yes, your wallets too, for causes or connections that seem remote and unrelated to your life. The impact that your ten, twenty or one hundred dollar contribution makes when combined with those of United Methodists all over the country can be life-changing and perhaps even world changing.

As we participate in Holy Communion today using breads from around the world, let us pray for all those who are connected in sharing the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation.

Peace With Justice Sunday 2007

Today is Peace with Justice Sunday----AGAIN.

We all supported Peace with Justice Sunday with our offerings LAST YEAR; SO, have there been any signs of Peace with Justice since last year?

Well, YES. Last year we anguished over this image of a child soldier in Liberia. And we heard of the horrible atrocities there. Since last year, Liberia has had free elections. A sign of Peace. Since last year, Liberia has elected Dr. Ellen Sirleaf Johnson as President. She is a Harvard-trained economist, her education largely due to United Methodist Women support. She is implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Liberia. -- Another sign of Justice

Our Peace and Justice offerings go to help these people who are witnesses for the Truth. Members of these faithful communities

+ accompany those who are testifying to the atrocities

+ provide spiritual support to the commissioners as they investigate

YES! Our Peace with Justice offering has made a difference.

Is there Peace with Justice inside Darfur yet? -------------------Well, NO, NOT YET. Maybe next year.

Coming Up Later This Year