What Is the Christmas Joy Offering?

2009 Christmas Joy Offering Promotional Poster

A Presbyterian tradition for almost 70 years, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need.

You are encouraged to support the Christmas Joy Offering through gifts to your congregation's offering. If for some reason that is not convenient, feel free to support the offering directly.

Add this video to your Web site or blog.

Distribution of the offering

50 percent of the receipts to the Christmas Joy Offering are distributed to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs that provide support to retired and active church workers and their spouses and families. The other fifty percent supports Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education through the General Assembly Council.

The Christmas Joy Offering is usually received the Sunday before Christmas. Resources are mailed to each congregation in early September. Free promotional materials include poster, bulletin covers, bulletin inserts, minutes for mission, a booklet with helpful hints for a successful promotion, place mats, coin box, worship resources, and offering envelopes. All of the resources are available through PDS by calling (800) 524-2612 or order online at Presbyterian Marketplace.

2008 Christmas Joy Offering PowerPoint

This downloadable resource offers several programs that may be useful to you this year.

• One provides background visuals and music for any announcements, hymn lyrics, or liturgical resources that you may wish to project
  
• The second is a brief (two-minute), self-contained presentation with music, visuals, text, and narration that can serve as a minute for mission.
  
• The third offers the same visuals and music, but allows presenters to advance the frames as desired in case they wish to make changes to the suggested script that is provided.
  
• Finally, selected art and text elements from the offering materials can be downloaded for use in your congregation

Related Links

Give to the Offering

• Board of Pensions
• Web site with links to all the Racial Ethnic Schools and colleges.
• Listing of Racial Ethnic Schools