Easter Offering

Received in most congregations on April 14 & 21, 2019

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 NRSV

As Disciples, we all benefit from the fruit, the gifts, of our general ministries. These fruits are made possible only through the connections and support that grow in collaboration with our regions and congregations. This Easter, let us reflect on the transformative ways that we have been impacted by those ministries, and by the fruits of our shared work.

Our general ministries provide critical resources to Disciples congregations, like stewardship campaign materials, loans and financial services, and space for community building around shared values and traditions.

Our ministries can bear these fruits because of our shared root system. We are rooted in Christ. As one branch of our vine grows, we can share more fruit with more people, from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.

This Holy Week let us give of our own fruits to tend to the whole. Our ministries grow through your tending, nurturing, and caring. Your gifts to the Easter offering can transform our shared work.

Please give generously to this year’s Easter Offering.

General Ministries that receive support from the Easter Offering include:

• Center for Faith and Giving
• Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries (Obra Hispana)
• Communication Ministries
• Council on Christian Unity
• Disciples of Christ Historical Society
• Disciples Home Missions
• Disciples Women
• Division of Overseas Ministries (Global Ministries)
• Higher Education and Leadership Ministries
• Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation
• National Benevolent Association
• National Convocation
• North American Pacific / Asian Disciples
• Treasury Services

Worship resources

Communion Meditations

• Debbie Shields, hospital chaplain: PDF | Word
• Paul Fritts, U.S. Army chaplain: PDF | Word
• Jeffery Murphy, hospital chaplain: PDF | Word
• Amy Booker-Hirsch, hospital chaplain and former Global Ministries mission co-worker: PDF | Word

Moments for Mission

• Disciples of Christ Historical Society and National Convocation: PDF | Word
• Disciples Home Missions (DHM): PDF | Word
• DHM Chaplains:
  • Alexis Waggoner, Air Force chaplain: PDF | Word
  • other chaplain photo
• DHM Immigration Counsel: PDF | Photo
• DHM’s Green Chalice: video
• Disciples Women: PDF | Word
• Global Ministries: PDF | Word
• Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation: PDF | Word
• National Benevolent Association (NBA):
  • Mental Health Resource: Online Worship for Holy Week: PDF, Word; register online
    • NBA Stories Vlog: Disciples Chaplains Peer Group: video
    • Visiting Disciples Health and Social Service Ministries: NBA + OGMP On the Road: video
  • More from NBA

Offering Meditations

• Global Ministries: PDF | Word
• National Convocation: PDF | Word

Other

• Worship and Wonder story video (from Disciples Home Missions’ Family & Children’s Ministries)
• Sermon by Global Ministries co-workers: PDF | Word

Stories and resources made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund and the Easter Special Offering