Nov 28, 2016

Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, provides United Methodists a one-day opportunity to commit to God’s mission in concrete ways, as we prepare during Advent to receive God’s great love in Jesus Christ at Christmas.

The four scripture lessons for the First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 27) focus on the coming Messiah and the hope for peace, honor among people, and God’s unexpected grace (from Isaiah 2, Psalm 122, Romans 13, and Matthew 24). These themes are part of the mission story and remind us of the global mission outreach and service of the church — work that requires prayer, devotion, and support.

Giving Tuesday is a response, started in 2012, to the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, a time to rally families and communities to assist worthy causes that meet human needs around the world. For United Methodists, it has become a time of designated mission giving through The Advance for Christ and His Church, which assures that every dollar goes to the ministries indicated by the donor.

No matching funds this year

Over the past three years, the General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have matched designated Giving Tuesday gifts up to set levels. The match has motivated contributions. But was never intended to become a permanent part of the occasion, and it will not be offered this year.

The motivation for mission giving is mission itself. Giving Tuesday is not only about collecting money. It is about awareness of the opportunity and need for individuals, families, congregations, and communities to unite in mission in the season of Advent.

(Adapted from a UMC Global Ministries website article)

Support mission through Giving Advent

But since there is no matching funds deadline this year, you can give to mission beyond just Tuesday. Why not celebrate Giving Advent by giving extra support to missions throughout the Advent season to celebrate God’s gift of Christ to the world?

You can give through the UMC General Advance (www.umcmission.org/give) to missionaries or to projects like the Tanzania UMC Guest House and Reception Center (Project #12635N) in Dar es Salaam, now under construction to provide the conference with income and hospitality for mission volunteers and other visitors. The Rev. Mutwale Ntambo Wa Mushidi and his wife, Kabaka Ndala Alphonsine, are our UM missionary partners in the Tanzania Conference.

TanazaniaConf.Foto1

Or you can support other mission outreach ministries supported by your local church or by our conference, including these:

Please write to us at communications@epaumc.org and tell us what mission outreach ministries your church is supporting through special gifts during this Advent season and Christmas. We hope to receive enough responses to publish an article about these generous efforts by the beginning of 2017. Thanks in Advance!