UTO Collections will take place between September 25 and October 16 this year.
Expressing gratitude on a regular basis is an amazing practice! It can be done by everyone regardless of your age or circumstances. Even very small children can be taught to stop and take a moment to express thanks for their blessings.
This practice is at the heart of the United Thank Offering program whose purpose is twofold: First, it is meant to foster a personal spiritual discipline of thankfulness through individual intentional prayer and gratitude for all that God has done and continues to do by placing coins in the Blue Box. Then, through the combined collection of United Thank Offering Blue Box coins, bills, and checks, 100% of the money is awarded through grants to young adults, seminarians, parishes, and dioceses. The grants are for one-year projects designed to support transforming and innovative ministries. Since 1983, 5,300 grants have been awarded totaling $140 million.
As demonstrated by Jesus in the parable of the loaves and fishes, wonderful things can be accomplished when everyone puts in a little. On Sunday, September 25, the Blue Boxes will be available during each service. They will also be available in the Parish House throughout the following week or until they run out.
You are invited to embrace and deepen a personal daily spiritual discipline of gratitude. UTO encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings and make an offering for each blessing using a UTO Blue Box.
On Sunday, October 16th, there will be an ingathering at the Eucharist preceding the Fall Fellowship Festival at Kanuga.
Almighty God, I give you praise
for blessing me in many ways.
Create in me a grateful heart
and with this gift a blessing start. Amen.
With a grateful heart,
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