General Mission Giving

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has created four churchwide opportunities each year called Special Offerings to support specific causes. The focuses of the offerings correspond with the season of the liturgical year or special days of the church calendar: the Christmas Joy Offering is generally received the Sunday before Christmas; One Great Hour of Sharing on Easter Sunday; the Pentecost Offering on the Day of Pentecost; and the Peacemaking Offering on World Communion Sunday.  Davis Community Church participates in all four special offerings and in general mission giving as well. General Mission Support is used to strenghthen smaller congregations, support mission service personnel and provide leadership training and scholarships.

Since 1949 One Great Hour of Sharing has helped people in need around the world. The offering supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Self-Development of People and the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

Congregations are encouraged to retain 40 percent of the Pentecost Offering for local work with children at risk. The remaining 60 percent is shared among ministries with youth and young adults, young adult mission volunteers and child advocacy.

The Peacemaking Offering is distributed among local congregations (25 percent), presbyteries and synods (25 percent) and the General Assembly (50 percent) for peacemaking efforts. The offering is received on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October.

The Christmas Joy Offering has been a Presbyterian tradition for more than 70 years. Its proceeds benefit active and retired workers of the church in times of need and also support the work of racial ethnic Presbyterian schools and colleges.