Christmas Store Offering
For many years, it was a CPC tradition to support the Montgomery County Christmas Store through a special offering known as the “Sugar Offering” (so named because our contributions were used to purchase sugar for the grocery packages that were distributed to the families being served each year by the store). Because the Christmas Store no longer supplies sugar in the grocery packages, we no longer call our special offering by its former name . . . but we still have the opportunity to support the Christmas Store each year!
Your financial gifts to the CHRISTMAS STORE OFFERING are used to support the overall mission of the Montgomery County Christmas Store, and now is the time to tap our compassion, our time, and our pockets in support of this worthy annual outreach. Please make your check payable to CPC, designated for the “Christmas Store.” Checks may be placed in the regular Sunday offering in worship, or brought or mailed to the church office. Thanks!
Good News of Great Joy:
The 2012 Christmas Joy Offering A cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Because Advent and Christmas shine a light not only on our world’s greatest hope but also on our world’s greatest need, the PC(USA) provides this timely opportunity for congregations to support causes specifically designed to bring Good News of Great Joy to the poor in circumstance or spirit. Alongside the message of promise and fulfillment in Luke’s Gospel, we also hear the clear call to God’s people to respond in faith as Christ calls us: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48)
Gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering are distributed to the Assistance Program of the Presbyterian Board of Pensions (which provides critical assistance to Presbyterian church workers and their families) and to student scholarships at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges (enabling students to develop their gifts and find their calling). The Christmas Joy Offering will be received at CPC this year on Sunday evening, Dec. 16 (during the Children’s Christmas Program/Plum Pudding Festival at 7:00 p.m.), during morning worship on Dec. 23, and at the Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service Please plan to give generously by making checks payable to CPC, designated for the “Christmas Joy Offering.” And on behalf of all the people who will benefit from your kindness, “Many thanks!” 
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