SAMPLE LETTER

(Date)

Dear Friends,

We are preparing to join with other Disciples throughout the United States and Canada in receiving the 57^th Week of Compassion offering. For more than half a century Disciples churches have come together to offer compassion, hope and often a lifeline to our sisters and brothers around the world struggling against poverty and hunger, the devastation of natural disasters, or the tragedy of human-made catastrophes like war and environmental destruction.

The theme for this year's offering is "Gifts of Living Water." As Christians we have been baptized with water as a symbol of God's grace and our new life in Christ. We receive the riches of God's blessings as they pour forth like a river. We receive them with gratitude, letting them flow through us to bless the lives of others.

As we prepare for this Week of Compassion offering, let us take time to count the many ways in which God has blessed us. Let us take time to learn about other people in other parts of our world, or close to home their struggles, their needs, their hopes and their dreams. Let us prayerfully consider what God calls us to share.

We will receive and dedicate the offering during our service of worship on (insert date). If you will not be able to be in worship that morning, let me encourage you to share your gift by bringing it to the church during the week, or placing it in the offering plate the Sunday before, or by mailing it to the church office using the Week of Compassion offering envelopes.

Jesus said, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." This Week of Compassion may our gifts flow like a river out of the abundance of our lives.

With God's grace,

Pastor/Outreach Committee