Planning Calendar

I. Gather
__ Gather your committee: identify the persons who will assist in the planning and promotion of your Week of Compassion offering and observance.
__ Your resources: this year’s packet of materials including the posters, this leaders’ guide, ordering forms; also materials from previous years and other resources on the web site: www.weekofcompassion.org
__ Your community of faith in prayer: ask the congregation to hold your committee and the Week of Compassion observance in their prayers.

II. Review
__ Review carefully this year’s Lead- ers Guide.
__ Familiarize yourself with all the materials.
__ Check the Week of Compassion web site: www.weekofcompassion.org

III. Involve
__ Select readers for the Minutes for Mission.
__ Identify other participants for particular assignments in your observance.
__ Talk with your pastor(s) about their role in the WOC observance.

IV. Challenge
__ Review your congregation’s history of giving to Week of Compassion.
__ Set your goal — considering adding 10% to your largest WOC Offering in the last five years. Or offer a minimum goal ($25 for example) per household.

V. Announce
__ Let the congregation know about your Week of Compassion obser- vance.
__ Display posters in high traffic areas throughout the building.
__ Prepare articles for your church newsletter in the weeks before the offering is taken.
__ Send a letter to members and friends (sample is in this Leaders’ Guide, page 14) inviting them to participate in the Offering.
__ Check the WOC web site for regu- lar updates and share them with your congregation.
__ Create a special Week of Compas- sion display in the narthex or other place of high visibility.

VI. Celebrate
__ Plan special events to raise your congregation’s awareness of Week of Compassion.
__ Invite a special speaker to be part of your worship or share during an outreach dinner.
__ Contact the WOC Office about the 2002 video.
__ Encourage your youth groups to use the “A Day in the Life” materials.

VII. Proclaim
__ Share the materials with your pastor(s). Ask them to focus at least one sermon on the 2002 theme.
__ Invite pastor(s) to read “Compas- sion Comments” on the WOC web site, prepared this year by Ron Allen, Professor of Preaching and New Testament at Christian Theo- logical Seminary.
__ Work with your pastor(s) and wor- ship leaders to include WOC worship resources in your worship services.
__ Include the children’s sermons during your Week of Compassion observance.

VIII. Give Thanks
__ Give thanks for and consecrate the WOC Offering during wor- ship. Ask God’s blessings upon these gifts that they might truly bring help and hope to hurting people throughout the world.
__ Thank the congregation for
sharing.
__ Thank the various people who participated in in planning and carrying out the WOC observance.
__ Give thanks for the ministries of caring, hope and service Week of Compassion enables on behalf of your congregation and Disciples in the US and and Canada in the name of Jesus Christ.

IX. And Finally
__ Share any special ideas or activi - ties that worked well for you with Week of Compassion.
__ Read and post WOC Updates throughout the year to remind your congregation of how WOC works around the world, around the year.