Sample Letter

(date)

Dear Friends,

Each year thousands of Disciples across the United States and Canada come together to make their gifts to Week of Compassion. I am very glad our congregation can be part of this special effort to bring help, healing and hope to people in need throughout the world. It is truly one of the best things we Disciples do together with one another and in partnership with other Christians and churches.

As you might expect, much of this work is done in response to catastrophic disasters and emergencies: earthquakes, floods, droughts, wars, epidemics. In addition to providing emergency disaster relief in the form of food, water, shelter, clothing and medicine, our gifts to Week of Compassion also promote and provide long-term sustainable development projects in more than 80 countries and enable people to create new opportunities of life in the midst of hunger, poverty and injustice.

But what does that have to do, immediately and intimately, with you?

If it’s been awhile since you have had time to think about your gift to Week of Compassion and what that gift might mean and do in the world, consider the exhortation from 1 Peter 4:10b: “Serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” What are your gifts? How does using them bring you joy? How can they bring joy to others? An honest struggling with those questions is one place where we come to know, personally and powerfully, God’s purpose for our work in the world.

On (dates), we will receive our offerings for Week of Compassion. Leading up to this celebration, there will be several opportunities to see the ways our Week of Compassion gifts are used to serve others. Join us! If you find you are unable to be with us in worship on these dates, please send your gift through the mail or by a friend.

God has graced us with many and varied gifts. May we be faithful in using our gifts wisely, generously and in service to one another.

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