WHAT IS....?

BIRTHDAY OFFERING

In 1922, ten years after the Women's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) was formed, the women sought an appropriate way to celebrate what the Auxiliary had meant to them.  Mrs. Hallie Paxon Winsborough, Superintendent of Women's Work, touring mission stations in the Orient, visited Miss Dowd's School for Girls in Kochi, Japan.  She saw inadequate facilities and crowded rooms and recognized a need which could be met by Presbyterian Women in the United States.  Returning home, she challenged all the women of the church to give only one penny (or one dollar) for each year of their lives as a "Birthday Gift" to those school girls in Japan.  This offering is collected in May each year.  Throughout the world, the church has health care facilities, hospitals, clinics and nursing services that continually need funds.

THANK  OFFERING

This special offering gives us the opportunity to say “Thank You, Lord” for blessings we have received daily, and to allow us to show our appreciation by giving to those less fortunate.  Forty percent of this offering will be used to support medical missions throughout the world.  The balance of funds generated will be used for new creative areas of mission, undesignated in advance.  Specific projects will be selected by the Creative Ministries Offering Committee from project proposals submitted.  This offering will be received in November each year.

COLUMBIA FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

Columbia Friendship Circle is an organization of women in local churches who are concerned about the training of ministers, missionaries, and directors of Christian education.  Concern is expressed through prayer and financial support.

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

There are many needs such as sewing articles for use in partner countries, sewing articles for use in the Georgetown area, purchasing and assembling kits for use in the USA and making contributions for designated needs.  Gifts given through Presbyterian Women Mission Opportunities fill needs that are not being met in any other way.

THORNWELL HOME FOR CHILDREN

Located in Clinton, South Carolina, this ministry of our church provides for children in need,  including their education in the context of its own school system.

LEAST COIN CIRCLE OF PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP

This is a worldwide movement of individual prayer and giving begun in 1956 by Shanti Solomon of India.  Women from 70 countries express oneness in Christ by a common gift – their least coin – to a special project of relief-reconciliation, and evangelism.  The projects are determined by an international committee administered by the Asian Church Women’s Conference.  The meaning of the gift is found in its spirit and not in the material results.

BLESSING BOXES

The offering from our blessing boxes will be used for scholarships for young people from the Presbytery of New Harmony who are entering full time Christian service.  These are collected in March.