UCC Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund, established to help those who have faithfully served in the ministry of the church, including retired ministers and families of deceased clergy.

Habitat for Humanity. Again this year  we are helping to build and pay for the construction costs of a Habitat Home through the NE Denver Faith Coalition. The Habitat portion of our Christmas Offering will put us well on our way to the goal of $5000 toward next year's house.

In addition to supporting the UCC  Christmas Fund & Habitat for Humanity, a portion of our Christmas offering will go to support emergency assistance for those suffering from war, abuse, and famine in the southern and western Darfur region of the Sudan in Africa. The United Nations has identified this as one of the worst human rights situations in the world. The money we contribute will be channeled through ACT, Action by Churches Together, an international relief program in which the UCC participates. ACT is seeking to raise $17.5 million for shelter, water, sanitation and basic sleeping and kitchen materials for 500,000 people who have been displaced into camps, who are living near their burned-out villages, or who are acting as host communities. The program also aims to provide supplementary food to 50,000 children under the age of 5 in the same location and education for school-aged children in the population.

Last Christmas, PHCC contributed a total of $3,570. This Christmas we hope to significantly increase our offering so that we can effectively support our three recipients.

The offering will be received at our 8:30 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Friday, December 24. Offering envelopes will also be available in the pews and we will collect these gifts during the service. Or, you're welcome to mail your gift to the church office, or drop it into the offering plate during morning worship. (envelope enclosed in the Congregationalist). Please make your checks payable to PHCC and designate "Christmas Offering" on the memo line. Thank you.