It was an hour, actually.

      On Saturday, March 26, 1949 at 10 pm, there was a radio broadcast sponsored by the major protestant denominations, called “One Great Hour,” to aid postwar recovery and rebuilding in Europe.  Notables like Gregory Peck and Ida Lupino and President Truman participated. The broadcast closed with a request that listeners attend their local church the following morning and make contributions.  It was the culmination of an idea by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in 1946 when there was a goal of a million dollars for the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief.  On radio he challenged to raise “one million dollars in one hour.”  It worked.  American churchgoers responded.  They shared.

      As important as the money was, it was just as amazing that many major mainlines participated, and the united effort set the groundwork for much mission giving since.  A distinctive feature is that the relief work of the separate denominations is supported under the overall umbrella of One Great Hour of Sharing.  The ecumenical banner, theme, interpretation, and, well, “branding,” provide a unified invitation, despite denominations’ separate agencies delivering the aid.  Much of the coordination is with Church World Service, the relief, development, and refugee assistance arm of the National Council of the Churches.  OGHS works with the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Relief Fund and the Jewish Passover Appeal.

      As an example, the same campaign will nourish the UCC’s Neighbors in Need offering and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  Even more, when Superstorm Sandy hit NYC, NJ, and Long Island, both the UCC and PDA responded in partnership.  After the Sandy Hook school shooting, the UCC Churches called on PDA’s response teams who had expertise in community traumas because such assistance was not available through UCC in the area.  There are amazing stories of other inter-denominational relief response beyond the two I am most familiar with.  It is a far deeper and richer meaning for “sharing” than merely sharing offering money; it is sharing help and hope.

      Like many congregations, First Congregational has a deep and faithful history of sharing through OGHS, and I will simply remind you of the good works done through this offering over the years and encourage you to be generous yet again this year.

      I’m also going to suggest that you take an hour (see what I did there?!?) to explore http://onegreathourofsharing.org and http://www.ucc.org/oghs/ (of course, I love the background from onegreathourofsharing.org/the-history-of-one-great-hour-of-sharing/) and learn about all the ways people all over in difficult situations have been helped through OGHS.  And, obviously, I hope that inspires you share more generously in March to FCC’s offering.  Use the envelopes in the pews or mail it to the church office.  Sharing is incredibly powerful.  Share.

      Let’s have a great month of sharing!
                                                                                   
                                                                          In Christ,
                                                                   
                                                                           David            



Texts For Sunday Worship:

      From the Hebrew Bible         Exodus 17:1-7
      From the Epistles                 Romans 5:1-11
      From the Gospels                John 4:5-42