Mission Opportunities

Winter Gear Donations Accepted We have two opportunities to help the needy in Scott and Carver Counties this holiday season. The traditional mitten tree is up the narthex for donations. You will also find a box for gently used and new winter gear (coats, jackets, snowpants, winter boots, etc.). Mitten Tree information may be obtained from Mary Etta Shiner (952.451.6379). Winter gear donation questions should be directed to Annette Nicholas (952.440.2713).


Operation Christmas Child Thank you to the congregation of our church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Shakopee community, 65 shoeboxes were delivered to Operation Christmas Child this year. Thank you!


Christmas Joy Offering The Christmas Joy Offering dates back to the 1930s when the former Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) began an offering to supplement inadequate retirement income and provide supplemental medical insurance for former ministers, missionaries, church workers, and their families.

In the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA), a Christmas offering was first taken in 1960. Called the White Gift, its funds were used for general mission and world relief. The emphasis on global work with children continued until 1973, when the offering was used to assist former servants of the church who were living on inadequate pensions. In 1974 racial ethnic education was added. Funds were distributed evenly between the Board of Pensions and racial ethnic education.

In 1988 the PCUS and the UPCUSA offerings were joined into one offering, the Christmas Offering Joy Gift. 1989 the offering was renamed the Christmas Joy Offering, and in 1991 the 203rd General Assembly changed the distribution of funds to 50 percent to the Board of Pensions and 50 percent to the Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges.

All this to say, please give generously to the Christmas Joy Offering this year. The offering will be received during the month of December.