FEDERATED'S 

CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING

A TRADITION OF GENEROSITY

Following a tradition that began in 1961, each year Federated Church donates the entire offering collected at its four Christmas Eve services to an organization or cause whose program or goal would be significantly impacted by this generous gift.  None of the money is used for Federated's operating expenses.

 

We look for an  organization, based locally, nationally, or globally, whose specific goals are to improve the lives of those in need, in turn enriching our world. We welcome proposals for one-time funding support to help with capital projects, program development, enhancement or expansion. The Christmas Eve offering is just the beginning of what we hope will be a year-long partnership of mission engagement with the recipient. 

 

The Mission and Service Commission is hoping to better involve the entire congregation in the process of choosing a recipient for our Christmas Eve offering. 
If you know of a worthy organization that would benefit from our offering, we invite you to add their name to a list that will be at the Mission & Service table after worship on Rally Day, September 10. You may also offer suggestions to any Mission & Service commission member before then.  


We want our donations to make a considerable impact on the recipients programming needs.  So, we are especially hoping to help organizations that do not have existing large endowments or other large sources of financial support.  The Mission and Service Commission will research these organizations and will then select and invite a spokesperson from some of the suggested organizations to present a short summary of their  programs, goals, and needs at a Missions meeting (Date to be announced).  The chosen recipient will be announced in the December Spire. For more information contact Marty Culbertson, mculbert@fedchurch.org.     

RECENT RECIPIENTS

2020                          
Federated Mission Partners

St. Paul's Community Church, Chagrin Falls Park Community Center, Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, JustHope

2019                          
St. Paul's Community Church

Federated Church has had a “sister church” relationship with St. Paul’s Church for over 55 years. St. Paul’s Church has survived and thrived through many challenges throughout its history. Although St. Paul’s had some major renovations completed in the past five years, the church building is still in need of several repairs. Our Christmas Eve offering helped St. Paul’s Church continue their redemptive ministries with many of God’s children in crisis by making urgently needed improvements to their building.

2018                          $34,398
HOLA OHIO

The mission of HOLA Ohio is to empower the community it serves through education, outreach, leadership development and more. This nonprofit offers an array of bilingual and culturally-competent programming to attend to the needs of the Latino population. HOLA has been providing many of these services to Latinos in northeast Ohio without a reliable location.

2017                          $36,199
HIRAM FARM

Hiram Farm is an agricultural setting for adults with developmental disabilities, with emphasis on adults on the autism spectrum. Farmers see, feel and taste the fruits of their labor. The animals, crops and craftworks that the farmers produce provide them with a source of income; the resulting sense of ownership, accomplishment and self-worth goes beyond the paycheck.

2016                          $36,679

TWO FOUNDATION, INC

Two Foundation, Inc. operates Two Cafe & Boutique at 8578 East Washington Street in Bainbridge. Two Cafe serves as the premier training and employment center where clients with mild to moderate exceptionalities receive real life work experience in a fully integrated setting.

2015                          $46,984

EDWINS LEADERSHIP & RESTAURANT INSTITUTE

EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland provides formerly-incarcerated adults with a foundation in the hospitality industry as well as a support network necessary for successful reentry.  The offering collected at Federated will go toward student housing and a test kitchen for the program.

2014                          $64,817

ST. PAUL'S COMMUNITY CHURCH, CLEVELAND

The selection of St. Paul’s UCC Church in 2014 gave us an opportunity to continue to grow our 50-year partnership with them as our sister church on the near westside of Cleveland. To support this ministry of caring, fighting poverty, and all that goes with those issues, we were able to furnish St. Paul’s with resources to enable the repair and upgrade of the facility they minister from, providing a safe, healthy environment while doing God’s work. 

2013                          $37,647

THE RAINEY INSTITUTE

Rainey Institute is where the arts change lives. They are dedicated to positive change for Greater Cleveland’s youth and families through education and participation in the visual and performing arts. Children ages 3 and up attend Rainey after school, on Saturdays, and during the Summer to explore music, dance, drama, sewing and art. They develop their artistic abilities and their character. Rainey students learn to be leaders and positive role models. They are prepared to be “on stage” at all times, enabling them to succeed in school and life.

2012                          $40,000

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, INC

A Cleveland-based program that works to end the cycle of homelessness by providing homeless women with a safe environment, programs and services that promote self-sufficiency and independence without regard to race, color, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

2011                          $31,800

STITCHING HOPE PROJECT OF JUSTHOPE, NICARAGUA

A program designed to assist women in Chacraseca, Nicaragua in the development of a multi-faceted enterprise which will enable them to work together creating both fabric art articles for export, and utilitarian items for local sale.