They’re b-a-a-a-a-a-a-ck! Holiday shoppers are already plotting their buying strategies as “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” loom.
But there’s a new effort afoot, as well, called “Giving Tuesday” and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is right in the middle of it. “Giving Tuesday” is December 2.
“Giving Tuesday” is aglobal day, dedicated to giving back. The “Giving Tuesday” website states: “On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.”
The PC(USA), through the Presbyterian Foundation, is making it easy for Presbyterians to participate in “Giving Tuesday.” Simply go to:
https://www.presbyterianmissionexchange.org/coming-soon-giving-Tuesday
“The foundation exists in large part to help congregations and ministries raise funds for their work,” Foundation Marketing Director Rob Bullock told Presbyterian News Service. “’Giving Tuesday’ presents a great opportunity for many churches to benefit from the generosity of so many Presbyterians who will already be giving on that day.
“We already had the technology in place to help with this,” Bullock added, “and were happy to make it available for this denomination-wide emphasis.”
In her weekly letter to church leaders, Presbyterian Mission Agency Executive Director Linda Valentine emphasized that are a vast array of giving choices for Presbyterians. “There are many ways to participate in Giving Tuesday. You may give to:
- your home church or presbytery;
- the Christmas Joy Offering and One Great Hour of Sharing;
- Presbyterian mission workers or Young Adult Volunteers;
- our ministries through the Office of Public Witness in Washington DC and the United Nations;
- the Presbyterian Historical Society;
- another Presbyterian-related mission organization.”
Valentine said: “Giving generously to others is at the heart of this new international movement called Giving Tuesday … and we Presbyterians want to be a part of it — giving generously, and through those acts, giving glory to God. Just think of the impact we could make if all 1.8 million members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) join in this effort.”
Bullock agreed. “We hope that many Presbyterians will catch the spirit of Giving Tuesday and that many churches and ministries will find it a positive boost to their year-end offerings,” he said.
“It’s a simple idea,” the “Giving Tuesday” website says with evangelistic fervor: “Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.”