The Love We Find Along the Way

What does the Lord require of you? This is a question we struggle with each day as we strive to be more faithful believers. In Micah 6:8 the prophet proclaims, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” This year the One Great Hour of Sharing special offering uses this question to ask how God is calling us to live, help others, and have a fuller relationship with God. How does this act of kindness enrich our Lenten journey and what can we do to assist people in need as we search for love along the way? 

One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the most significant ways Presbyterians come together to help others. This movement started in 1949 as a means of recovery to places in Europe and Asia devastated by war following the end of WWII. 

A program called One Great Hour was broadcast on the evening of Saturday, March 26, 1949, over major networks and many independent stations. The script was written under the direction of playwright Robert Sherwood. The cast included some of the foremost dramatic and musical talents of the time, such as Gregory Peck and Ida Lupino; President Harry Truman brought greetings. The broadcast closed with a request that listeners attend their local church the following morning and make a sacrificial contribution. No exact measure of receipts was possible, but it was estimated that more than 75,000 churches participated. (OGHS History)

The following year the same offering was gathered as an ecumenical effort using the name “One Great Hour of Sharing”.  Today the offering continues, and although each denomination allocates donations differently, OGHS follows a basic mission of assisting in the areas of disaster relief, refugee assistance, and development aid.  Through efforts of the PCUSA, OGHS work to assist with disaster recovery, support hunger relief, and work to eradicate poverty. 

So, how will we answer God’s call and make our Lenten experience more meaningful? First, we can work locally with ministries that assist with hunger relief and homelessness. Options include donating to Suffolk Christian Fellowship’s food pantry and volunteering and donating to the Night Stay Program. We also have Gracie Fish banks available to donate loose change for our children and youth. These funds will support mission projects from the PCUSA Giving Catalog chosen by our children. Finally, you can make a financial donation to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering anytime throughout the Lenten Season. An official offering date is scheduled for Palm Sunday. 

Blessings during this Lenten season. May your journey find love in all the right places and embrace justice, kindness, and humility.

Rev. Julie Sterling