Missions

 

Budgeted Donations

Significant annual giving is an important part of our mission.  The congregation has committed itself to setting aside a substantial percentage of its income for use beyond the local church.

Sojourners gives away an amount equal to 10% of the church's operating expenses to the United Church of Christ regionally and nationally to support the work of the denomination.

We also budget a set amount each year to enable our Service & Missions Committee (SAM) to work with our Social Justice Groups in providing financial support to a variety of endeavors -- local, national, and international.

 

Special Church Offerings

We collect for two special offerings sponsored by the United Church of Christ. Neighbors in Need is received in the fall and is devoted to advocacy and social justice work in the United States.  One Great Hour of Sharing is received in the spring for disaster relief and development work throughout the world.

 

Collections

Baskets are provided year round for food donations which volunteers take to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

There is always a box on hand for the donation of books for children and adults which Quest Institute uses in its “Books Behind Bars” program. This program provides books for those who are incarcerated across the commonwealth of Virginia.

During the year, the congregation collects stamps, greeting cards and stationery as well as toiletry kits for those incarcerated at Fluvanna Women's Correctional Center as part of an area-wide faith community effort called the Inmate Christmas Gift Program. For each of the last few years we've collected more than 200 kits as well as many boxes of writing supplies for the women.

Since 2011 Sojourners has collected "Boxtops for Education." 

The church provides space for Virginia Organizing  to keep a box for the collection of cell phones, printer cartridges and accessories which are later recycled -- it's one of V.O.'s fundraising initiatives.

 

Advent Fair

One of our newer "traditions" at Sojourners is the Annual Advent Fair. Available products vary from year to year. Examples of handmade items sold in the past include: soap, Christmas cards, pottery and knitted goods. One year two of our church members sold their own locally raised, organic meats. Another time a Sojourner sold her homemade breads and chutney. Loofahs grown at Sojourners were popular in 2013. In addition to supporting these artisans and farmers, the Advent Fair generates income through sales of goods for the Ojola Children's Project in Kenya, Innisfree Village and the Urban Agricultural Collective of Charlottesville.