news article
Golden Cross Sunday offering supports Chaplaincy programs
May 8, 2015 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Golden Cross Sunday offering is an annual appeal to the members of the Upper New York Conference to help support benevolent services.
In Upper New York, the offering is traditionally received in May, giving congregations the flexibility to designate any date in the month that best suits their schedule.
Across the denomination, these conference-wide offerings are used to support health and welfare ministries, such as chaplaincy programs, disability awareness ministries, parish nursing education programs, and AIDS ministries, as well as the more traditional programs.
The Golden Cross Program dates back to the earliest days of Methodism in America, when the program primarily supported church-related hospitals and long-term healthcare facilities.
Six United Methodist-affiliated facilities provide a chaplaincy program in Upper New York. This year’s Golden Cross offering will be divided equally among the six facilities’ chaplaincy programs. They are:
- Beechwood Continuing Care, Getzville (Niagara Frontier District)
- Bethany Village, Horseheads (Mountain View District)
- Folts Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and Claxton Manor, Herkimer (Mohawk District)
- United Methodist Home at Hilltop Campus, Johnson City (Binghamton District)
- United Methodist Homes at Elizabeth Church Campus, Binghamton (Binghamton District)
- Wesley Gardens, Rochester (Genesee Valley District)
“Anyone who has spent time with aging persons understands the deep spirituality with which they address life,” said Conference Benefits Officer Vicki Putney. “The chaplaincy programs provided by these facilities are invaluable to our senior citizens and deserve all the support that churches and members are able to give through the Golden Cross offering.”
Although there are no special offering envelopes, churches still need to remit their collected funds on the monthly remittance sheet to the Conference Office, with a notation of “Golden Cross.” Churches may use the May Vol. 2 issue of the Bridge bulletin insert (available May 12) to promote this offering.