Dear Church Leader:
In the scripture chosen for Human Relations Day this year, Samuel responds to God’s call with an open heart and an open mind. Samuel prepares himself to be a vessel for God’s goodness to make positive change in his community. On Human Relations Day, we have the opportunity to have listening hearts, just like Samuel. We can respond to God’s call to pour God’s love into our communities using our time, money and gifts.
Human Relations Day (HRD) is three weeks away—January 14, 2024. Meet with your leaders to determine the status of the celebration plans. Here are some ideas you can put into place to help your celebration:
Communicate your online giving to your members or promote UMC.org/SSGive for online giving to Human Relations Day.
Place the Pew Cards in the pew racks or in high-traffic areas. You may also place them in your visitor or new-member packets.
Download the Offering Talk and Call to Worship and print the Adult Bulletin Insert or Cover for worship. These resources will help your congregants know they are making a difference in the lives of persons who are empowered by their gifts to Human Relations Day.
Develop generous and mission-minded adults by sharing the HRD Children’s Message and Bulletin Inserts with your children.
Share the Social Media Graphics on your social media platform(s) and tag your members so that they will share them with their friends.
Pray for the ministries of Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Services volunteers and at-risk teens.
Prepare to send the offering to your annual conference treasurer.
Our donations on Human Relations Day support United Methodist Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Services and Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs.
Thank you for giving to the Human Relations Day offering,
The Connectional Giving Team
Below is suggested copy you can edit and use to announce Human Relations Day by email, in your newsletters, for classes or in your bulletin.
ANNOUNCEMENT OR EMAIL COPY
Email Title: Human Relations Day 2024—Email #2
Subject: Human Relations Day is three weeks away!
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:10: “Speak. Your servant is listening.” (CEB)
Pretext: Give to the Human Relations Day Offering on January 14, 2024
“Dear Friends,
The story of Samuel provides us with an example of how our listening hearts can make a transformational impact on our communities. When we pause to discern God’s call for our lives, we can meet needs, bring healing, and continue to bring about the “beloved community” that Martin Luther King Jr. believed in.
Human Relations Day is three weeks away. As we look for opportunities to build the beloved community locally and globally, one option is through our Human Relations Day offering.
Pray and seek God’s guidance to discern how you can support outreach to communities.
Our gifts on Human Relations Day work together to empower faith-based volunteer programs, community developers and programs that work with at-risk teens.
Thank you for your generosity,
Yours in Christ,
Pastor”