Lent is a time to give to, rather than give up: One Great Hour of Sharing season is in full swing

The season of One Great Hour of Sharing is in full swing, with many United Church of Christ congregations embracing the long-standing ecumenical offering, established in 1946, as a Lenten practice that focuses on giving to someone rather than giving up something.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is one of four Special Mission Offerings in the UCC. The gifts help those locally, providing funding for Global HOPE grants that equip volunteers, aid in migration and refugee ministries, and provide resources for disaster recovery and rebuilding.

Monies from OGHS also reach around the world, enabling Global Ministries, the common witness of the UCC and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, to support humanitarian aid organizations that have helped people like Nada Nabil.

As a young girl growing up in Egypt, Nabil had always dreamt of receiving an education. There was one obstacle in her way: her physical disabilities, which made attending school difficult. While she dropped out when she was eight, she never let go of her dream to read and write.

Through the BLESS Sustainable Development Programs —supported in part by One Great Hour of Sharing — Nabil found a second chance. She enrolled in adult literacy classes offered in her community. With determination and the support of her mother, Nabil attended the courses and began building the skills she had once been forced to leave behind. (Read the full story on the Global Ministries website here.)

BLESS not only provided Nabil with an education but has also helped farmers in the Egyptian village of Malek El-Sayed plant crops more efficiently. With the help from OGHS gifts, new tools and techniques were introduced to increase the yield of crops. Among the tools was a manual planter that reduced seed waste from hand scattering by 40 percent. (Read full story  here.)

Sharing has no expiration date

While the suggested collection date for the 2026 OGHS was last Sunday, March 15, many churches choose to use the entire season of Lent to lift the stories of how gifts help Christ’s siblings locally and globally. OGHS resources can also be used throughout the year.

For more information or to make an online donation, visit UCC One Great Hour of Sharing here.

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