The Christmas Fund reflects on hope, peace, joy and love: Congregations ‘give their hearts’ to help others

In the poem “A Christmas Carol,” written by Christina Rossetti in 1872 — which then evolved into the carol “In a Bleak Midwinter” — the author posed the question: “What can I give him, as poor as I am?”

A shepherd could give the Christ child a lamb and a wiseman “could do his part,” Rossetti mused. And we? We could give our hearts, she penned.

For more than a hundred years, United Church of Christ ministers and laity have been giving their hearts by making generous donations to The Christmas Fund.

The Rev. Paul Ramsey, director of Church Relations and Philanthropy for The Pension Boards (PBUCC), reported that the 2024 Christmas Fund was the largest offering collected to date, reaching $1.8 million.

The fund, one of four UCC special offerings, provides emergency grants for pastors and church workers as well as Christmas “thank you” checks for low-income retirees.

“[The generosity] is allowing us to help more people in need,” said Ramsey.

Fund helps provide caring hands

People in need like the Rev. Christopher Gilmore, lead pastor of Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado. When his wife, Christine, was diagnosed with ALS, the couple “stepped into a future we couldn’t yet imagine.”

“We didn’t know what our lives would like in the coming years, especially financially,” said Gilmore.

While insurance has covered most of the necessary medical equipment and appointments for Christine Gilmore, there is one expense not covered: caregiving.

“Insurance doesn’t cover the human hands that make survival possible,” said Gilmore, adding that caregiving expenses can run up to $15,000 yearly. The Christmas Fund, though, has helped the Gilmores cover several months of caregiving services. 

“It gave us breathing room — not to escape reality, but to meet it. It allowed us to keep our heads above water while tending to other necessary expenses we weren’t sure how to carry,” said Gilmore.

Sharing stories builds compassion

Ramsey credits The Christmas Fund’s increased giving to sharing the stories of how families like the Gilmores have been blessed. “We have focused on telling stories of impact and engaging the Christmas Fund community on a more regular basis,” he said.

With the emphasis on sharing stories that inspire, encourage and support one another within the United Church of Christ, The Pension Boards created a “special reflection experience” called “Living Stones” during General Synod 35.

(Watch video here.)

Attendees descending onto the Kansas City Convention Center in Missouri were invited to The Pension Boards booth in the exhibit hall. There they had an opportunity to reflect on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. Each theme was displayed on large boards. Colorful sticky notes were provided to write down thoughts and prayers. The notes were then displayed with its corresponding theme.

By the end of General Synod, a beautiful display of what the themes meant to those in the UCC emerged, telling the most important overarching story of being there for one another.

Messages of hope, peace, joy and love continue

The themes of hope, peace, joy and love from the “Living Stones” reflection experience continue as they are featured this year’s The Christmas Fund promotional materials, which are available here.

The materials — featuring bulletin inserts, children’s messages and worship liturgies — were developed in partnership with the Rev. Elyse Berry, Associate for Advocacy and Leadership Development at The Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM).

In congregations nationwide, hope, peace, joy and love are words lifted for reflection during the weekly lighting of the candles around the Advent wreath. For Gilmore, though, he finds himself this season particularly drawn to the word “hope.”

“Here’s the truth I’ve learned in all of this. Hope isn’t optimism. Hope is help. Hope is people. Hope is community refusing to let you fall through the cracks,” he said.

And for those who ever wonder if their gift to The Christmas Fund matters, Gilmore can answer that.

“It does. Deeply. In ways you may never see, but in ways someone will never forget,” he said.

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