Members and friends of Lexington Presbyterian Church are uncommonly generous with their time, talents and treasure. In addition to pledging to support the church’s annual operation and benevolence, we respond with open hearts to specific causes throughout the year.
Seasonal Special Offerings
The Joy Offering has been a Presbyterian Christmas season tradition for almost 70 years. The Board of Pensions receives 50 percent of the receipts to fund assistance programs that provide support to retired and active church workers and their spouses and families. The other 50 percent supports Presbyterian-related racial/ethnic education through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God's love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. OGHS is typically held during Lent and the funds are used for the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Self-Development of People.
The Pentecost Offering, collected in late spring, supports ministries for youth and programs that serve at-risk children. Forty percent of the money collected through this offering remains with our church. Our young people typically direct how it can best support the needs of at-risk young people in Rockbridge County. The rest of the collection is shared with our presbytery and PCUSA.
The Peace and Global Witness Offering, collected in the fall, supports programs that “advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.” This offering is split three ways: 50 percent to Presbyterian Missions, 25 percent to our Presbytery, and 25 percent remains with our church, to be disbursed by the Outreach Committee. In recent years, the committee has directed our offering to Casa Mariposa Detention Visitation Program in Tucson, Arizona.
Other Special Offerings
The children of our church collect spare change during worship once a month for “4 Cents a Meal,” a national project started by Presbyterian Women more than 50 years ago to heighten awareness of hunger. (Back then, it was called “2 Cents a Meal,” and today, the overall program is called “Centsability,” to make clear that contributions of all sizes are welcome.) You may also contribute to this offering via LexPres’ online giving portal. 
We share this money with the Shenandoah Presbytery. The Outreach Committee regularly directs the funds to local, national and international anti-hunger efforts. Recipients have included Rise Against Hunger, the Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Campus Kitchens and several area food pantries.
In late January, the young people of our church spearhead a special “Souper Bowl” offering to fight hunger and poverty in our community. This project grew out of an idea 29 years ago by a church youth group in Columbia, S.C.
Throughout the year, other offerings and fundraisers by various groups in the church may address natural disasters and special needs. These include Sunday School collections for Metsi, a child in Africa supported by Rafiki; Christmas season requests for the Jesse tree; and congregational support for the Habitat Women’s Build.
