Every time we pray the Lord's Prayer we are reminded that God's intention is that the whole of life and the whole world be conformed to God's will. Each of us is called to a role in the fulfillment of that prayer - in our churches, homes, communities and work. Members seek to serve Christ as they engage individually in a wide variety of professions, occupations, and activities. Together we reach out to the community in a variety of ways. Through denominational support we assist missionaries in over 65 countries. The projects listed below highlight some of the commitments of the congregation

General Mission Support
Equal support is given to the world-wide mission programs of the American Baptist Churches, USA and the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.. Currently about 20% of the budget goes to mission causes beyond the local church. Special offerings include:

One Great Hour of Sharing offering - a Lenten offering, received on Easter Sunday, for world relief and disaster aid.

Peacemaking Offering - received on World Communion Sunday in October for international and local peacemaking programs.

Christmas Joy/Thank Offering - for retired ministers and missionaries, and for minority education programs for youth, collected in December.

Church World Service Blanket Offering
An annual offering in February provides funds to help purchase blankets for use around the world by Church World Service. We also provide health and school kits for CWS.

Congregational Prayer Ministry
Responding to the needs and hurts of others, a weekly prayer list in the bulletin helps us in this ministry of praying and caring for one another.

CROP Walk
An annual 10 K walk in October to raise funds through sponsors for hunger programs, both local and international, of Church World Service CROP.

Dorothy Day House
An emergency shelter for homeless or abused women and their children. Women's circles coordinate special collections.

F.I.S.H. Interfaith
Volunteers drive elderly individuals to doctor's appointments. (FISH - "Friends in service here").

Habitat for Humanity
We are a Covenant Church; youth and adults participate in building low cost homes, sold through no interest loans to low-income families in the Syracuse area, also via Youth Mission Trips to Portland, ME(1994), Cleveland (1995), Pittsburgh (1996).

Hospice of Central New York
Part of the national organization which helps terminally ill persons and their families, focusing on physical comfort and emotional support; Hospice also provides workshops for the community.

InterReligious Food Consortium
A network of 70 food pantries and meal programs in the greater Syracuse area. Donations of food are received especially on communion Sundays.

Jubilee House
Purchased and rehabilitated house next to the church, which provides housing for refugee families, and others in need.

Mission giving during Advent
Salvation Army's "Tree of Lights" gifts; "Mitten Tree" gifts for children, "Baby shower" for Salvation Army teen mother program.

"Reach" at South Presbyterian Church, Syracuse
Members tutor children after school in this inner city church.

Refugee Resettlement Program
United Church has sponsored families from Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Somalia, Cuba, Bosnia, the Ukraine (through InterReligious Council).

Samaritan Center meals
A feeding program housed at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral at 310 Montgomery St., Syracuse; United Church prepares meals four times a year.

Community use of our building
Village Nursery school, Kumon Math Program, Country Dancers and others.

Committees

The Missions Committee supports the projects listed above and interprets local and international mission opportunities to the congregation.

The Church and Society Committee studies and interprets current issues of Christian ethics, peace and justice, environment and health care. They sponsor and interpret the annual Peacemaking offering and plan for its use locally; the committee provides forums and other educational programs on current issues of Christian social concern.

The Congregational Care Committee visits homebound and ill members of our church family, coordinates ministries to people in times of particular need, and takes communion to homebound members.

The Evangelism & Membership Committee welcomes visitors, provides membership orientation and integrates new members into full participation in the life of church; the committee also offers opportunities for faith sharing through Sunday Adult Forums.