…AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THE WAY:  UTO

St. Marks has become re-engaged in UTO in a very surprising and unusual way.

By way of background, we have a project called the Redwood Project. The project, when completed, will provide medical and counseling services, tutoring, a food bank and other social services to a small impoverished community near San Marcos, Texas.  The Redwood Project is raising funds to be used to construct a modest building to house these services.

This is the kind of project in which the UTO becomes involved internationally, nationally as well as locally.

We were recently informed that our grant application had been turned down.  The reason:  Our parish had not participated in the UTO program.  Needless to say, this gave us the incentive to GET INVOLVED and support the UTO.

During a UTO planning session this past summer it was suggested that we somehow involve the children as well as the adults {through the children}.

Our program is simple:
           
1.  Inform the parish during Sunday services about UTO.  We brought up the history of UTO as well some interesting facts. We stressed that each coin that is g given is gift of thanks for something dsthat happened that day. We also passed out UTO boxes and envelopes.

2.  Each Sunday at our 8:45 service we have children take up the UTO offerings. The rector repeats the concept of thank offering using a coin, the box and a reason to be thankful.

3.  The children will present the Bishop with the UTO offering just before Council.

Now for the surprise ending to the story!  The children are no longer content to sit in the pews and complain about being b-o-o-r-r-e-d.  THEY are asking for participation!  We are accommodating them by helping with the collection and taking the alms and sacraments to the altar. We are also channeling their energy into helping with our hospitality program after each service.
            
This has brought a little fun and spontaneity to the program, it has involve otherwise uninvolved adults and generally makes our programs more full.