As the United Church of Christ celebrates 50 years of ministry in 2007, the Christmas Fund will
celebrate 105 continuous years of serving those who serve the church.

An article from a 1953 brochure promoting what was then known as the "Christmas Fund for the
Veterans of the Cross" states that, "In 1902, a little money was collected and special Christmas
gifts were sent to 10 older ministers." The same article reports that 50 years later, in 1952, the
Christmas Fund received $121,054 in contributions.

In 2006, offering receipts totaled $1,438,000, which enabled the Board for Ministerial Assistance
to reach nearly 1,500 individuals and families in the form of ongoing pension supplementation,
emergency grants, health premium supplementation and Christmas Thank You gift checks to
low-income annuitants. In response to escalating energy prices, Ministerial Assistance also
provided $205,200 in one-time energy assistance grants in the first quarter of 2006. A goal
of $1,500,000 has been set for the 2007 Christmas Fund Offering.