The United Thank Offering was begun in 1889 by two far-sighted, mission-minded women, Julia Emery and Ida Soule, when the General Convention of The Episcopal Church looked to them to begin the Women’s Auxiliary as part of the Board of Missions.  They began the offering to show the connection between giving thanks and giving money, uniting praying and sharing.

UTO’s simple purpose has remained constant:  offerings are given in thankfulness for the everyday blessings of life, to provide blessings for others.  Individuals in each parish take part spiritually by offering prayers of thanksgiving and by actively dropping coins in the “Little Blue Box.”  These coins are gathered twice a year at each church and then united with others from all over the country.  This outward expression of thankfulness takes action around the world to places of urgent need.

During the United Thank Offering Ingathering Ceremony and Eucharist at the 2006 General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in Columbus, Ohio, June 2006, the Diocese of Alabama gave a symbolic check representing the $128,573.61 contributed by thankful givers during the 2003-2006 period.

Each year every diocese is asked to send grant applications to the national UTO Committee for consideration. Grants are awarded both for domestic and world-wide projects and agencies. These are to support projects that address compelling human needs and/or expand mission and ministry. This outward expression of thankfulness takes action around the world in places where there is urgent need.

In 2008, the Diocese of Alabama was awarded two UTO grants totaling $28,500. The Shoals Family Success Center, Florence, was the recipient of a grant of $23,000 to increase the coping skills of participants and to enable them to improve their lives. Bakers on Wheels Inc., Moody, was awarded $5,500 for equipment to expand their Basket Ministry. This program serves the homeless, friendless, sick, hungry and disabled in two counties.

Reminders for Parish UTO Coordinators:

• Send your name, address, and name of your parish to UTO Coordinator for her to have a record of all parish coordinators.

• UTO Ingatherings:

  • Arrange dates with your Rector for two UTO Ingathering Sundays:

    • Spring, before May 15 and

    • Fall, before November 15

  • Publicize the meaning of UTO long before these dates.

  • As soon after the Ingathering as possible, please mail a parish check (no cash or personal checks) payable to Episcopal Church Women and marked UTO to:  ECW, Diocese of Alabama, 521 North 20^th Street, Birmingham, AL 35203-2611.  Send ingathering moneys and other donations on a regular basis. Any other UTO donations received at
    any time should be sent in promptly; checks should not be held in your account.  The interest earned on all offerings increases the amount that can be granted. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CHECKS TO NY OR NJ. Checks for UTO should not be sent to the UTO Coordinator.

  • Supplies for parish needs should be ordered from the national UTO office at Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue, NY, NY 10017, 1-800-903-5544 (Inquiries may be made between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm) or ordered online at www.episcopalparishservices.org or by e-mail at ebr@episcopalchurch.org.

  • A beautiful UTO Alms Basin, made of silver and gold gathered from women of the Diocese of Alabama many years ago is used at the Annual Fall Conference.  It may be borrowed by any parish for an Ingathering or for a parish ECW meeting by contacting Eva Beard 205-226-3510 at The Cathedral Church of the Advent.

• UTO Grant Applications:

  • Grant applications are usually available by October and may be obtained from The Rev. Rob Morpeth at Carpenter House.  Completed grant applications should be in the Diocesan office by December 31 for approval by Bishop Parsley.  Copies also need to be mailed to the Diocesan UTO Coordinator. A Short Form Application for a UTO Grant to assist with formation of a request, before the actual grant forms are available, is online or from the Diocesan UTO Coordinator.

The UTO Memorial and Gift Trust Fund is separate and apart from UTO Ingathering donations. Earnings from this fund assure income for administration and granting costs for the UTO committee, defrays the cost of UTO materials, especially the free materials including unlimited Blue Boxes, and supplements Blue Box offerings that are given as grants. The names of those who are honored or memorialized through this fund are permanently recorded in a book that is kept at the Episcopal Church Center in New York and is displayed at each Triennial Meeting. Contributions to the Memorial and Gift Trust Fund should be marked #852 and mailed to Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, UTO, Box 12095, Newark, NJ 07101.

For more information on UTO, contact our diocesan UTO Coordinator.

Diocesan UTO Coordinator:

Diocesan UTO Committee

UTO Prayer
I am bound by the vow

I made to you, Oh God;
I will present to you  thank-offerings.
Psalm 56:11 (BCP) 
 

National UTO Website

UTO 2008 Fall Report