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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:
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.
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Diocesan UTO Coordinator:
Barbara
Carpenter
111 Silver Creek Drive
Madison, AL 35758
(256) 721-7599
uto@alabamaecw.org
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
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