Special Sundays - 2008

Special Sundays in The United Methodist Church are intended to illustrate the nature and calling of the
church and are celebrated annually. Special Sundays are placed on the calendar in the context of the
Christian year, which is designed to make clear the calling of the church as the people of God, and to give persons the opportunity of contributing offerings to special programs.

Men’s Ministry Sunday (any Sunday in the year)

United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) Awareness Sunday (any Sunday in the year)

January 20 Human Relations Day* (Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday observance)

February Heart Havens, Inc., month* (Any Sunday in February)

February 3 Disability Awareness Sunday (First Sunday in February)

March 2 One Great Hour of Sharing (UMCOR)* (Fourth Sunday of Lent)

April 6 Native American Ministries Sunday* (Third Sunday of Easter)

May 4 Older Adult Recognition Sunday (First Sunday in May)

May 4 Rural Life Sunday (First Sunday in May)

May 18 Heritage Sunday (Sunday on or preceding Aldersgate Day, May 24)

May 18 Peace with Justice Sunday* (First Sunday after Pentecost)

Mother’s Day-Father’s Day Samaritan Fund Offering* (Virginia United Methodist Homes)

June Virginia Annual Conference Offering*

June National Hunger Awareness Day recognition during Worship (Any Sunday in June)

June 8 Children’s Day* (Second Sunday in June)

September-October Christian Education Sunday* (Any Sunday September-October)

September 7 Industrial & Commercial Ministries* (Sunday in September nearest Labor Day)

October Virginia Advocate Promotion Campaign Month

October 5 World Communion Sunday* (First Sunday in October)

October 12 Children’s Sabbath (Second Sunday in October or any time during the year)

October 19 Laity Sunday (Third Sunday in October)

November 9 Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday (Second Sunday in November)

November 30 United Methodist Student Day* (Last Sunday in November)

December United Methodist Family Services of Virginia Month*

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General Conference-approved Special Sundays with offerings are listed in boldface type, and those approved without mandating an offering are listed in italics. Special Sundays, or time periods, with Virginia Conference-approved offerings are marked with an asterisk (*). Golden Cross Sunday is not observed in the Virginia Conference.