This offering began in the 1930's as a collection to supplement retirement income and medical insurance for former ministers, missionaries and Church employees and their families. In 1949, it became known as the Joy Gift.
In 1960, the Presbyterian Church began the White Gift, a Christmas offering to benefit mission work and global assistance. Four years later, it became th Christmas Offering to assist global work with children. By 1973, donations began to be used to assist employees and retirees struggling to live on inadequate pensions and without medical care.
In 1989, the two offerings were combined and renamed the Christmas Joy Offering. Half of the donations aids the Church's Pension Fund. The other half support Presbyerian schools and colleges (e.g. Stillman College in Alabama and Lake Forest College in Illinois) which support and nurture racial and thenic diversity.
- Little Blue Book, Diocese of Saginaw