A shorter check-in this week with the Thanksgiving holiday, but an important one.
It is hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us, and with Thanksgiving being so late the “crush and rush” of the Christmas shopping season will be even more pronounced than normal. Back when I was a kid the most disappointing Christmas gift you could get was socks and underwear (now, as an adult, socks are actually not that bad of a gift). Perhaps you had a grandparent or a great aunt that “blessed” you with such a gift! Even though they were needed, they certainly weren’t as exciting as getting a toy.
For many people, however, fresh socks and underwear are an extravagance. they can be quite expensive when you are on a limited budget. You can’t buy them at garage sales or thrift stores (for obvious reasons). The same can be true for household items like laundry detergent and cleaning products like Mr. Clean or Windex. Even personal care items like shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper can eat away at a family’s finances. If you have an infant then having a standing supply of diapers is an expensive necessity.
I reached out to Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM) a few weeks ago regarding what they need to help those in need this holiday season. Honestly, I was expecting them to ask for canned goods and other non-perishable food. But what they need are those “socks and underwear” type of items that so many of us take for granted.
So, starting this Sunday (11/27) and running through Christmas we are going to be collecting those items as a church to donate to SNM. As always, I ask that you give as you are able. If that means donating a tube of toothpaste, awesome! If you can do a little more, please do. You can place your donations in the lobby, just look for the big box with wrapping paper around it.
Here is the list of specific items that are in urgent need:
- Personal Care Items – Shampoo, toothpaste, facial tissues, and toilet tissue.
- Clothing – Socks and Underwear for all ages
- Household Goods – Laundry Detergent and Floor/Window/Surface cleaners
- Baby Items – Diapers (Size 4 and 5) and Wipes
If you find a great deal on other items in those categories, I am sure that SNM would be thrilled to have them.
Here’s what’s happening:
- We sent off 122 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! Thank you!
- Thanks to everyone for bringing food for the Thanksgiving fellowship meal, and a special thanks to the kitchen committee for all their work serving the meal.
- The monthly men’s breakfast is THIS SATURDAY, November 26 at 8 am at Hometown Kitchen.
- Senior High Youth Group meets again THIS SUNDAY, November 27th at 6:30 pm in the schoolhouse.
- Junior Youth meet after the worship service on December 4
- Christmas Caroling is set for Friday, December 16 at 6:15 pm. We will be gathering at the Kreider home before heading out and returning for a time of fellowship. Bring along your favorite holiday treat to share!
- Christmas Services – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7pm on the 24th. We will be having shortened services on Christmas Day and on New Years Day, at our usual 10 am timeslot. As a gift to our teachers, there will not be Sunday School either of those days.
- Devon Clemmer, our pastoral intern, will be teaching the adult class in the sanctuary this week. Senior High youth should sit in on that class.
This week we are both concluding our sermon series on Moses and looking ahead to the Advent season. Is your calendar over the next month full with family gatherings and holiday get-togethers? Wondering how you are going to survive? We are going to look at the six commandments that all govern our relationships with each other and see how all everything about the story of Moses points to the coming Deliverer.