"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
The season of giving is almost upon us! Part of holy living is to share our resources with others since God has been generous with us. The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons give us the opportunity to do just that. During the next few weeks at St. Peter’s, you can choose one or more of several ways to help people close to home and those around the world by participating in these various opportunities. At a glance:
|
Project |
Focus |
Items |
Collection |
|
Samaritans Purse |
International. |
Shoe |
Nov. 12, Nov 19. Last year we filled 22 boxes |
|
UTO |
National, International |
Funds |
Nov. 5 – Dec. 3 |
|
ECM |
Local |
Funds |
By Nov 19 (Thanksgiving) Dec. 10 (Christmas) |
|
Village Harvest |
Local |
Food stuffs, Funds |
By Nov 15 (for Nov), By Dec. 20 (for Dec.) For November, we are collecting boxed stuffing, canned corn, green beans or cranberry sauce |
1. Samaritan’s Purse provides children all over the world with a box of small presents at Christmas time, and even better, these boxes bring with them the Good News about Jesus and his love to children and their families. Choose a boy or a girl in a particular age group and fill a shoe box for that child .
The shoe boxes will be collected on Sunday, November 12th and Sunday, November 19th. You can also make financial contributions to this group to help with shipping the boxes. See the following link for more information
2. The United Thank Offering helps The Episcopal Church Women help people in the United States and around the world. Put coins in the blue box for thanks and blessings in your life. What kind of thanks? FOR LITTLE THINGS like a good parking spot on a busy day, sunshine for your family picnic, or a birthday card from a friend. FOR BIG THINGS like recovery from serious illness, a new job, or forgiveness and reconciliation after a long dispute.
Thankfulness leads to generosity, and your donation will help with projects that provide new spaces for people to gather and to worship, transportation, playgrounds, education, medical services, hot lunches—the list is endless.
Begins Nov. 5 with the distribution of "blue boxes" with collection by Dec. 3. You may submit a "blue box" or check to St. Peter’s with "UTO" in the memo line.
3. Episcopal Church Men (ECM). .Last year they supported 3 families for Thanksgiving and another 2 families for Christmas and collected $1,085. This effort will include Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and Christmas presents for them. The men will contact the families and purchase the items in consultation with them and deliver them at the appropriate time.
They are requesting donations of any amount from the congregation in support of their project. This is not just a ECM project!
Thanksgiving -Collection begins Nov 5 and ends Nov. 19 for Thanksgiving.
Christmas collection begins Nov 20 and ends Dec. 10. Please mark your check "ECM, season of giving"
4. Village Harvest
VH is 3 years old in November! It has provided these benefits:
A. Food for those who are being challenged economically.
B. Enriching those at St. Peter’s who help with the distribution.
C. Providing a role for the church in the community. People who are not members are coming here.
Monthly, the parish has contributed other non-perishable products, such as chicken broth, beans, rice, spaghetti and sauce, paper product, tuna, peanut butter, etc.
We have averaged 147 a month in 2017 compared with 111 just a year earlier. For November, we are collecting boxed stuffing, canned corn, green beans or cranberry sauce. However,toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex and other paper products are also greatly appreciated
The method of distribution has evolved from paper bags to a market style distribution where people can shop as they need.
Please contribute boxed stuffing, canned corn, green beans or cranberry sauce to the Nov. Village Harvest by Nov. 12 and help celebrate 3 years of this vital ministry. You can always make a monetary donation with "Village Harvest" in the memo line.
Thanks goes out to Johnny and Cookie Davis who go to the Northern Neck Food Bank to purchase fresh produce. That’s a big commitment. Thanks to all in the church who have contribute the non-perishable products each month and particularly to those who help distribute the food monthly.