This Christmas season we’ll remember God’s gift to us by giving and serving others. We’ll come together as the body of Christ to reach out to our communities, friends, family and co-workers.
We have large outreach events that are only achieved when we join together. We'll make sure that hundreds of kids in need receive gifts through our Making Christmas Dreams Come True Store. We'll wrap presents for free at Fairfield Commons Mall at Wrap It Up! Adopt a Family for Christmas--the local schools have given us the names of at-risk students and their families for us to "adopt". Presents due back by December 15th. We'll deliver dozens of Krispy Kreme donuts during our Christmas Eve Donut Experience. Finally, we have some Do It Yourself ideas thrown in for your family or small group.
Clearly, in the midst of the holiday madness, you have your own shopping and schedules and family needs, so no one is expected to do everything. We would, however, encourage you to do something and to ponder what the season is really all about. Ask the question, How can we re-orient ourselves and our families as we look forward to Christmas 2011?
Along with your family or small group (or both), consider making your own outward-focused calendar by selecting some of the planned outreach events, and then fill in the blanks with some personal touches.
Perhaps you’ll write encouraging notes to someone in your life. Maybe this is the year you prayerfully invite some friends, neighbors, relatives or coworkers to the Christmas services so they can hear the Good News in a fresh way—and spark the spiritual conversation you’ve been hoping for.
How you can help
Make Christmas Dreams Come True this year.
Volunteer at The Making Christmas Dreams Come True Store
Saturday, December 17th 9am to 5pm, and the evenings 6pm to 9pm the week of December 19th, in the Family Life Center you can help welcome our guests, or bring snacks, or wrap presents, or serve coffee, or help people find gifts, or offer prayer for their needs. You can also, help kids create crafts for their parents.
Purchase Christmas Presents (This is now the greatest need.)
Purchase kid-friendly presents for our Making Christmas Dreams Come True Store. Parents will come to our shop located in the Family Life Center and choose presents for their kids. We’ll need hundreds of presents, all shapes and sizes by December 15th.
Adopt a Family(this is completed thanks to all who chose a family.) Please return gifts in black bags labeled with family name and code by December 15th.
Wrap presents at the Fairfield Commons Mall
Beginning Friday December 9th through December 23rd we will be serving our community by wrapping presents for free. Monday - Thursday 12pm - 2pm and 6pm - 9pm. Friday - Sunday 12pm - 9pm. Sign up for a time slot at the Wrap It Up! tables located near the giving trees.Invite a friend, family member, co-worker to our Christmas Services
Use our special invitation and invite people you know to our Christmas services. Invitations will be provided at our info centers.- Christmas Eve Travelers Service
Wednesday, December 21, 7pm, Beavercreek Campus
- Christmas Eve:
Saturday, December 24th 6pm and 8pm Beavercreek Campus
Saturday, December 24, 6pm, Dayton Campus
- Christmas Day:10am, Beavercreek Campus and Dayton Campus
Christmas Eve Donut Experience!
Pick up a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts on your way out after our Christmas Eve services. Drop off the donuts as you head home. Go to an emergency room, a fire station, a fast food drive-through, or any place where people are working on Christmas Eve.Just Do It!
This is do-it-yourself, creative outreach. During the Christmas holidays seek to serve others by being friendly and noticing need. Go out of your way to serve others in your sphere of influence. Show a little love to a neighbor, push grocery carts back, go to a local business with goodies, pay for the person behind you at the drive-through, or leave a gift for the people who serve you in the community.
No comments:
Post a Comment