Doing Good
We’re entering a season of giving and a season of serving. We are called as a Church and as individuals to “Do justice, Love mercy, and Walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). There is so much need in this world for justice and mercy, and there are so many wonderful and valuable places and organizations to which one can contribute in seeking to alleviate that need- St. Johannes is making special effort to lift up just a few:
Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project- Our fellowship time tastes a bit different these days- LWR has partnered with Equal Exchange to offer fair trade coffees that provide more than just an excellent taste, but fair prices to the farmers that grow it, and a chance for growth and advancement of their communities. You can contribute to this ministry by placing a donation in the cup on the coffee table in the fellowship hall. You can also buy a pound at fellowship time for $8.
Operation Christmas Child- Pack a shoebox for a child who lives in poverty. Operation Christmas Child sends these gifts along with the Gospel message to over 8 million kids a year in over 95 countries all over the world. You can fill your box with basic toiletries and toys (have in mind a particular gender and age for each box), and bring it to church on Sunday, November 14th. Operation Christmas Child also needs donations to cover shipping these boxes- an estimated $7 per box- so you can help in that way, also.
ELCA Good Gifts Program- let’s face it- we all have too much stuff. Instead of giving your friends and relatives just more stuff this Christmas, give in their name to someone who really is in need. The ELCA Good Gifts Catalogue is a wonderful resource for seeing to it that Church serves the Mission of God in reaching out to those in poverty across the globe and even in this country- with gifts of livestock, education, healthcare, or clean water. You can give 10 chicks in honor of your uncle for $10, or your mother a sheep for $125. There are many other options- check out the catalogue!
DEO Food bank- Our Doddridge County Ecumenical Food Bank is always open for donations, and the box in our Narthex has been empty for too long- bring non-perishable food anytime, and we’ll see that it gets to the right place and feeds the hungry.
Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.- CLP, the Social Ministry organization for the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod is also always in need of donations- particularly for their STUFF campaign- supplying abused women and foster children aging out of the system with the basics to start out on their own- sheets, towels, pots and pans- you can bring these items to the church at any time.
Hunters Helping the Hungry- for many years now, West Virginia hunters have been donating deer to food banks across the state by dropping off their unwanted deer to participating local meat packers. Because this has been so successful, the program is running low on funds to pay for the processing, packing, and distribution of the meat- On Sunday 11/7, we will pass the offering plates a second time specifically for loose change and cash to benefit HHH and their efforts to take good local meat to those who need it.
Wishing Well- St. Johannes is certainly not without special projects that you can contribute to, also. These are items that are not budget items, but would be welcomed donations. Let the church know if you are considering giving any of these gifts:
-Roofing the Parsonage and insulating the attic
-New Speaker for the Sanctuary
-Seasonal Banners for worship
-Repair tile in fellowship hall entryway
-Banner storage cabinet
-ELW accompaniment books and altar edition
-Special landscaping gifts:
-Fill dirt
-Two large evergreens/shrubs
-Other flowers or small shrubs
Hanging of the Greens
In preparation for the season of preparation, let us gather on the Saturday leading up to the first week of Advent to fill our Sanctuary with symbols of the season- evergreens and wreaths and all!
Light refreshment and fellowship a given for such an event as this- many hands make light work, and a good time for everyone! See you around 2pm on Saturday 11/27!
The Season of Advent is fast upon us- the season of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ- and with it, midweek gatherings of St. Johannes. Join us for Vespers and discussion focused on how our communication with God in this time of waiting prepares us for following God.
Wednesdays 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, and 12/22 at 6pm
Friday, December 24th- Christmas Eve Candlelight Carols and Communion at 7pm.
Plan to stay afterwards for some light refreshments and feel free to bring a little something to share.