Hello everyone! Collection week for Operation Christmas Child is just around the corner!!
We packed 164 boxes last year… how many do you think we can do this year?
If you are interested in getting involved in this ministry, below are several ways you join in!
October Donation: As seen in this month’s bulletin, we are collecting “WOW items” and other small toys! These are the last donations of the year and just started for the month of October!
The WOW items are the main gift in the shoebox! Some examples of these gifts are dolls, stuffed animals, balls+pumps, musical instruments, toy trucks/cars, etc. Just make sure all gifts can fit into a standard sized shoebox! (Balls can be deflated)
Monetary Donations: Any amount of money given goes directly towards the contents of the shoeboxes! Your money donations help fund the purchase of school supplies, toys, hygiene items, and more!! If wishing to donate in this way, please see Tia Kelley or Elaine Johnson or place in the offering basket in an envelope labeled “Operation Christmas Child.”
You pack a Shoebox!!: Starting this upcoming Sunday, you’ll be able to take home an empty shoebox and fill it! This is an exciting way to be apart of the journey of the shoebox, especially for kids of all ages! If labels are not available, please note the age range and gender of the intended recipient! Samaritan’s Purse requests a $10 donation in every box to cover shipping and evangelism materials.
All boxes will need to be returned to the church by November 2nd!!!
Packing party:
A date for packing the shoeboxes, once all donations have been received, will be announced soon!!!
Prayer:
Prayer is critical for all stages of the shoebox journey! Pray for those packing, those processing the gifts, the groups delivering boxes around the world, the leaders in the communities preparing to share the Good News, and the hearts of the children and families not only to receive the physical presents, but the great Gift of all!!
Thank you all so much for being a part of this ministry! To God be ALL the glory!!
(Resources, including how to pack a box and gift suggestions, are available on Operation Christmas Child’s website!! Reach out to Tia Kelley with any questions!!)
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
PURSES AND PACIFIERSPurses and Pacifiers is a ministry for Mothers of Preschoolers. They meet once a month at the Butler site for a speaker, breakfast, crafts, and discussion time. Children ages 0-5 are taken care of by adult volunteers during this time. If anyone is interested in helping out with child care during these events, please contact us.
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. Dan West was a farmer from the American Midwest and member of the Church of the Brethren who went to the front lines of the Spanish Civil War as an aid worker. His mission was to provide relief, but he soon discovered the meager single cup of milk rationed to the weary refugees once a day was not enough. And then he had a thought: What if they had not a cup, but a cow?
This mission is a mission for our children. Funds are collected every first Sunday of the month. At Christmas time the children use the funds to purchasing livestock for world-wide communities in need. Those people who receive the livestock are then taught how to utilize the animals in order to provide sustainable food products. For more information go to http://www.heifer.org
SOME OF OUR OTHER MISSIONS INCLUDE
Missions in India, Christmas Shoe Boxes, The Sanctuary in Danville, Women’s Shelters, Local and Third World Country Missions, Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan Purse along with others throughout the year as needs arise. We do both local and international mission work. Mission trips are usually taken every year. If you would like to be on the 2023 Mission trip to Nicaragua, See Caleb Doup for more details.