Katie collected information about families...
Illustration
Object:
Katie collected information about families in the school district who were struggling
financially. She thought it would be nice if people in the congregation would buy new
toys and gifts for the children at Christmas. She explained one Sunday morning that
every child should receive a new present on Christmas day. The congregation rallied
behind the idea. Some of the older members of the church had not bought toys in decades
and actually enjoyed buying gifts. In the weeks before Christmas, the gifts began piling
up in the back of the church.
The Saturday before Christmas, the families were invited to the church to pick up gifts for their children. One of the first people to arrive that morning was a mother of three young children. She stated that she could not believe that people in the church would buy gifts for her children -- people who did not know her or her children. Alone in the church, this mother shared her story with Katie. She told of working at a job that did not pay very well, struggling over abuse issues in her own life, and of wanting the best for her children. Katie prayed for the woman and her children. The two women hugged.
Katie thought the church was just giving away gifts at Christmas, but realized it was much more. It was an opportunity to connect with people in their community who needed to feel love and support. A few Sundays into the New Year, this mother and her children began attending Sunday school where they were made to feel welcome.
Advent is about expecting the unexpected. We need to remain alert since God continues to be at work in our lives.
The Saturday before Christmas, the families were invited to the church to pick up gifts for their children. One of the first people to arrive that morning was a mother of three young children. She stated that she could not believe that people in the church would buy gifts for her children -- people who did not know her or her children. Alone in the church, this mother shared her story with Katie. She told of working at a job that did not pay very well, struggling over abuse issues in her own life, and of wanting the best for her children. Katie prayed for the woman and her children. The two women hugged.
Katie thought the church was just giving away gifts at Christmas, but realized it was much more. It was an opportunity to connect with people in their community who needed to feel love and support. A few Sundays into the New Year, this mother and her children began attending Sunday school where they were made to feel welcome.
Advent is about expecting the unexpected. We need to remain alert since God continues to be at work in our lives.
