Sunday 11/14/21 was our day to celebrate Generosity. We did “generous things” such as submitting our “estimate of giving cards”, and Pastor Jim’s sermon reminded us that we are designed to be generous and that we miss moments of contact with God if we’re too focused on ourselves. But this Sunday was also special because it was the day when we presented our “Operation Christmas Child” boxes on the altar.
Operation Christmas Child
For the past couple of months, PUMC’ers have been filling special shoeboxes with items that could be used by kids. These “items” included little things like pencils, notepads, toy cars, yoyos, stuffed animals, soap, washcloths, and toothbrushes. They’re little “dollar store” items that most of us dismiss and take for granted. But to a family in need,these shoe boxes become expressions of God’s love.
Operation “Boxing Day”
In the weeks leading up to Generosity Sunday, pre-wrapped shoeboxes were made available in the Narthex. We picked one up, took a trip to the dollar store, and then filled our box with small items which were big enough to brighten someone’s Christmas….
On Sunday 11/14/21, we brought our boxes to church and laid them on the alter. The Youth Group, Our Father’s House Preschool, and others added to the collection of boxes, and over 100 shoeboxes were delivered to Samaritan’s Purse for distribution across the globe.
Below is a small sample of the shoebox gifts which we donated to this year’s Operation Christmas Child…
To learn more about what’s inside of these boxes and about what Operation Christmas Child is, click this drop down box to read the website article which announced this year’s Operation Christmas Child.
Announcement Post
You can make a difference in someone’s life simply by going to a dollar store and filling a shoebox with stationary, toys, and other inexpensive items. You don’t even have to find a shoebox! Premarked boxes are available in the Narthex (or you can supply your own).
One of our “Christmas Traditions” is to participate in Samaritan’s Purse’s “Operation Christmas Child.” This is an easy way to show generosity with people who need our help.
Operation Christmas Child
WHO: Anyone!
WHAT: Make a child’s Christmas brighter
WHEN: Return filled boxes to the church by Sunday 11/14/21
$$$: A few bucks at a dollar store and $9.00 for postage
HOW: Fill a shoebox with goodies. Read on for details…
Reminder:
If you pack your own box and leave it at the church for distribution, please include a check for $9.00 made out to “Samaritan’s Purse“
Share the True Meaning of Christmas!
Who is Samaritan’s Purse and How Do I Pack a Box?
Here’s what those shoeboxes do…
The cheerful packages symbolized our congregation’s generosity and commitment to spreading the word of God’s love. Each box contained many little gifts, a treasure chest for the needy child who would receive it. Major categories include personal hygiene items, school supplies, clothing, toys, and hard candy.
Some of these gifts play important practical roles in a child’s life. For example, a simple gift of a pair of socks in countries that require children to wear them in order to attend school. A girl living in an orphanage was so happy when her gift of a toothbrush meant she no longer had to share a brush with 29 other girls. The gift of a bar of soap could even save a child’s life in countries where dreadful, communicable diseases are prevalent. Paper is so scarce that children in many countries are required to erase previous day’s lessons many times to conserve paper. Many children must provide their own supplies.
In countries where the percentage of children under five years old who are seriously underweight reaches over 40 percent, hard candy is more than a luxury treat.
Since 1993, the “shoebox ministry” of Operation Christmas Child has distributed well over 100 million shoeboxes to poor children in approximately 130 countries.
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For more information on how PUMC is helping people across the globe, click this button: Missions
