{"id":18793,"date":"2018-07-03T20:15:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-04T00:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=18793"},"modified":"2018-07-23T16:21:04","modified_gmt":"2018-07-23T20:21:04","slug":"pumc-to-celebrate-christmas-in-july-7-22-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=18793","title":{"rendered":"PUMC to Celebrate Christmas in July! (7\/22\/18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When this article was being written, it was on the eve of the Fourth of July.\u00a0 It was 90 degrees and a thunderstorm was brewing.\u00a0 The lights \"\"were flickering.<\/p>\n

Oh for it to be Christmas eve!<\/p>\n

On Sunday July 22 we’ll have a chance to celebrate Christmas.\u00a0 Christmas in July.\u00a0 There will be one service on this special Sunday; at 10:15.\u00a0 We’ll sing Christmas carols and marvel at the amazing gift of salvation through God’s Son.<\/p>\n

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On Sunday July 22, 2018 we will have only ONE Service. It will be held at 10:15.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our regular schedule of services at 9:30 and 11:00 will resume next week (7\/29\/18).<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

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Operation Christmas Child<\/span><\/h3>\n

And there will be gifts too!\u00a0 We won’t be giving expensive toys to be placed under a Christmas tree.\u00a0 Instead we’ll give some basic needs that will be placed in shoeboxes.<\/p>\n

Got a shoe box? Can you afford to purchase any small toys, school supplies, sunglasses, or other “stuff” that a child \"Operation<\/a>could use?\u00a0 Then you can make a huge difference in someone’s Christmas this year!!!<\/p>\n

“In support of Operation Christmas Child<\/a><\/span>” we are collecting items that can be packed in a shoebox and given to desperately needy children. The program covers more than 100 countries, and is administered by the Samaritan’s Purse organization (led by Franklin Graham).<\/p>\n

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Here’s what those shoeboxes do…<\/span><\/p>\n

The cheerful packages symbolized our congregation\u2019s generosity and commitment to spreading the word of God\u2019s 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some of these gifts play important practical roles in a child\u2019s 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\u2019s life in countries where dreadful, communicable diseases are prevalent. Paper is so scarce that children in many countries are required to erase previous day\u2019s lessons many times to conserve paper. Many children must provide their own supplies. <\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1993, the \u201cshoebox ministry\u201d of Operation Christmas Child has distributed well over 100 million shoeboxes to poor children in approximately 130 countries. Beginning in 2004, many of our church members have generously contributed toward 716 shoeboxes, expressions of God\u2019s love bringing blessings to the children.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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