Rev. Christine asked me if I would speak about the House of Lazarus adopt a family program this morning, and when I looked at the Toolkit for the stewardship program on the UC website there were prayers printed and I would like to share this one with you, let us pray:
Gracious and generous God, creator and giver of all that is good, we thank you for our many blessings. We acknowledge that all we have is from you. We offer you thanks and praise for the beauty of the earth, our work, our family, our loved ones, and all the gifts we have been given.
Help us to hear your call to be good stewards, caretakers and managers of all your gifts by sharing them for your purposes. Help us to plan to serve our church, our community, and our world with your gifts.
May we serve you and pray with a joyful spirit of mind and heart
we remain your faithful stewards. Amen.
I was raised in the United Church and became involved in Sunday school and Christian education and then on to Presbytery. Williamsburg UC was always a Mission Church and believed in stewardship and we always had ministry personnel who promoted mission.
I started at the House of Lazarus in July of 2007 and my eyes were opened to the scope of what happens there. I didn't realize how busy, and caring, and compassionate the staff were. The staff's passion for what we do and how we do it is truly amazing, I always say I am truly blessed to work there. As most of you are aware, the House of Lazarus is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. And as one of the board members kept telling us come along for the ride and it is an exciting ride.
Over the years, they have had many programs to help our clients but the one that is dear to my heart is the "Adopt a Family" program. Our Client Services Team Leader started this program about 8 years ago. She felt that everyone should have an amazing Christmas and not go without. We Christians were given a wonderful gift the first Christmas - a baby - Baby Jesus. We are taught to love our neighbour, and share the good news, and what better way than to give of ourselves and our riches at this special time of year. By participating in this program I feel we are doing God's work and we are definitely giving of ourselves and making someone's Christmas a little easier.
This program started with only a few families adopted, and over the years it has expanded to include seniors, singles and couples as well as the many families that are chosen. It usually isn't the same families every year, she goes through her list of clients and chooses the ones that weren't involved in the program last year. She tries to rotate them and if there are more chosen than what she has picked she goes through her list again and chooses more. There are three options in this program: 1.)supplying a Christmas dinner 2.) Supplying gifts, 3.) doing both, and there is always a list of sizes and things they would like which makes it easier.
Last year an organization called "the Village" from the Ottawa area, heard about our program and they adopted most of the seniors and a couple families This year they have already adopted 10 seniors and 2 families. Visiting with a friend before Christmas last year she asked what was going on at the House of Lazarus and I explained our Adopt a Family Program and she right away contacted our Client Services Team Leader and adopted a family and has again this year. She told me how much fun she had shopping for them and getting the items that they would like on the list that was given to her.
The whole program is anonymous. But on one occasion I had the opportunity to meet the young family that our church had adopted and this was only by chance! I had the food and gifts in my van and hadn't had a chance to get them out before they came for pickup. I can't explain the gratitude and joy on the father's face to think that anyone would be that generous to supply them with so much. The family had two little boys and the father said it was going to be an awesome Christmas this year. Both Williamsburg and Winchester Pastoral Charge have participated in this program and now Hope Springs is continuing. Many families are without, and having to decide whether to pay rent, hydro or buy food there doesn't leave much for extras for their families.
Last year, and I think that I mentioned it before, a man, one of our clients, who was single was given food and gifts through this program and he was so excited as he hadn't had anything under his tree for 17 years and he was so thrilled that he said he wasn't going to open anything until Christmas morning. What a blessing that was, to be able to give him hope and show our love to him.
The feeling that I get when I see our offices, any spare floor space become filled with the generosity of church families and surrounding communities is overwhelming and very emotional. The success of this program from only a few families adopted to most of our clients is a testament of the kindness and generous hearts of everyone who participates. Our new ED, Cathy is in for a big surprise this year! Even though she was there last year, she hasn't gotten a grasp on how wonderful this is and how she won't be able to move in her office space.
I have always been involved with this program at the church level, and I want to be! I feel that I have a chance to give back for the blessings that I have been given in life. The generosity of this church family is awesome every year!. Along with Darlene and Phyllis, I have had the opportunity to purchase the extra food for our chosen family with the generous monetary donations we receive from the church family. What a sense of joy to be able to buy them the items for their Christmas dinner and treats, that I know they can't get on their own - extra meat, clementines, butter, bacon, pies, chocolate, and the list goes on, things we take for granted. It is a fun time doing this and knowing that everything will be appreciated.
The chorus of the anthem that the choir sang at our anniversary service speaks to me and what we are to do " we are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly, we are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God" and this speaks of this, the Adopted Family program.
Christmas is a time for giving! and what better way than to Adopt a Family. To give someone hope, love and sense that they are important.
I think that most of us are so blessed with so much, and that to give of our resources, adopt a family program is a testament to our faith and mission of the church.
On the UC website for the Stewardship toolkit Salt & Light, there is another prayer, and it may be spoken over the next few weeks but I feel it speaks to us: let us pray
Gracious and Loving God.
You call us to be disciples of your son, Jesus, and good stewards of your many gifts.
Open our minds and hearts to a greater awareness and deeper appreciation of our countless blessings.
Transform us through the power of your Spirit to nurture a stewardship way of life for all our days.
Help us to be the salt that brings out the God-flavours of this earth,
to encourage vitality and joy and never lose our saltiness and our purpose.
Help us to be a light with beams of community, compassion, and hope for a better and more just world.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
Amen.
Prepared by Janet Carkner
Gracious and generous God, creator and giver of all that is good, we thank you for our many blessings. We acknowledge that all we have is from you. We offer you thanks and praise for the beauty of the earth, our work, our family, our loved ones, and all the gifts we have been given.
Help us to hear your call to be good stewards, caretakers and managers of all your gifts by sharing them for your purposes. Help us to plan to serve our church, our community, and our world with your gifts.
May we serve you and pray with a joyful spirit of mind and heart
we remain your faithful stewards. Amen.
I was raised in the United Church and became involved in Sunday school and Christian education and then on to Presbytery. Williamsburg UC was always a Mission Church and believed in stewardship and we always had ministry personnel who promoted mission.
I started at the House of Lazarus in July of 2007 and my eyes were opened to the scope of what happens there. I didn't realize how busy, and caring, and compassionate the staff were. The staff's passion for what we do and how we do it is truly amazing, I always say I am truly blessed to work there. As most of you are aware, the House of Lazarus is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. And as one of the board members kept telling us come along for the ride and it is an exciting ride.
Over the years, they have had many programs to help our clients but the one that is dear to my heart is the "Adopt a Family" program. Our Client Services Team Leader started this program about 8 years ago. She felt that everyone should have an amazing Christmas and not go without. We Christians were given a wonderful gift the first Christmas - a baby - Baby Jesus. We are taught to love our neighbour, and share the good news, and what better way than to give of ourselves and our riches at this special time of year. By participating in this program I feel we are doing God's work and we are definitely giving of ourselves and making someone's Christmas a little easier.
This program started with only a few families adopted, and over the years it has expanded to include seniors, singles and couples as well as the many families that are chosen. It usually isn't the same families every year, she goes through her list of clients and chooses the ones that weren't involved in the program last year. She tries to rotate them and if there are more chosen than what she has picked she goes through her list again and chooses more. There are three options in this program: 1.)supplying a Christmas dinner 2.) Supplying gifts, 3.) doing both, and there is always a list of sizes and things they would like which makes it easier.
Last year an organization called "the Village" from the Ottawa area, heard about our program and they adopted most of the seniors and a couple families This year they have already adopted 10 seniors and 2 families. Visiting with a friend before Christmas last year she asked what was going on at the House of Lazarus and I explained our Adopt a Family Program and she right away contacted our Client Services Team Leader and adopted a family and has again this year. She told me how much fun she had shopping for them and getting the items that they would like on the list that was given to her.
The whole program is anonymous. But on one occasion I had the opportunity to meet the young family that our church had adopted and this was only by chance! I had the food and gifts in my van and hadn't had a chance to get them out before they came for pickup. I can't explain the gratitude and joy on the father's face to think that anyone would be that generous to supply them with so much. The family had two little boys and the father said it was going to be an awesome Christmas this year. Both Williamsburg and Winchester Pastoral Charge have participated in this program and now Hope Springs is continuing. Many families are without, and having to decide whether to pay rent, hydro or buy food there doesn't leave much for extras for their families.
Last year, and I think that I mentioned it before, a man, one of our clients, who was single was given food and gifts through this program and he was so excited as he hadn't had anything under his tree for 17 years and he was so thrilled that he said he wasn't going to open anything until Christmas morning. What a blessing that was, to be able to give him hope and show our love to him.
The feeling that I get when I see our offices, any spare floor space become filled with the generosity of church families and surrounding communities is overwhelming and very emotional. The success of this program from only a few families adopted to most of our clients is a testament of the kindness and generous hearts of everyone who participates. Our new ED, Cathy is in for a big surprise this year! Even though she was there last year, she hasn't gotten a grasp on how wonderful this is and how she won't be able to move in her office space.
I have always been involved with this program at the church level, and I want to be! I feel that I have a chance to give back for the blessings that I have been given in life. The generosity of this church family is awesome every year!. Along with Darlene and Phyllis, I have had the opportunity to purchase the extra food for our chosen family with the generous monetary donations we receive from the church family. What a sense of joy to be able to buy them the items for their Christmas dinner and treats, that I know they can't get on their own - extra meat, clementines, butter, bacon, pies, chocolate, and the list goes on, things we take for granted. It is a fun time doing this and knowing that everything will be appreciated.
The chorus of the anthem that the choir sang at our anniversary service speaks to me and what we are to do " we are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly, we are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God" and this speaks of this, the Adopted Family program.
Christmas is a time for giving! and what better way than to Adopt a Family. To give someone hope, love and sense that they are important.
I think that most of us are so blessed with so much, and that to give of our resources, adopt a family program is a testament to our faith and mission of the church.
On the UC website for the Stewardship toolkit Salt & Light, there is another prayer, and it may be spoken over the next few weeks but I feel it speaks to us: let us pray
Gracious and Loving God.
You call us to be disciples of your son, Jesus, and good stewards of your many gifts.
Open our minds and hearts to a greater awareness and deeper appreciation of our countless blessings.
Transform us through the power of your Spirit to nurture a stewardship way of life for all our days.
Help us to be the salt that brings out the God-flavours of this earth,
to encourage vitality and joy and never lose our saltiness and our purpose.
Help us to be a light with beams of community, compassion, and hope for a better and more just world.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
Amen.
Prepared by Janet Carkner