In case you hadn't heard, my church is taking on the challenge of the study A Different Kind of Christmas. I'm looking forward to seeing our faith family rise to the occasion in worship this Advent, but not just in worship, but in how we live out the gospel this season through our giving.
In order to properly live out this study the worshipping body has to take on what's named as the "Christmas Miracle Offering". This is a chosen cause by the church to support through giving the entire season of Advent, culminating on Christmas Eve, and celebrated the Sunday after Christmas. It's a call to sit back and think on the charity of God in loving us and live out that charity in supporting our neighbors world-wide or locally.
I'm excited to say that our church has decided to support the Duncanville Outreach Ministry, a ministry that our church actually started sometime ago. They provide a variety of services to our local community - a community we're right in the middle of. Last year, they had to shut down early in the holiday season as they were lacking in funds and food supplies during the time of greatest need in the lives of the working poor families in our area. Every Sunday of Advent, beginning with our communion rail offering on December 2, we'll be taking a love offering for the DOM for which the organization will have immediate funds. At our annual contemporary worship concert we'll also be taking non-perishable food items as 'admission'. All in effort to meet the needs of the local community.
On the flipside, it will also accomplish something that was talked about quite often at the COR Leadership Institute when discussing reaching the unchurched - it's a way for my local congregation to become indispensable in the community that we call home. That's not a bad thing at all.
All this is to say, you don't have to be taking on this study to do something great for your neighbors this Christmas season. It's time to rethink what the holidays are all about and give thanks to God by giving to others - and that doesn't just mean our own families. Be a miracle for somebody!
In what ways are your faith families reaching out and giving in the name of Christ this holiday season?
In order to properly live out this study the worshipping body has to take on what's named as the "Christmas Miracle Offering". This is a chosen cause by the church to support through giving the entire season of Advent, culminating on Christmas Eve, and celebrated the Sunday after Christmas. It's a call to sit back and think on the charity of God in loving us and live out that charity in supporting our neighbors world-wide or locally.
I'm excited to say that our church has decided to support the Duncanville Outreach Ministry, a ministry that our church actually started sometime ago. They provide a variety of services to our local community - a community we're right in the middle of. Last year, they had to shut down early in the holiday season as they were lacking in funds and food supplies during the time of greatest need in the lives of the working poor families in our area. Every Sunday of Advent, beginning with our communion rail offering on December 2, we'll be taking a love offering for the DOM for which the organization will have immediate funds. At our annual contemporary worship concert we'll also be taking non-perishable food items as 'admission'. All in effort to meet the needs of the local community.
On the flipside, it will also accomplish something that was talked about quite often at the COR Leadership Institute when discussing reaching the unchurched - it's a way for my local congregation to become indispensable in the community that we call home. That's not a bad thing at all.
All this is to say, you don't have to be taking on this study to do something great for your neighbors this Christmas season. It's time to rethink what the holidays are all about and give thanks to God by giving to others - and that doesn't just mean our own families. Be a miracle for somebody!
In what ways are your faith families reaching out and giving in the name of Christ this holiday season?