During the Presbytery meeting  at DePere First United on February 13th, their Family Ministries Program is holding a Family Adventure Day in which they will be assembling hygiene kits.

Please consider bringing supplies to the Presbytery meeting so that even more kits can be assembled.

Collect items locally and bring them to the February 13th Presbytery Meeting in DePere.  Let’s see how much we can gather.

ACCEPTING ONLY THESE ITEMS:

·        Hand towels (approximately 16″ x 28″)
·        Washcloths
·        Wide-tooth combs
·        Nail clippers (NO files or emery boards)
·        Bath size bars of soap (in wrapper)
·        Toothbrushes (in original packaging)
·        Band Aid strips or other adhesive strips
·        Monetary donations are always welcome

When the earthquake struck Haiti, a 40-foot container was immediately prepared with hygiene and baby kits and sent to the Dominican Republic for transport into Haiti.  Kits have already been distributed.

When very large quantities of kits are sent, few to no kits are available for the next disaster. We understand that the shipment to Haiti completely depleted both warehouses of hygiene kits and baby kits. Therefore, the kits that are being prepared now will allow kits to be available for immediate shipment to other disasters and/or available for additional shipments to Haiti.

A recent report from Church World Service indicates delivery of the following number of kits for response to the Haiti earthquake:

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working to respond to the aftermath of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. Join with Presbyterians in prayer for the survivors and give to the relief effort now.

Give to the special fund by clicking here

Happy New Year!

We look forward to working with you in 2010

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Advent 2009

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

The dawn from on high will break upon us … to guide us in the way of peace (Luke 1:78-79).

Earlier this fall, I traveled to the Middle East. The trip included a stop in Bethlehem, where I had the opportunity to visit an ancient cave that is similar to what a cave stable might have looked like when Joseph and Mary arrived over 2000 years ago.

The cave stable was small, cool, very quiet, and peaceful. It was not hard to imagine the space being used as a birthing place for a child.

While there, I thought about how that quiet, peaceful spot is located in a wider region that is marked with ongoing violence and tension. I thought about other areas in the world where people’s lives are uprooted by such things as famine and warfare, and I wondered about the quiet places one might find there.

I reflected on how, closer to home, we have seen our own level of tension heightened this year because of an economic crisis, rising unemployment, mass shootings, a flu epidemic, ongoing deployment of troops, and so much more. I have heard about and seen firsthand how difficult these stressors have been on our congregations across the denomination. Mission giving, programs, building plans, and staff have been reduced in an effort to make ends meet.

It has been a difficult year. Yet, a quiet, confident strength has been present across the church from which amazing things have happened.

I have heard stories of compassion, generosity, and hope during these tough times. Food pantries, shelters, health clinics, employment training, and countless other creative approaches have been taken to help meet the needs of neighbors and strangers alike.

During the Advent and Christmas seasons, I am reminded anew of the importance of the peaceful birth of Jesus in that quiet cave stable in Bethlehem so long ago. The circumstances surrounding his birth didn’t stay peaceful for long, but the very presence of the Christ child was anchored completely in God’s redeeming love and hope for the entire world.

From that quiet beginning came the Word-made-flesh, breaking upon us to guide us in the way of peace. May it be so again this year – for each of you, for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), for the church worldwide, and for this very world itself.

The peace of the Christ child be with you.

Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly