Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God (KJV)

As this year’s Church Conference season draws to a close, I want to express my gratitude for all that I have learned through my time with you in the District.  I am excited by the ways so many churches are in mission and ministry, connecting to the people in their communities and truly making a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  Whatever you have planned for this special day, I hope you will be with family and friends, and share stories of blessings and joy which you have experienced this past year.  We often focus on the work that we want to accomplish, and rarely take time to bear witness and testimony for the good that we have done.  As we prepare for the Advent season and the promise of our Lord’s birth and all that it means for our salvation, our faith communities will adopt families to bring them meals, presents, and winter clothing.  Because the poor are always with us.

I am aware that for some, this season is a time of sorrow.  Some families will be remembering those who won’t be with them this holiday season. Parents, siblings and children who have died and gone on to glory, families that are now separated through divorce, persons who have been notified their jobs are ending, or have received the diagnosis they feared will struggle with the joy they may feel. There will be both happiness and sadness as they gather.    

The Lord is with us as we count our blessings.  The Lord is also with us through these times of trial. The passage from Isaiah 40 and the words of the 23^rd Psalm remind us of God’s continuing presence in our lives.  As adults, we seek comfort from family, friends or even counselors and medical professionals when the woes in our lives overwhelm us.  Our children and grandchildren may not know who to talk to or what to say when they are in physical or emotional pain.

For this year’s Advent mission for the Midwest District, I have asked each church to collect teddy bears.  The bears are to be donated to a nearby police or fire station, given to children who have experienced some trauma or loss.  It is a way to begin their healing and help them receive what comfort we can offer. Please pray for one another and for the children in our lives who will need comfort.  And Amen.

 

Midwest District Advent Mission Giving Please collect new or gently used Teddy Bears to gift to your local police station or firehouse this Advent. These special bears provide comfort to children who are traumatized. Please contact your local police/fire stations to make arrangements to donate the collected bears. Send photos of your church’s bear donation and we will post your photo here and on the Midwest District Facebook page. Click HERE to read a story about donating bears.

Project to support Native American Elders Program Calling all Midwest District knitters and crocheters…there’s a warm, NEW project! It’s winter hats and mittens, yep hats and mittens! The Native American Elders Program is in need of warm winter hats/mittens for their older participants who come for nutritious weekly meals and wellness programming events.  Click HERE to read more.