This Christmas season, First Church will again provide assistance to our unhoused neighbors. For the past several years, we have assembled Christmas Gift Bags to distribute across our area after the Christmas Eve services. This year, the Justice & Service (J&S) Ministry along with the staff have decided to distribute gift cards to our unhoused neighbors, and you are invited to contribute in three ways.
Sun., Dec. 1: After the service, the Deacons (Worship & Spiritual Life Ministry members) and members of the J&S Ministry will host a table for everyone to write Christmas Notes for our unhoused neighbors. The notes don’t have to be long — just some kind words of friendship and encouragement — but we need at least 50 of them, so please join us to write a few. Materials will be provided. If the weather is nice, look for us outside; if it is raining or cold, look for us in the Hall of Entrance.
Sun., Dec. 8 & 15: You can also contribute to this project by either providing a $10 gift card(s) from Target or Safeway or by making an online donation here via Realm (make sure to choose “Gift Cards for Unhoused Neighbors” from the Fund dropdown menu); a check made out to FCCB with Gift Cards for Unhoused Neighbors in the memo line; or cash. Gift cards and cash donations will be collected at a table in the Hall of Entrance by the J&S team before and after the service on Dec. 8 & 15. J&S members will use donations to buy the gift cards. All gift cards will be tucked inside a Christmas Note.
Tues., Dec. 24: FCCB staff will be distributing the envelopes after the Christmas Eve services. You may take 1 or 2 envelopes per family to give to an unhoused neighbor(s).
However you decide to participate, the members of both Worship & Spiritual Life and J&S Ministries thank you for your generous heart.