Outreaching Grace during the Holy-Days !

 

The last 5 weeks of 2011 at Westminster were exceptional! See some of how God has been at work in this place:

1.Operation Christmas Child.  Almost 30 boxes were collected to be distributed through Samaritan’s Purse to help children around the world have gifts on Christmas morning.

2.Bag Lunches for the Busby Street Centre.  Especially for a first time effort, we did amazingly!  27 lunches were distributed to the working poor, individuals who couldn’t make it to soup kitchens, those living outdoors and families in need of emergency items.

3.Twonies for Turkeys—Supporting the Busby Street Centre’s Turkey Dinner.  The congregation gave $326.  Here’s a direct quote from the Centre: “Wow, that is fantastic!!!! We will make good use of the money.  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

4. Raising the Roof. In Novembe we announced a $12,000 campaign to fix our roof. At the end of December we already had $9500. Wow! You are amazing!

5.Mitten Tree Donations.  We had a full tree!  Mittens, scarves and hats that were given to needy families across Simcoe County through a Christmas stocking and present program.

6.White Gift Sunday.  A huge amount of food was given to help those struggling to put food on their tables through the Grocery Assistance Program.

7.Christmas Eve Offering.  We gave 100% of our Christmas Eve offering of over $700 to Presbyterians Sharing—a Canada-wide fund to assist with projects like inner city, native, refugee and urban ministries, and international missionaries and their families.

8.Exceeding Goals. In 2011 we committed to give $7500 to Presbyterians Sharing--the same fund as listed above. We gave $7900.

9.We nurtured a spirit of worship and fellowship:

a.      We praised God through the 4 Sundays of Advent.
b.      For the first time held an Honouring Elders service.
c.      We welcomed 7 new members.
d.      Enjoyed carolling and each other’s company at a Family Night.
e.      Came together for a great Soup and a Bun.
f.      Enjoyed an excellent concert by the Ontario Provincial Police chorus.
g.      We did our best to live out God’s grace in our own day-to-day lives.
h.      We prayed for each other.
i.      We sang our hearts out in a beautiful Cantata. 
j.      We re-told the Good News Flash as children in our Pageant. 
k.      We celebrated a meaningful Christmas Eve with 200 people from our community.

Christ is born!   We are serving him and our neighbours – Well done!