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January 10, 2007 - January 10, 2007
A “Bright Ray of Hope” Shines in Stillwater
The Youth of Ascension helped to provide a meaningful Christmas for many in the community
by Dawnlynn Greeney
The youth of the Church of the Ascension in Stillwater brought a bright ray of hope to many in the community this past Christmas!
Through their efforts, a series of Craft/Bake Sales brought in $1,559.75. This, combined with the congregation’s “adoption” of 25 individuals, indeed brought a ray of hope to many this year. Gifts and food cards were provided to eight families (a total of 34 individuals), four disabled adults, and eight senior citizens. In addition, $25 gift certificates to Cub Foods were given to the 51 adults who attended the “Last Sunday Supper” on December 17.* Each of the nine children in attendance received a stuffed toy and a Christmas notebook.
In all, this Youth of Ascension’s Outreach program reached 106 people! How’s that for taking the message of God’s love out into the world?
Katie Lottsfeldt and Jackie Greeney of Ascension, Stillwater, served as “Santa’s Helpers” at the Last Sunday Supper on December 17. Katie is at the center reaching into Santa's bag, while Jackie looks at the camera.
Click here for a larger image.
Here are a few individuals who really went all out to make this project successful.
First, there’s Nancy Austin, who stayed late (it was very dark when she left) on two Sundays to help the kids make candles. She also donated the majority of the supplies. Thank you! Then there are Corrin, Alice, and Dave Urban. They made angel pins and helped make the scarves. Great job! Vika Abbot stayed on Sundays to help make candles and other items. She also helped man the sale each weekend. Thank you!
Finally, this project would not have succeeded without the dedication of two very special individuals. Katie Lottsfeldt and Jackie Greeney took on the majority of the responsibility for this effort. They made candles, rosaries, bracelets, necklaces, scarves, a quilt, and most of the other craft items that were sold at the church. Each week they were at the tables keeping track of the sales and assisting the customers. This is the third year our kids have done this project; and thanks to Katie and Jackie, the 2006 endeavor more than tripled the number of people who were helped. They truly were the “hands and feet” of God in this effort.
Jackie’s dedication to the project really showed when she wrote up a talk and gave it on December 10. She went to all three services (that’s the same sermon three times on the same Sunday!) and performed the very difficult task of standing up in front of the congregation and asking all to give. Katie and Jackie both worked hard on December 17 to have everything ready for the Last Sunday Supper guests. It was wonderful that they were there to see the looks of awe and smiles of appreciation when they got to assist Santa and pass out the gift certificates.
We should all be full of admiration for both of these young women, and how hard they worked to ensure that many so people they have never met would experience God’s bountiful love this Christmas. Well done! I can only hope their hard work can be an inspiration to the adults of our diocese!
God bless each of these individuals and all who contributed to this effort!
* The “Last Sunday Supper” is a free supper provided by Ascension each month to anyone who needs a little help to make ends meet. The supper is done in conjunction with First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater.
The “adoption” mentioned above consisted of 25 families purchasing a present for one of the individuals who received gifts. The remainder of the gifts and the gift certificates for groceries were provided from the proceeds of the youth group’s craft sale.
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