Some may remember this bumper sticker from
a couple of decades ago. In it's own way, it sparked a revolution - Eat Locally
- Support Local Businesses - Block Parties - Neighborhood Yard Sales - Even
Carpooling. All of these things make a difference from building community to
helping the environment and lots of things in between.
Christ Church, like many churches, has a
broad and amazing array of opportunities for Outreach. We undertake an annual
Mission Trip to some place away from here and our Youth participate in an
annual Spring Clean-Up to help our seniors get their yards ready for summer. We
give to the Community Cupboard and the Clothing Bank and we provide meals for
two programs in Lancaster. We contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing, disaster
relief, water projects, local agencies, denominational ministries and more. We
are truly generous and we do
consider the whole world as we seek to serve.
Sometimes, however, we miss some of the
needs of our local neighbors - right here in Elizabethtown: a child who needs
safety goggles to take a shop class; someone who needs the fee to take a GED
test, someone who needs a sofa or a refrigerator or clothing for a 9-year old.
Thanks to Churches That Care, we learn about these local needs that are
referred by our school social workers and our local pastors. AND, we at Christ
Church have developed a way for each of us to help: we receive emails
detailing the need and we post them on the white banner with the red hearts on
it (thanks to Tana Parrett!).
Whenever you are at the church, check the
banner, there may be something you can do - like give away the refrigerator
that is sitting in your garage. There may be something that you care
passionately about - like helping people get their GED's. Or, you may just want
to help out a neighbor. Anyway, you can just take the tag and follow-up as
directed. And, like the recycling and the carpooling and the highway trash
picking up, you can make a big difference in the lives of your neighbors!
Blessings, Laura Lee
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