“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead” (James 2:26b).
I’m so grateful for the societies, zones, individuals, and congregations that have been loving their neighbours and sharing their faith throughout this COVID mess. Thank you for your devotion and your example to of us who have been discouraged. If you’ve never shared on this blog before please share with us what you have been doing during the pandemic, even the simplest thing. Double the blessing…you’ve done it and now share what you do with the rest of us.
During this past year our society stopped making baby bundles for CLWR. Toques, mitts, scarves, socks that we’ve collected on our Cozy Tree (lighted Christmas tree) during Advent are no longer wanted by downtown ministry. Toys collected at our annual Ladies Christmas Party are not wanted at a local agency – all of this coming from the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s just a bit discouraging. Perhaps God is doing a reset on projects and things we “used to do.” What are we (our society) to do now?
As the saying goes, when God closes a door, He opens up a window. Let’s look out that window and what do we see? From our church building we can see a fire station, a hospital, an education centre, apartment buildings, houses and a bus depot.
As our society starts up after the summer months, we are seeking out different projects for our society to do. One lady in our congregation volunteers at the hospital and she suggested contacting the administration to find out a way we could bless either staff or patients. We just received word that we could help with clothing donations along with runners for men and women for the ER. A cold weather shelter is looking for specific items like small denomination gift cards to McDonalds, a local grocery store or the Dairy Queen, as well as juice boxes, granola bars, fruit bars, hand and foot warmers to slip inside gloves or socks. Socks and men’s underwear are a big need. During COVID this shelter cannot do personal laundry for safety, so they like to have lots on hand. Because of the weather they never know when they will be open.
We will talk about these ideas at our next society meeting.
In this “changed” world we “will” and “have to” make changes, too. Even LWMLC will be changing and it’s exciting to see what our caring and unchangeable God will bless us with. As the door closes on one chapter, let’s look out the window for the opportunities He has put in front of us. It’s like a child at Christmas – you know a gift is coming and you’re so excited for the day when you can open it..
Pat
P.S. We had our meeting today and the verdict is in…we (society and congregation) will begin by collecting socks and underwear for the cold weather shelter to decorate our Cozy Tree during Advent.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.“
Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:31-40 NIV).