A New Year- another great opportunity for sharing our blessings

As we enter into a New Year, we have been blessed once again by the beauty of God's creation.   For some the cold and snow are troublesome, for others it is a way of making a living or getting some extra funds for the week.   For me it is a source of awe.   Watching the birds come in and out of the blue spruce and seek food from the remaining berries on the mountain ash trees not to mention the cardinals and blue jays that decorate what is normally very drab trees this time of year.   So this morning I'm thankful for a warm place to be and a view that is breathtaking.

We will be traveling to East Lansing this morning to return two special young women to Michigan State.  We've had a great time.  They are so thankful for the connections they have made with our church family.   Give them another Sunday at church and they will be able to call many by name.

On another note...  Valparaiso 1st UMC has been very generous in giving this year through the Advance particularly on Giving Tuesday.   We had numerous donations made and ones that indicated their church was Valparaiso 1st, donated $1,275 toward Operation Classroom, Mission Guatemala, Latin America Bible University scholarships, Lost and Found Children of Dominican Republic, Loaves and Fishes, Africa University Student Needs fund, and Children of Abraham.

I've spoken to the people in New York several times in recent weeks.   One of the gentlemen indicated that the response to Giving Tuesday was overwhelming.   They had over $500,000 donated in the first 2 minutes of the 24 hour time period.  What a wonderful response for all the ministries under the heading of "ADVANCE SPECIAL" projects.   There were about 850 projects that received funds on this one day.   What a blessing for many!

 

In our new year, we are looking forward to another Kids Against Hunger Packing event.   The date February 22, 2014 is being reserved for our next event.  Please stay tuned for more details.  Margie Miller and Rebecca Rusnak will be heading back to Costa Rica on January 14.  It is quite possible that it is much warmer there than here!!!   The Sager Brown mission team will be departing near the end of January.   The team of volunteers to Midwest Mission Distribution Center are gathering team members  (Contact Mike Strayer if you are interested) for the 7th(?) year in a row.  And a new team of youth and adults are gearing up to go to Kentucky in July to volunteer with Appalachian Service Project.    

 

The National/International Mission team meets the 2nd Monday of each month.  There's always an empty chair for anyone wanting to join the group.   The meetings are exciting, fast paced, and inspiring.  Blessings abound.   2014 here we are.   Ready to serve.