Christmas Blessings Initiatives Bring Hope and Joy
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Christmas joy abounded at WCC throughout the holiday season as the church body graciously provided for those in need through the church’s Christmas Blessings campaign. The campaign was comprised of the Care Fund, WCC’s annual special annual offering, Grandparents Ministry, PJs and Bibles and The River Adopt-a-Family.
Care Fund 2023
Every year for the past 17 years, WCC has conducted a special “above and beyond” end-of-year offering to help those in need in the community and around the world by showing them Christ’s love through tangible financial support. This year’s campaign, which ran Dec. 1 to 31, 2023, generated a total of $249,812 to be used in two key areas in 2024: Crisis and Hardship and Missions and Disaster Relief. Since the Care Fund’s inception in 2006, more than $4.2 million has been raised to assist those in need.
Grandparents Ministry
Sonlight’s Grandparent Ministry was also the recipient of Christmas cheer. The ministry received several gift cards in various amounts that were used to bless grandparents who are helping to nurture and raise their grandchildren.
“One grandparent told the Sonlight staff they feel seen and loved by Sonlight,” said Ruth Romeo, PreK/K program leader. “That is one of the desires we have for this ministry. Sonlight is committed to investing in these grandparents and wants to come alongside them and support them in tangible ways.”
PJs and Bibles
The WCC church body purchased a total of 245 Bibles and donated 179 new pairs of pajamas for children in the community who were part of Combined Community Services Adopt-a-Family program. Sonlight partners with CCS for this initiative each year. All items were delivered to CCS and were distributed Dec. 16 at a special event for children in the program and their families. The salvation message was presented during the event. Sonlight children and staff celebrated the success of the campaign with a pajama party Dec. 17 that included wearing PJs to church and enjoying hot chocolate and cookies.
The River Adopt-a-Family
A total of 27 families participated in The River’s Adopt-a-Family program. Thanks to the generosity of numerous growth groups and individuals, 52 children, along with their mothers, were blessed with gifts this Christmas.
“It was amazing to witness so many people enthusiastically give and show the love of Christ to the ladies and children of The River,” said Aynsley Patton, discipleship administrator and a coordinator of the effort. “Many of the ladies said The River ministry and WCC make them feel loved and cared for, and one lady shared that the outpouring of gifts and love left her feeling overwhelmed with emotion after she had a rollercoaster of a week. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared the Lords’s blessings with the ladies of The River.”
MOMs Comfort & Joy Event
In other WCC Christmas celebrations, about 55 Moms from WCC’s MOMs ministry, along with several volunteers, gathered Nov. 28 in the WCC café for the ministry’s Comfort & Joy event. This year’s theme, “Called to Peace at Christmas,” invited the moms and volunteers to direct their eyes toward Jesus and prepare for the Christmas season with a renewed sense of peace.
The evening agenda included a panel discussion on peace, meditative and calming body scans and the making of a wreath using live evergreens, along with warm apple cider and refreshments. The evening concluded with a candlelight vigil.
“This event was designed to recenter moms toward Christ during the busy holiday season,” said Megan Reinholt, an event organizer. “It was a fun, beautiful and relaxing night that allowed moms to come together and refocus. I personally felt uplifted and was truly excited to celebrate Christmas this year.”
