Slideshow image

As the Advent Season approaches, we are so thankful for all of the ways you have already touched the lives of those in our community, our state, our country, and around the world. Please consider the many great opportunities that you can take part in and pray about where God may be speaking to you to give. You may also choose to give the gift of an online donation here. 

We thank you in advance for your gifts as we experience the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love of Christ this Advent Season.

Pastor Dave Pettengill, Associate Pastor & The Community Outreach Committee

 

Advent Bags

Last year our Epworth family supported local agencies during our Advent Giving program by collecting over 230 grocery bags filled with “wish list” items. With today’s economy the need for assistance is greater than ever. We will be collecting bags of goods once again for FOCUS, Friendly Center, St. Paul’s Community Center, Sunshine and YWCA Battered Woman’s Shelter.

Bags are available in the Narthex with a list of requested items attached. Please return bags to the Narthex on or before Sunday, December 11th. We hope you consider picking up an extra bag this year – maybe support an agency you didn’t know that much about until today! Please contact Bill if you have any questions.

FOCUS
Family Outreach Community United Services, Inc.)
FOCUS is an interfaith not for profit agency working to end homelessness by promoting dignity, hope and independence. FOCUS offers transitional and permanent housing plus life skills and job development programs to help people overcome homelessness.


The Friendly Center
The Friendly Center is a multi-purpose community center serving both children and adults of the North Toledo area. It offers a wide range of programs including recreation and education. It also provides linkages to various social service programs.


St Pauls Community Center
St Paul’s Community Center provides services for the homeless and impoverished. They promote self-sufficiency and assist clients in making positive independent life changes. Their atmosphere is one of caring and concern.


Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio
Sunshine creates loving communities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. They provide residential, family support, clinical and vocational services.


YWCA Battered Womens Shelter
The YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter supports women and their children as they begin new violence-free lives. The Shelter offers a crisis intervention and 24-hour hotline. Support groups and Outreach programs are provided for women at the Shelter and in the community.

Hams for Christmas

St. Paul’s Community Center is in need of hams for their special Christmas Dinner they serve for the homeless and impoverished in our community. Our goal is to provide 40 football-sized hams. Hams can be placed in the refrigerator in the kitchen (please mark “St. Paul’s Ham”) through Sunday, December 18th. Please contact Bob if you have any questions.

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

As a Salvation Army “Bell Ringer” you are helping to transform lives. Epworth will be manning the kettle at The Andersons General Store (Talmadge and Monroe) in one-hour shifts from 10am – 8pm on Wednesday, December 14th, Thursday, December 15th and Friday, December 16th. This is a wonderful service project for anyone – individuals, families, Wesley and youth groups, Sunday School Classes, etc. Sign-up sheets will in the Cloister starting November 6th. Please contact Bob if you have any questions.

The Friendly Center (finished)

The Friendly Center is collecting presents to distribute to children in their neighborhood. Presents are needed for boys and girls aged newborn through 12 years old. The value of the gift should be $10. Please wrap the gift and include on the tag whether it is for a boy or a girl and the appropriate age range. There will be a box in the Cloister to place the gifts. Please have your gifts in the box on or before Sunday, December 4th.

Heifer Project

Heifer international is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and saving the earth by providing livestock, trees, training and other resources to help poor families in the USA and around the globe. Your donation pays for livestock and technical training in animal management and care. Your gift is used to purchase heifers, llamas, goats, tree seedlings, honey bees, pigs and chickens – to name a few. Your donation could be made into a symbolic gift in the name of the person you designate. Donor cards can be sent to the person(s) you name, showing that you made a symbolic gift (of a heifer, goat, flock of chickens, etc.) in the name of the person you designate. This is a great gift idea for those hard-to-buy for people on your list. The Heifer giving model provides a wonderful lesson for your children. Stop by the information table in the cloister the end of November. Look for us in the cloister on Sundays through December 11th. If you have any questions, please contact Rob.

The Giving Tree

Your donations of hats, scarves, mittens and gloves of all sizes and colors will help the children from Toledo’s inner city stay warm and comfortable this winter. Donations will also go to YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, Friendly Center and St. Paul’s Community Center. We have a significant need this year for men’s items, including warm socks. Place items on the tree in the Narthex. Please have your donations on the tree on or before Sunday, December 11th.