Hello all,

As the Holidays approach, we are aware of many opportunities for families to gather and enjoy the warm presence at home, of food, and of family gathering together. It is an amazing time of gathering and connecting with those we love.

During this season, we also know that there are many who are all alone, or have no home, or food for the holidays and holy days. You might have heard me say in worship, when we receive love we are compelled to respond. I believe this with my whole heart. When we take in and receive God's love or a family member's love for us, we are filled with gratitude and appreciation. We feel full and fulfilled. And it's a natural response to overflow that loving connection to others. We cannot solve the all world's problems but we might be able to share a warm meal, or a sweet connection to someone who has found that they are needing a warm cup of love this season.

This Sunday, our youth and children are putting together Christmas stockings for the Women's Homeless Initiative, and the children at the Denver Inner City Parish toy exchange. They are also preparing cookies for our college students. You can be a part of this by bringing a donation of school supplies, holiday socks, candies, small toys and games, stickers, hand sanitizer, mouthwash, travel tissues, slipper socks, gloves, Chapstick, and deodorant (all need to fit in a stocking) to church this Sunday. They can be brought directly to the Fellowship Hall or left in the bins in the Commons.

We truly never know what receiving one of these stockings means to another, some comfort, some care, some awareness that someone cares about me in a cold world. Indeed, it might be the warm cup of love that changes everything in our world. 

Peace,

Dee