Christmas 2008

Dear Friends,
The Christmas Season of 2008 is upon us, and although the Advent Season is itself a joyous, blessed time of year, it goes without saying that 2008 has been a mixed blessing for many. And the year is not yet over.

This letter is both a reminder of a St. Andrew’s tradition and a request to at least continue this most worthwhile tradition. The tradition is that St. Andrew’s has for a number of years devoted our entire Christmas Offering to helping needy families in our own and in nearby communities. The amount gathered and disbursed last year was in excess of $13,000. It is hoped that we can do at least as well this year.

Every penny you contribute toward this effort will go to the families listed below, and if the offering is large enough other families whose needs come to our attention. It is a most efficient way to give, and an important and appropriate way our Parish can glorify God. The candidate families this year were nominated by Bound Together (All Saints Church, Pontiac); The Baldwin Avenue Church and Center of Pontiac; Open Door of Union Lake; and by members of our own Congregation.

The families we will be helping this year are:

1. A mother and daughter. The car of the family is inoperable and there is no money for repairs. A repaired vehicle would make possible family transportation, especially for the daughter’s essential tutoring sessions at Bound Together.
2. A mother with four boys. The mother works as a cleaning woman to support the family. The father is serving a long prison sentence. The costs of utilities and gas and rent leave precious little money left over.
3. A mother and father and two children. The wife has fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, lupus, and diabetes. Father has tumors in his feet, a herniated disc and bone spurs. Neither can work and the family has declared bankruptcy.
4. A mother and father and one son. The mother suffers from back and knee problems and depression. The father has a heart problem and is bipolar. The bipolar son quit school when he was 14 and “…hasn’t left their home in seven years due to his disability.” They live on a small monthly SSI payment.
5. A single mother with two children, an eight year old son and a nineteen year old daughter. The daughter suffers from constriction of blood vessels in the brain resulting in seizures. The mother recently lost her job when the dentist she was working for closed his practice. She does not receive child support.
6. A mother and father and son. The mother has Addison’s disease, osteoporosis, and suffered a heart attack in July. The father suffered a gunshot wound to the head in 2007 and cannot work as a result. The son has a tumor in his right knee, IBS, asthma, and is bipolar. Their SSD does not cover their $675 monthly rent.
7. A mother and son and daughter. The father is a drug addict currently in prison. The mother left him after fifteen years of marriage and receives no child support. She lost her job of five years last May and is now getting by on unemployment which just covers rent, heat, and car payment.
8. A mother and father and six children. The mother is pregnant. Mother and father work at part time jobs and the two family cars which are necessary for them to get to work are inoperable. The home is in need of significant plumbing and electrical repair.

These then are the families we are hoping to make a difference for this Advent Season.
Please give careful consideration to how much you can do to support this St. Andrew’s Outreach. We are in a position to make a difference for these eight families.

Three thoughts come to mind and I leave them with you:
· There but for the grace of God.

· From those to whom much is given, much is expected.

· As you do unto the least of these, you do unto Me.

Please help to continue this most worthwhile and commendable form of Outreach.

Faithfully yours,

Paul Sparre on behalf of the Christmas Outreach Committee