-
Just Peace: Special Offering 2023
For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in.
Matthew 25:35
Dear members and friends of First Congregational Church in Winchester:Our church has three special offerings a year where 100% of your donations go directly to a selected organization. These offerings are at Christmas, Easter, and one as our church year begins called the Just Peace offering. Sometimes the Just Peace offering looks worldwide to put our voice and money behind a need or an initiative that makes the world better. This year, our selected focus is right next door!
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and this is compounded by a recent surge in violent gangs with about 2500 people killed from gang violence thus far in 2023. Woburn is one of the receiving communities with about 100 families seeking peace and a new start in life. Your Outreach committee chose supporting these families as our collective Just Peace focus because we want families to be safe, secure, and have financial and social help. Plus, our sister congregation at the Woburn United Methodist Church with whom we partner once a month for the Dwelling Place meals program is taking a central role in welcoming the stranger and paving the way to independence.
So, we encourage you to be generous with us and contribute to this year’s Just Peace offering to support providing household goods, tutoring, job assistance, transportation, and language support for these families. If you would like to donate, please note Just Peace in the memo line of your check, Venmo, or electronic donation.
And let’s make this more real and fun! Could you add something extra to your financial gift by donating something for the cold weather soon approaching? Please consider dropping off one of the following items at the North Pole (otherwise known as Sarah Girotti’s front porch at 14 Winthrop St by October 6th. Your energetic Outreach Committee will make sure these items get to our Haitian neighbors.
- Warm sweaters or sweatshirts
- Wool hats or mittens
- Fall or winter jackets
Thank you for considering this and for your generosity in supporting these families in a tangible way. This ‘hand to their back’ is the love of Jesus in action.
With many thanks from your Outreach Committee
Laura Bailey, Sarah Girotti, Betsy Goodell, Rev. Maeve Hammond, Marianne Iacuzio, Larisa Lindsay, and Virginia Seay
