Giving gifts is an important tradition that strengthens personal bonds and shows love and appreciation. There are several reasons why we give gifts:
1) To continue cultural traditions associated with occasions like birthdays, weddings, and holidays.
2) To affirm personal relationships and show affection for important people in our lives like family and friends. Gifts let recipients know we care about them.
3) As an alternative to money, gifts allow us to provide something meaningful that the recipient will use and enjoy without hurting their pride.
4) Spiritually, we give gifts to God to strengthen our personal bond with Him, express gratitude, and obey His commandments to bring offerings that support His work. God
The point I am making is that Christmas represents giving that is infinite, and so beyond our mind to grasp that all we do is not comprehend it and understand it, but respond to it with joy, thanksgiving and praise. In other words, Christmas is God's giving to us on the highest level where the only appropriate response is to give back to Him on our highest level. The story of the wise men illustrates this theme of Christmas, which is man's giving to God for His gift to them. Giving, keep in mind, is love in action. Every act of love is some form of giving. Without giving there is no love. Christmas is born in God's love, for He so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. But love received responds with giving too, so we want to look on this Christmas Eve at man's giving in response to God's giving.
Tates Creek Christian Church Monthly Current for October 2014David Eversole
This document is the October 2014 newsletter from Tates Creek Christian Church in Lexington, KY. It provides information about worship services, staff, upcoming events, and articles from various church ministers. The articles discuss topics like an upcoming capital campaign called "What If...", appreciating sacrifices made for freedom, and recommitting to service in the fall season. Contact information is also included.
This document is a bulletin board from Camp Luther that provides information about their summer camps, day camps, weekend retreats, photo contests, gift certificates, and more. It encourages people to visit their website for registration, additional details on programs, and to download their annual report. The document promotes Camp Luther's mission of faith, family and friendship through their various camping programs.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Friends of Robison is a non-profit that supports residents at Cedar Sinai Park. It had a successful annual luncheon and used funds raised to purchase a new van and support various resident programs. The new president, Marcy Morris, thanks outgoing president Michelle Eastern Gradow and hopes Friends of Robison can continue enhancing residents' quality of life.
October Newsletter for Church & WebsiteMaureen Cooke
This document is a pastor's newsletter to the congregation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church summarizing recent events and asking for support of upcoming activities. It discusses the pastor's recent family vacation where he needed cash to properly tip service workers. It also thanks a couple for their generous $35,000 donation to the church's capital campaign and encourages sharing of treasures. Finally, it provides details on the church's Fall Harvest Festival and requests donations of gift baskets and crafts to sell.
Camp Luther held its first annual report in 2016. The report summarized Camp Luther's mission of building people up in Christ through fellowship, recreation, and worship. It discussed core values like being Christ-centered and promoting community relationships. Statistics showed over 2,700 campers served in summer programs from 20 states. The report also outlined an ongoing capital campaign to support programs, expand facilities, and send more kids to camp through an "Every Kid to Camp" initiative.
This document is the December issue of a magazine called Activated. It contains various articles and poems related to Christmas. The main article is a letter encouraging the reader by reflecting on the difficulties Mary and Joseph likely faced on the first Christmas in Bethlehem, but how their joy in Jesus made it worthwhile. Despite challenges, the reader is encouraged to persevere in faith as others have. The issue also provides Christmas reflections on love, peace, family and the true meaning of Christmas, as well as information on the organization publishing the magazine.
This newsletter from the women's ministry of the Oregon City Evangelical Church provides information on upcoming Bible studies, mentoring programs, and social events. The Daniel Bible study beginning in September will focus on living with integrity in difficult times. New accountability groups and continued one-on-one mentoring are announced. The location of the Essence social is changing to a cafe. The newsletter also includes articles on a surprise quilt gift for a friend and a quilting fundraising effort for an upcoming women's retreat.
The point I am making is that Christmas represents giving that is infinite, and so beyond our mind to grasp that all we do is not comprehend it and understand it, but respond to it with joy, thanksgiving and praise. In other words, Christmas is God's giving to us on the highest level where the only appropriate response is to give back to Him on our highest level. The story of the wise men illustrates this theme of Christmas, which is man's giving to God for His gift to them. Giving, keep in mind, is love in action. Every act of love is some form of giving. Without giving there is no love. Christmas is born in God's love, for He so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. But love received responds with giving too, so we want to look on this Christmas Eve at man's giving in response to God's giving.
Tates Creek Christian Church Monthly Current for October 2014David Eversole
This document is the October 2014 newsletter from Tates Creek Christian Church in Lexington, KY. It provides information about worship services, staff, upcoming events, and articles from various church ministers. The articles discuss topics like an upcoming capital campaign called "What If...", appreciating sacrifices made for freedom, and recommitting to service in the fall season. Contact information is also included.
This document is a bulletin board from Camp Luther that provides information about their summer camps, day camps, weekend retreats, photo contests, gift certificates, and more. It encourages people to visit their website for registration, additional details on programs, and to download their annual report. The document promotes Camp Luther's mission of faith, family and friendship through their various camping programs.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Friends of Robison is a non-profit that supports residents at Cedar Sinai Park. It had a successful annual luncheon and used funds raised to purchase a new van and support various resident programs. The new president, Marcy Morris, thanks outgoing president Michelle Eastern Gradow and hopes Friends of Robison can continue enhancing residents' quality of life.
October Newsletter for Church & WebsiteMaureen Cooke
This document is a pastor's newsletter to the congregation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church summarizing recent events and asking for support of upcoming activities. It discusses the pastor's recent family vacation where he needed cash to properly tip service workers. It also thanks a couple for their generous $35,000 donation to the church's capital campaign and encourages sharing of treasures. Finally, it provides details on the church's Fall Harvest Festival and requests donations of gift baskets and crafts to sell.
Camp Luther held its first annual report in 2016. The report summarized Camp Luther's mission of building people up in Christ through fellowship, recreation, and worship. It discussed core values like being Christ-centered and promoting community relationships. Statistics showed over 2,700 campers served in summer programs from 20 states. The report also outlined an ongoing capital campaign to support programs, expand facilities, and send more kids to camp through an "Every Kid to Camp" initiative.
This document is the December issue of a magazine called Activated. It contains various articles and poems related to Christmas. The main article is a letter encouraging the reader by reflecting on the difficulties Mary and Joseph likely faced on the first Christmas in Bethlehem, but how their joy in Jesus made it worthwhile. Despite challenges, the reader is encouraged to persevere in faith as others have. The issue also provides Christmas reflections on love, peace, family and the true meaning of Christmas, as well as information on the organization publishing the magazine.
This newsletter from the women's ministry of the Oregon City Evangelical Church provides information on upcoming Bible studies, mentoring programs, and social events. The Daniel Bible study beginning in September will focus on living with integrity in difficult times. New accountability groups and continued one-on-one mentoring are announced. The location of the Essence social is changing to a cafe. The newsletter also includes articles on a surprise quilt gift for a friend and a quilting fundraising effort for an upcoming women's retreat.
This document is a newsletter from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church announcing an upcoming church retreat at Camp Koinonia from March 20-22. It encourages all church members to attend the retreat to experience spiritual renewal and fellowship in a beautiful natural setting. The retreat will include Bible study, prayer, worship, recreation and leisure activities to help attendees refresh their faith amid busy daily lives. Financial assistance will be available to ensure all who want to attend can do so regardless of means. The pastor hopes attendees will feel called by God to "arise and retreat" to strengthen their faith during the Advent season leading up to Christmas.
This bulletin from Camp Luther provides updates and information on upcoming events. It thanks donors for their support of various projects. It highlights the volunteers of the year, Clay and Louise Reisler, for their leadership in organizing events. It promotes opportunities to volunteer or serve at Camp Luther. It also previews renovations to Lakeview cottage and shares a devotion about maintaining a healthy team through volunteers.
This document summarizes an upcoming 3-day digital photography course taking place over 3 months at The Ammerdown Centre. The course includes coffee, lunch and afternoon tea each day and gradually builds photography skills with practice time between sessions. Participants return monthly to discuss and share images and learn further skills. The Centre provides various programs and venue rental in a warm, welcoming environment with excellent facilities in Radstock, Somerset.
1. The document discusses the concept of stewardship, which involves responsible management of resources, and applies specifically to how Christians manage the gifts God has given them, including time, talents, and money.
2. Statistics are provided about the church's budget and members' financial contributions, with most members giving less than 2% of their income, far below the biblical tithe standard of 10%.
3. The document encourages members to prayerfully reconsider their level of giving in order to support the church's mission and budget in line with biblical principles of stewardship.
This passage discusses the true meaning of Christmas celebration. It emphasizes that Christmas celebrations are meaningful only if they express faith, hope and love. These attributes exemplify the divine spark in mankind and were central to the first Christmas. The passage encourages readers to spread faith, hope and love during the holidays through simple acts of kindness, forgiveness and understanding toward others. It suggests that realizing Christmas' true meaning is found through extending one's heart toward the core of life.
This is a study of kindness which is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, and one that we all need, for the world is always in need of kindness. We all love it when we are treated kindly.
The newsletter from the Women's Ministry of the Oregon City Evangelical Church discusses upcoming events and Bible studies for the fall season. They will be studying the book of Daniel to learn how to maintain integrity in difficult times. Additional programs mentioned include mentoring groups, a women's coffee gathering, and the Essence social event moving to a new location. The newsletter also shares news about mission projects and fundraising efforts to help support the women's retreat in October 2010.
This newsletter from the Women's Ministry of Oregon City Evangelical Church provides information on upcoming Bible studies, mentoring programs, social events and fundraising opportunities. The main article discusses the challenges of living with integrity in today's world and encourages women to stand firm in their faith through studying the book of Daniel together and supporting one another.
The document is the September 2016 newsletter of Xavier High School. It provides updates on various school events and activities. It also includes several reflections from faculty and students on beloved teacher and coach Justin "Mick" Kramer who recently passed away. The reflections highlight how he dedicated over 50 years to Catholic education, loved his students and faith, and was a role model and inspiration to all who knew him.
31 Funny And Inspirational Christmas QuotesSamuel Albert
Here are some funny and inspirational Christmas quotes. I know for sure that you will enjoy reading them. Enjoy! https://maestrack.com/funny-and-inspirational-christmas-quotes/
God gave the ultimate gift through His Son Jesus Christ. This gift was personal, as Jesus died for each individual. It was also practical, providing eternal life. And it was pleasing, satisfying our greatest need. Most importantly, it was a permanent gift of salvation that has already been purchased by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This gift of eternal life through faith in Christ is the most important gift one can receive.
The document is a newsletter from Rev'd Terry Freeman containing several short articles. It begins with Rev'd Freeman recounting a nonsense poem he heard on the radio about spring arriving. It then discusses the Christian life being like gardening, in that preparation is key to having fruitful results. The newsletter continues with announcements about church services, charitable events, and obituaries of parishioners who recently passed away.
1) The document summarizes a sermon about how love is exemplified through the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible. It discusses how Ruth commits to loving and caring for her mother-in-law Naomi above herself.
2) It also discusses how Boaz shows love for Ruth by protecting her and ensuring her needs are met while she is gleaning.
3) Finally, it encourages readers to go above expectations and cultural norms by committing to love others, as Ruth and Boaz did.
This document tells the story of Terri and Bill Moore's daughter Promise and how God kept His promise to them through her. When Promise was just 6 weeks old, she became very ill with meningitis. The doctors said she would likely die by morning. Terri and Bill prayed fervently for her healing, claiming God's promises. Though the tests confirmed meningitis, which was said to be incurable, God miraculously healed Promise against all odds. She lived to bring them great joy and to show them how real God's promises are.
The bulletin board document provides updates and announcements for Camp Luther including:
- #GivingTuesday is November 28th and gifts can be made through the PushPay App to support Camp Luther.
- Summer camp registration opens on December 1st at campluther.com/register.
- Camp Luther gift certificates can be purchased and used for camps and in the canteen.
- The document also provides information on alumni connections, supporting Camp Luther through Amazon Smile purchases, upcoming recognition of investors, and links to view the online newsletter.
The document is a newsletter from Rev'd Terry Freeman containing several short articles. It discusses the arrival of spring, the importance of prayer and preparation in the Christian life, and announces upcoming church services and community events.
- The document is a message from Jesus about the true meaning of Christmas, which is love.
- Jesus encourages taking time to enjoy Christmas with family and friends through cherishing the love shared, rather than focusing on decorations, gifts and festivities.
- Love can get lost amidst the busy Christmas season, but taking time for love by spending quality time together will allow one to truly celebrate Jesus' birthday and the greatest gift of His love for humanity.
The Woodbourne Chess Club and Poets Society are providing therapeutic benefits to students. About 25% of students signed up for the new chess club, where Mr. Nostrant sees improvements in focus, behavior, and responsibility from participating students. The Woodbourne Poets Society hosted a poetry reading where students' works ranged from love poetry to experiences at Woodbourne. Donations from supporters allow Woodbourne to continue helping over 150 individuals each year through services and programs.
This newsletter provides updates on various events and activities at Xavier High School. It announces that classes for the second semester will begin on January 3rd and that Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated from January 29th to February 4th. It also introduces Xavier's new Learning Coach, Ally Callanan, who will support students struggling academically. Additionally, it provides information on upcoming faith-based activities, sporting events, and fundraising opportunities.
This document summarizes events and themes for the summer of 2012 at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary with various activities throughout the summer, including parades each week featuring puppets and a marching band. Historical displays will showcase theme t-shirts from past years. The summer program will begin with a workshop on liturgy and feature many teaching staff on topics through September. Preparatory work will also continue on the mine remediation project occurring in the area.
1) The document provides guidance on choosing the right toys and gifts for others by considering their interests, age, what may be lacking in their life, their dreams, durability and practicality of gifts.
2) It emphasizes paying attention to these factors to ensure gifts are appropriate and will bring joy rather than causing issues like misunderstandings or ruining relationships.
3) The wrong gift can send the wrong message, not benefit the receiver, spark misunderstandings, or damage relationships if not chosen carefully based on understanding the recipient. Choosing gifts requires thoughtfulness.
This document provides an overview and recommendations for gifts related to several holidays and occasions, including Valentine's Day. It begins with a foreword introducing the gift guide. The Valentine's Day section provides a brief history of the holiday, suggestions for meaningful gifts to show appreciation, and ideas for making the day special such as a romantic dinner or getaway. Recommendations include heart-shaped items, flowers, chocolate, and personalized gifts. The guide aims to help readers choose thoughtful gifts for their loved ones on each occasion.
This document is a newsletter from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church announcing an upcoming church retreat at Camp Koinonia from March 20-22. It encourages all church members to attend the retreat to experience spiritual renewal and fellowship in a beautiful natural setting. The retreat will include Bible study, prayer, worship, recreation and leisure activities to help attendees refresh their faith amid busy daily lives. Financial assistance will be available to ensure all who want to attend can do so regardless of means. The pastor hopes attendees will feel called by God to "arise and retreat" to strengthen their faith during the Advent season leading up to Christmas.
This bulletin from Camp Luther provides updates and information on upcoming events. It thanks donors for their support of various projects. It highlights the volunteers of the year, Clay and Louise Reisler, for their leadership in organizing events. It promotes opportunities to volunteer or serve at Camp Luther. It also previews renovations to Lakeview cottage and shares a devotion about maintaining a healthy team through volunteers.
This document summarizes an upcoming 3-day digital photography course taking place over 3 months at The Ammerdown Centre. The course includes coffee, lunch and afternoon tea each day and gradually builds photography skills with practice time between sessions. Participants return monthly to discuss and share images and learn further skills. The Centre provides various programs and venue rental in a warm, welcoming environment with excellent facilities in Radstock, Somerset.
1. The document discusses the concept of stewardship, which involves responsible management of resources, and applies specifically to how Christians manage the gifts God has given them, including time, talents, and money.
2. Statistics are provided about the church's budget and members' financial contributions, with most members giving less than 2% of their income, far below the biblical tithe standard of 10%.
3. The document encourages members to prayerfully reconsider their level of giving in order to support the church's mission and budget in line with biblical principles of stewardship.
This passage discusses the true meaning of Christmas celebration. It emphasizes that Christmas celebrations are meaningful only if they express faith, hope and love. These attributes exemplify the divine spark in mankind and were central to the first Christmas. The passage encourages readers to spread faith, hope and love during the holidays through simple acts of kindness, forgiveness and understanding toward others. It suggests that realizing Christmas' true meaning is found through extending one's heart toward the core of life.
This is a study of kindness which is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, and one that we all need, for the world is always in need of kindness. We all love it when we are treated kindly.
The newsletter from the Women's Ministry of the Oregon City Evangelical Church discusses upcoming events and Bible studies for the fall season. They will be studying the book of Daniel to learn how to maintain integrity in difficult times. Additional programs mentioned include mentoring groups, a women's coffee gathering, and the Essence social event moving to a new location. The newsletter also shares news about mission projects and fundraising efforts to help support the women's retreat in October 2010.
This newsletter from the Women's Ministry of Oregon City Evangelical Church provides information on upcoming Bible studies, mentoring programs, social events and fundraising opportunities. The main article discusses the challenges of living with integrity in today's world and encourages women to stand firm in their faith through studying the book of Daniel together and supporting one another.
The document is the September 2016 newsletter of Xavier High School. It provides updates on various school events and activities. It also includes several reflections from faculty and students on beloved teacher and coach Justin "Mick" Kramer who recently passed away. The reflections highlight how he dedicated over 50 years to Catholic education, loved his students and faith, and was a role model and inspiration to all who knew him.
31 Funny And Inspirational Christmas QuotesSamuel Albert
Here are some funny and inspirational Christmas quotes. I know for sure that you will enjoy reading them. Enjoy! https://maestrack.com/funny-and-inspirational-christmas-quotes/
God gave the ultimate gift through His Son Jesus Christ. This gift was personal, as Jesus died for each individual. It was also practical, providing eternal life. And it was pleasing, satisfying our greatest need. Most importantly, it was a permanent gift of salvation that has already been purchased by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This gift of eternal life through faith in Christ is the most important gift one can receive.
The document is a newsletter from Rev'd Terry Freeman containing several short articles. It begins with Rev'd Freeman recounting a nonsense poem he heard on the radio about spring arriving. It then discusses the Christian life being like gardening, in that preparation is key to having fruitful results. The newsletter continues with announcements about church services, charitable events, and obituaries of parishioners who recently passed away.
1) The document summarizes a sermon about how love is exemplified through the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible. It discusses how Ruth commits to loving and caring for her mother-in-law Naomi above herself.
2) It also discusses how Boaz shows love for Ruth by protecting her and ensuring her needs are met while she is gleaning.
3) Finally, it encourages readers to go above expectations and cultural norms by committing to love others, as Ruth and Boaz did.
This document tells the story of Terri and Bill Moore's daughter Promise and how God kept His promise to them through her. When Promise was just 6 weeks old, she became very ill with meningitis. The doctors said she would likely die by morning. Terri and Bill prayed fervently for her healing, claiming God's promises. Though the tests confirmed meningitis, which was said to be incurable, God miraculously healed Promise against all odds. She lived to bring them great joy and to show them how real God's promises are.
The bulletin board document provides updates and announcements for Camp Luther including:
- #GivingTuesday is November 28th and gifts can be made through the PushPay App to support Camp Luther.
- Summer camp registration opens on December 1st at campluther.com/register.
- Camp Luther gift certificates can be purchased and used for camps and in the canteen.
- The document also provides information on alumni connections, supporting Camp Luther through Amazon Smile purchases, upcoming recognition of investors, and links to view the online newsletter.
The document is a newsletter from Rev'd Terry Freeman containing several short articles. It discusses the arrival of spring, the importance of prayer and preparation in the Christian life, and announces upcoming church services and community events.
- The document is a message from Jesus about the true meaning of Christmas, which is love.
- Jesus encourages taking time to enjoy Christmas with family and friends through cherishing the love shared, rather than focusing on decorations, gifts and festivities.
- Love can get lost amidst the busy Christmas season, but taking time for love by spending quality time together will allow one to truly celebrate Jesus' birthday and the greatest gift of His love for humanity.
The Woodbourne Chess Club and Poets Society are providing therapeutic benefits to students. About 25% of students signed up for the new chess club, where Mr. Nostrant sees improvements in focus, behavior, and responsibility from participating students. The Woodbourne Poets Society hosted a poetry reading where students' works ranged from love poetry to experiences at Woodbourne. Donations from supporters allow Woodbourne to continue helping over 150 individuals each year through services and programs.
This newsletter provides updates on various events and activities at Xavier High School. It announces that classes for the second semester will begin on January 3rd and that Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated from January 29th to February 4th. It also introduces Xavier's new Learning Coach, Ally Callanan, who will support students struggling academically. Additionally, it provides information on upcoming faith-based activities, sporting events, and fundraising opportunities.
This document summarizes events and themes for the summer of 2012 at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary with various activities throughout the summer, including parades each week featuring puppets and a marching band. Historical displays will showcase theme t-shirts from past years. The summer program will begin with a workshop on liturgy and feature many teaching staff on topics through September. Preparatory work will also continue on the mine remediation project occurring in the area.
1) The document provides guidance on choosing the right toys and gifts for others by considering their interests, age, what may be lacking in their life, their dreams, durability and practicality of gifts.
2) It emphasizes paying attention to these factors to ensure gifts are appropriate and will bring joy rather than causing issues like misunderstandings or ruining relationships.
3) The wrong gift can send the wrong message, not benefit the receiver, spark misunderstandings, or damage relationships if not chosen carefully based on understanding the recipient. Choosing gifts requires thoughtfulness.
This document provides an overview and recommendations for gifts related to several holidays and occasions, including Valentine's Day. It begins with a foreword introducing the gift guide. The Valentine's Day section provides a brief history of the holiday, suggestions for meaningful gifts to show appreciation, and ideas for making the day special such as a romantic dinner or getaway. Recommendations include heart-shaped items, flowers, chocolate, and personalized gifts. The guide aims to help readers choose thoughtful gifts for their loved ones on each occasion.
Catalogue providing information and recommending products related to Thanksgiving and Appreciation events such as Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Valentine's Day, Easter's Day, Parents And Children's Day events.
The document provides reflections on Christmas from different perspectives. It begins by summarizing an article criticizing Queen Elizabeth for canceling her staff's Christmas party due to budget cuts, arguing she should bring people joy instead. It then discusses the author's most memorable Christmas in London in 1974 when a gentleman delivered a gift by hand that changed his life, and encourages readers to pay it forward. Finally, it previews an upcoming article interviewing the Grinch for his perspective on Christmas.
The document provides various Christmas-themed educational tasks and activities, including puzzles, word searches using the letters in "Happy Christmas", matching Christmas customs to countries, discussing what Christmas means in the UK, writing New Year's resolutions, and composing a Christmas poem using the letters in "CHRISTMAS". It discusses traditions such as exchanging gifts and cards, the origins of some customs, and foods commonly eaten for Christmas like turkey. It also explores how Christmas is celebrated and perceived differently by people in Britain.
This document is the December newsletter from First Baptist Church of Franklinton. It includes information about upcoming church services and events in December, including Christmas Eve services. It encourages members to commit to 30 days of prayer for the Darzi Muslims of India from November 30th to December 29th. It also provides details about the church's annual Lottie Moon Christmas offering for international missions and opportunities for members to engage in missions work.
December has arrived and our activities help us to start thinking about this festive time of the year. The activities for our B2 First and C1 Advanced students are design to help students talk about their feelings about Christmas and the traditions they share with friends and family. Our A2 Flyers, A2 Key and B1 Preliminary students can have some fun while they find out how to make some traditional Christmas food. The youngest ones can set their creativity free and design their Christmas tree while they practise their speaking, listening and writing. Happy teaching!
This document is a newsletter from Our Saviour Lutheran Church providing information about upcoming events and collections for the month of November and December. It discusses the themes of loyalty and thanksgiving for the holidays, highlighting a story of a Vietnam veteran who sparked spontaneous applause from confirmation students. It announces voting on mission goals and "Loyalty Sunday" where members can renew their commitment. It provides the usher schedule and reminds of ongoing collections for veterans and Christmas gifts for children in the community.
The document summarizes a sermon about 3 gifts that God wants for Christmas: justice, kindness, and humility. It discusses each gift in turn. For justice, it argues we should promise to act fairly towards others. For kindness, it says we should reflect Christ's kindness by being patient and not unkind. For humility, it says we should reject pride and arrogance, and instead walk humbly with God as Jesus did. The sermon encourages giving these gifts to Jesus for Christmas rather than expensive presents, as they do not require money or talent but just a change of heart.
The Vineyard School is holding its annual Christmas Fair on December 2nd from 12pm to 4pm. They are seeking volunteers and donations to help upgrade the school library. Ideas for activities at the fair include international food stalls, decorating gingerbread biscuits, face painting, a photo booth and craft tables. Volunteers are needed to organize, prepare food, donate items and man stalls on the day. A meeting will be held on November 9th to discuss further plans for the fair.
This newsletter from the Ammerdown Centre provides information on upcoming events at the centre related to Christmas, Advent, and interfaith projects. It includes an Advent message from the Chairman reflecting on finding meaning and hope amid societal challenges. Upcoming events highlighted are a Christmas carol service, book club discussions on identity and prejudice, and celebrations of Jewish holidays that bring people of different faiths together. The newsletter also provides a winter soup recipe and information on writing workshops and quiet days available at the center.
This document contains several articles on the topics of love and relationships from a Christian perspective. The opening article discusses how true love comes from God, who is the source of all love, and encourages readers to involve God when seeking love. Another article provides advice on how to find, give, and keep real love, defining it as unselfish and based on non-physical qualities like character. It encourages prioritizing spiritual compatibility over physical attraction. A short story is also included about how a Bible given as a Valentine's gift helped strengthen a struggling relationship.
How You Can Help Charity - Fundraising Ideas for EveryoneLaura Rollason
This document provides information about Edward's Trust, a charity that supports families bereaved by the death of a child. It discusses the services Edward's Trust provides, including counseling, support groups, and respite care. It then provides many ideas for fundraising events and activities that individuals, schools, businesses and other organizations can do to support Edward's Trust, including sponsored challenges, competitions, sales of merchandise, and payroll giving. The goal is to raise awareness of the charity and funds to support its services for grieving families.
This document is the February 2012 issue of "Our Kids Monthly Magazine" from the Divine Mercy Shrine in Malta. It includes sections for kids such as a colouring page, puzzles, recipes, crafts, and a prayer. The front page has a message from Fr. Michael about Ash Wednesday and Lent, including why we fast, give alms, pray and do good deeds during this period. The back page provides the calendar of kids' activities for the term, including catechism lessons and a preparation session for Lent led by Fr. Godwin Preca.
This document is the February 2012 issue of a monthly magazine for kids attending catechism at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Malta. It includes a word from the Rector, activities like coloring pages, puzzles, recipes, crafts, and a kid's prayer. It also provides information on Ash Wednesday and Lent, including wearing ashes as a sign of repentance. The calendar lists upcoming catechism lessons and special events at the sanctuary for the month.
The Thoughtful Mother's Day jar gift from KindNotes is a personalized and heartwarming gift that is perfect for celebrating and honoring the special mother in your life. The gift includes a beautifully decorated glass jar filled with 31 unique and uplifting messages or quotes, each enclosed in a decorative envelope. You can choose from a variety of unique personalized presents from our most well-liked collection of Thoughtful Mother's Day Gift Ideas, one of which is sure to be appreciated by your mother, aunt, grandmother, or any "other mother" in your life. https://www.kindnotes.com/collections/sentimental-mothers-day-gifts
This document is a newsletter from Our Saviour Lutheran Preschool in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It discusses upcoming events at the preschool in November, including a field trip to the local fire station and parent-teacher conferences. It also provides reminders to parents about weather closures, sick children, and encouraging self-help skills at home like dressing, cutting with scissors, and saying prayers with Jesus at mealtimes.
2. What is a gift?
Merriam Webster says that
a gift is, “something
voluntarily transferred by
one person to another
without compensation.”
3. The Best Gift for a Best Friend
A girl still recall the day her Mom suggested, "Let's get you some new clothes." You can imagine that to a little girl that may
mean the world, but to her it meant the Universe because they were not financially well off. So she went wide-eyed,
wondering what she could select. To her surprise her mom allowed her to pick out three dresses, a pink one, a navy blue
and, best of all a yellow & blue one. She loved that yellow and blue dress and to this day she love just thinking about it. She
had a best friend whose family was even worse off financially than hers. Her name was Seema. They played and studied
together. They spent the best days of their childhood laughing at their silly imaginary stories. She was excited to show her
friend, her three new beautiful dresses. Her friend loved them all and was happy for her. Her friend explained to her, with
moistened eyes, that her father could only afford buying her clothes for her birthday. She felt her sad and instantly her
mouth opened and I asked her something unexpected, she asked her friend to pick out one of the dresses. To her horror her
friend picked up the best one- the yellow and blue dress. Please remember, she was only 7 years old and her heart popped
out her chest as she was aghast (struck with terror). Seema picked it up and held it up against her body and she saw how
happy and beautifully she smiled. Her eyes lit up, no tears. She could not feel her hurt anymore. She told her it looked lovely
against her. Well, her mom didn't have the same sentiments as her but she did her best to explain everything. She smiled
understandingly .She always remember Seema's smile and how at that moment nothing mattered other than her smile.
When you love and cherish your friendships, nothing matters ever! To this date they are still best friends.
5. Matthew 25:14-30 New Living Translation (NLT) How do you
keep your gifts?
Parable of the Three Servants
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
15 He gave five bags of silver[a] to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.
17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.
18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together![b]’
22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.
25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,
27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.
29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
6.
7. To whom shall we give gifts?
1. GOD-The primary subject of all our giving is God that He may be glorified. In fact, he who gives not unto the
LORD has not given at all. God asks us to give back to Him what rightfully belongs to Him as an expression of our
love and gratitude for His infinite goodness
.2. Close to us- Parents, brothers, sisters, friends
3. Preachers and Teachers Jesus Christ charged His apostles to go and preach the Gospel and minister to the
spiritual needs of the people, trusting in His provision for theirdaily necessities (Luke 10:7; Matthew 10:10; cf.1
Timothy 5:17-18). He exhorted them to cast themselves upon His gracious hands for their living because the
workman is worthy of his wages. God’s provision for the ministers of the Gospel is, once again, channelled
through the loving hands of His redeemed people as it is written, “Let him that is taught in the word
communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things” (Galatians 6:6).
4. Our Partner
5 Weak and Needy ,“As we have therefore opportunity,l et us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are
of the household of faith”(Galatians 6:10).
8. When shall we give gifts?
1. When gifts are expected-
such as weddings,
birthdays, graduations,
special achievements, and
other special occasion
invitations
2. When gifts are less
expected
3. When you really feel like
giving
9. Why do we give gifts?
Over the years, the purpose of giving gifts has extended beyond its religious origins. Gift giving has evolved into a more complex social and cultural
dynamic. Here are the most common reasons why we continue giving gifts to our loved ones and what do the gifts mean nowadays?
1. Tradition- Giving a gift is a tradition that has been passed on from one generation to another. Every birthday, as well as other occasions like
Christmas, Wedding or Valentine's Day, we are expected to bring gifts for the celebrant. Even giving simple and small things like chocolates or
maybe a cake would be enough to continue this tradition.
2. Personal bond- Of course, there's more to giving gifts than just the act itself. The message behind it is even more important. Most of the time, we
give gifts to people who we value dearly and by doing so; we affirm our personal relationship with them. It's another way of showing our affection to
the recipient. You don't give gifts to someone of little or no importance to you. By giving them something that they want or need, we are, in a way,
taking care of them. For example, you think your mom/dad or your wife/husband needs some time off to relax, then the More Bites XL pizza would
be exactly what they would want for their birthday.
3. Alternative to money- Some people refuse being given money because it hurts their ego. Birthdays are the perfect occasion to give someone
something that they need and could use in their everyday lives without them thinking that it's for charity. Your mom might be reluctant to accept money
from you, but if you give her a LOQI 'Gerhard Richter' Reusable Shopping Bag, she would gladly accept it.
4. To show our love and appreciation- This is probably the most important reason to give gifts to someone important to us. More than the material
thing that we are giving them, the thoughtfulness, love, and appreciation behind the gift is what we want them to see. You can make them feel your
love by giving them only the finest things in life, like the Best of All Gourmet Hamper, which contains fine wine, sumptuous sweets and nibbles that
the recipient would truly enjoy.
10. Why do we give gifts?
5. To let them know that you pay attention to them-In one of your conversations, your loved one might have
mentioned something, like a book or a collector's item that they've wanted to get for a long time. Just imagine their
joy when you finally get it for them on their birthday. Birthday gifts tell the recipients that the givers care for them
enough to really get to know them, including the things that make them happy.
6. As a way of looking after them-Maybe you know something that your loved one needs but he or she hasn't got
the chance to buy it yet because of lack of time or money. Giving such items as a birthday gift could be your way of
taking care of their needs.
7. To display your skills- Giving handmade gifts, whether big or small, would surely melt the heart of the recipient.
More than the item itself, the thought that you spent a lot of effort and time to make it is the best gift you could
give to someone.
8. As a keepsake -We all want to be remembered, especially by those who are important to us. By giving someone
a present on his or her birthday, the item becomes a keepsake. Every time the recipient sees or uses it, the giver
would always come to mind. This is what makes gift giving so much special.
11. Spiritually speaking , we give gifts to God
because:
1. it is our personal bond with GOD-God wants us to
know him.
The Bible says God is at work in everyone’s life. “So
that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they
might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not
far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27)
Malachi 3:10 ►
New International Version
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there
may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the
LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that there will not be room enough to store
it.
12. Spiritually speaking, we give gifts to God
because:
It is one of our
ways of showing
how deeply we
appreciated
God’s goodness
to us.
13. Ellen G. White says that:
When Christ gave
His people the
promise of the
Holy Spirit, He said
that, “another
Comforter” will
“abide with you
forever.” John
14:16.
17. What shall we give our Lord?
1. What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou who didst die for me. Shall I give less of what I possess, Or shall I give all to Thee?
Chorus:Jesus, my Lord and Savior; Thou hast giv’n all for me; Thou didst leave Thy home above To die on Calvary.
What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou hast giv’n all for me; Not just a part or half of my heart, I will give all to Thee.
2
What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou hast redeemed my soul; My gift is small but it is my all Surrendered to Thy control.
3
What shall I give Thee, Master? Giver of gifts divine! I will not hold time, talents or gold—For everything shall be Thine.