Christ Church Outreach News: December 1, 2022
Angel Tree Drive Continues to Brighten Christmas for 12 Children
From a soccer ball and goalie gloves to a backpack and teen journal, there are still slots remaining to grant the wishes of children in the Christ Church Angel Tree drive. Please help bring the joy of Christmas to a group of children ages 10-to-12 to meet a need identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army. The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere.
To participate, simply go online to view the list and make your choices on the Christ Church 2022 Angel Tree SignUp. It has instructions on next steps. Or, if you prefer an in-person signup, make your choices after worship services on Sunday, Dec. 4. Someone will be present to assist if you wish to log on then.
The Outreach Commission invites you to purchase new clothing and other wished-for items to complete Christmas gift “packages” for young angels. Each girl or boy on our list will receive an outfit, consisting of pants and a top. Besides the clothing, there are three other categories for each angel: Wish, Need, and Educational Item.
Some parishioners prefer to sign up for just one slot, such as the practical (need) category for a single child. Some people desire to complete the entire “package’ for an angel by signing up in all four categories. Another shopper might choose the clothing (outfit) category for multiple angels.
You can gaze at tags on the decorated Angel Tree in the Narthex, in keeping with tradition, but please refer to the definitive list of the children’s names and needs as displayed on a nearby easel. For those in Old Brick, we’ll bring the easel to you. In both locations, please use the online form to sign up.
The deadline to bring in your unwrapped Angel Tree gifts is 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. Please put them under the tree or in the Parish Hall conference room. With your help, we will lift the hearts not only of the angels but of their families.
If you wish to participate by giving of your time, please volunteer for one of two duties: Sign-up or Fulfillment. The former is to help people on Dec. 4 to log on to a device after services. The latter takes place Dec. 10 when you collate packages or shop for -- but not pay for -- any unmet items. To volunteer, specify Sign-up or Fulfillment, or both, in an email to outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
SLYC Invites Christ Church to its Dec. 10 Christmas Cafe
St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC) invites us to its “Christmas Cafe” to be held this year at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1401 Carrollton Ave., Towson, MD 21204. The annual celebration includes food, music, gifts, and family photos.
This will be the moment we’ve all been waiting for, when SLYC completes its quilt raffle made possible by a donated queen-size masterpiece sewn by our own Nancy Winchester. Many of you bought raffle tickets during a visit to Christ Church by SLYC leaders on Aug. 7, when the quilt was on display. Raffle tickets are still available through Sunday, Dec. 4 and, if you want more chances, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org.
Christ Church is among the area congregations that support SLYC, which is the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is among partners, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC and five other organizations.
Columbia Community Care Urges Support for Its Kids’ Holiday Drive, Plans Indoor Distribution Sites for Winter
Columbia Community Care (CCC) is in the midst of its annual holiday drive to gather gifts and treats for children from 2 to 12 years old, as described in the CCC Facebook group. CCC is also recruiting volunteers to sort Items and help to distribute them at Oakland Mills High School on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies run out. Would-be volunteers may sign up online.
For the sake of simplicity, the Outreach Commission is suggesting parishioners buy kids’ books, coloring books, and arts-and-crafts items, all of which can be obtained at a reasonable cost from multiple retailers. Please drop off new, unwrapped items by 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9.
This is in addition to the typical collection at Christ Church, which consists of diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Please put the holiday items along with the usual ones in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall.
Parishioners who prefer a remote option can go to an Amazon wish list posted by CCC.
For those who volunteer or receive goods at CCC’s distribution sites, the organization is moving sites indoors for winter. Starting Saturday, Dec. 3, the Oakland Mills site will move to The Barn in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place. Starting Saturday, Dec. 10, the Wilde Lake distribution site will move indoors at the Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd. The Long Reach site at 8775 Cloudleap Ct. is already indoors.
WOCC's Springfield Hospital Christmas Gift Gathering
We are gathering gifts for our Springfield Hospital friends again this year. You can bring them with you to the WOCC Christmas Luncheon, where we will have a table set aside for them, or you can also drop them off in or near the Springfield bin in the Tower Room. Their “wish list” is the same as previous years, and is posted on the bin and on the Luncheon poster in the Narthex. We will need your donations by Sunday, December 18th. Please do not wrap your gifts, and do not include glass containers, manual razors, or medications. If you have any questions, please speak to any WOCC regular or email WOCC@christchurchcolumbia.org. Thank you for your support of Springfield Hospital!
FISH Asks Our Prayers Along with Snacks and Cookies
Our representative from FISH of Howard County recently had surgery. Paul Wisniewski is recovering; please pray for his good health. Pickups have resumed from our yellow bin between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Please continue donating cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill the shopping lists. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need.
In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.
