White Gifts – Minute for Mission

We are surrounded by the Peace of God in this beautiful sanctuary. Yet outside these walls peace is sometimes hard to find. The wars in the Ukraine and Israel are obvious. But there is also the sadness of the homeless and the poor. Yes, there are homeless people in the Hamptons. Yes, there are poor people in the Hamptons. Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you.” He didn’t say it was okay to look the other way. Jesus also told the story of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan didn’t walk by the injured man even though they were from different tribes. Will we walk by the homeless and poor looking the other way because they are not from our tribe? No, we won’t!

 For more than ten years, FPC has been working with Maureen’s Haven to help the homeless. From November to April, with the gracious help of dedicated volunteers and local houses of worship, Maureen’s Haven provides meals and a safe place to sleep with the love all humans deserve.

 During the Christmas season, our church collects new warm hats, warm socks and waterproof gloves for the homeless. We wrap them in white tissue paper and give them to Maureen’s Haven for distribution. Remember, they are for people who have no home and nowhere to stay during the day.

Please pick up:

• a warm hat

• a pair of waterproof gloves

• or warm socks

  wrap them in plain white paper, label them as to size and whether they are for a man or a woman. Bring your White Gifts to church on Sunday, December 10.

They will be collected by the children and placed around the Christmas tree. We’ll ask God to bless our gifts and those who will wear them. The Mission team will deliver the gifts to Maureen’s Haven in Riverhead the following day. Then our hope for a better life will be shared.

 Let’s give the joy of Christmas.