Please feel free to drop any items in at the Vineyard Centre if that is more convenient than bringing them to our Sunday celebrations. Thank you
Thank you so much. It is only through the things that are given in, that Storehouse can continue to give out to those in need. (And please remember that we are collecting for Open Door at the moment too... see posting below).
jumpers for a 6 year old boy, or any clothes for twin boys who will be 1 at Christmas, could you please either leave them with the Storehouse collection on Sunday or drop them in at the Vineyard Centre by next Wednesday. We have also had a request for a stairgate, if anyone has one that they no longer need. Thank you.
If you were at our Sunday morning celebration you will have heard that we are supporting Open Door in Colchester by giving them food bags for the people who will be having a Christmas lunch and party with them on the 11th of December. We visited Open Door earlier in the year (see archive posting) and they do a great work in the heart of Colchester, offering a place for people to drop in, chat and find a listening and caring ear. Colchester Vineyard Church, a church plant from Southend, are joining with
us in collecting for Open Door and it is great to be able to join together to help those in need in other communities. The people who meet at Open Door are from a variety of backgrounds, and it is estimated that around 15 of the 75 people that will be there, will be homeless and living rough. If you are able to spare a little extra food and toiletries over the next few weeks it will really make a difference in the lives of all these people and will demonstrate that God's love knows no boundaries, least of all county ones!
Family Centre has provided a list of children’s names, ages and ideal gifts and if you would like to buy any of these then please speak to Margret Zeidler on any Sunday between now and the 12th December. The format will be the same as in previous years: we would ask that you put your name down against the child that you would like to buy for and then take the gift tag, which will have all the details on, and purchase that gift to no more than the value of £10. Please DO NOT wrap the present, but return it, together with the label, to either the Vineyard Centre, or to a Sunday celebration before December 12th. If you have any questions please speak to Margret. Thank youEach item does make a difference, and to illustrate this, below is the text of a letter received at the Vineyard Centre recently from Suffolk Constabulary Victim Care Centre:
Dear Sir/madam
Just a short note of thanks for the food bag collected from you on 31st October '07.
Sadly, many of the domestic violence victims that we come into contact with at the Victim Care Centre are in a desperate situation.
The recipient of your generous gift has struggled to cope financially for a considerable time and I know this gift will be welcome.
It is comforting to know that the members of your church are willing to show such humanity and compassion to a stranger.
Thank you for all of your donations. They truly do make a difference, no matter how small, and they show God's love in action in perhaps more ways than we realise.
Please pray about what you might give to Storehouse. Without some of the items above, we will not be able to make up a food bag for a day's meals, or maybe not provide any toiletries. As this ministry continues to grow it is a practical way in which we can demonstrate to others what our love for Jesus means; that we will look with compassion, as He did, on those in need in our community and that we will reach out to them without judging, but with love and an open heart.
