Caring for the poor IS part of God's plan.

We often say that God has a heart for the poor; I was thinking about this the other day and how God set laws in place that looked after the poor. Reading through Leviticus or Deuteronomy can be a bit of a trawl, but you will find there the rules that God set out for the Israelites to follow, both personally and as a nation. And frequently those rules included provisions that would look after the poor and disadvantaged:
‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ Lev 19: 9 – 10
‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ Lev 19: 33 – 34
Time and again the sentiment behind these laws is repeated, as God emphasises to his people that they must care for the poor and the needy, the widow and the fatherless, and foreigners living in the country.
The impact that these laws had on people’s lives is hardly demonstrated more starkly than in the story of Ruth and Boaz, in the Old Testament. Ruth was a foreigner and a widow who chose to accompany her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, on her return to her native country. With no means of income, Ruth went to glean in the fields where the barley was being harvested. To cut the story short, Ruth ended up marrying Boaz, the owner of the field (read the full version in the book of Ruth in the Bible – it’s only four chapters). But the story didn’t end there; Ruth and Boaz had a son, Obed, who had a son Jesse, who was the father of King David. There are Ruth and Boaz, mentioned in Matthew 1, in the genealogy of Jesus. At this time of year, it’s interesting to think what an important part God’s heart and provision for the poor played in the history of the Christmas story. And at the same time, as we have been hearing lately about how God has plans for each of us, let’s not underestimate the difference we might make to the world by being ready and willing to obey and honour him, just like Boaz and Ruth.

November stats, and requests update

During November Storehouse received 64 requests for food bags from 12 different local agencies, plus some non agency requests. As a result, 71 food bags were given away to help single men and women and families in and around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. I know that we say two cans make a difference, but in November you have helped feed over seventy people, giving them meals, snacks and toiletries to help the get through the difficulties that they have been facing. Thank you so much for your continuing generosity and kindness - may God bless you richly as you share with the needy in this way.

In addition to the Christmas treats that we would like to give away in the run up to Christmas (see previous post), we are beginning to run a little low on cereals, razors and shower gel at the moment. If you would consider popping some of these into the Storehouse buckets, or leaving some at the Vineyard Centre, we would be most grateful, thank you.

Christmas is coming....

On Sunday we will be announcing the start of our collecting Christmas presents for needy children. This year Sarah & Phil Addy will be in charge of this and, as in previous years, we will be provided with a list of children's names, their ages and an ideal gift for them. Anyone wishing to purchase a gift for one of these children should take the relevant tag, and then return the gift (costing no more than £10), UNWRAPPED, but with its tag attached, before the 18th December. These will then be delivered to the Family Centre to wrap and pass on to the children. The names that we are given each year are those of children from families with whom Social Services and the Family Centre work, and they are aware of their ongoing needs and situations. It may be the case that some of these children might not receive much else, so it is wonderful to be able to share, in this way, some of the love that God showed the world at this time of year.

As an additional idea, it would also be good to be able to add a few Christmas treats into some of the food bags that we give away in December, or maybe even make up some special ones for individuals and families who are particularly struggling. So if you feel like giving a few festive treats - chocolates, crackers, biscuits, Christmas puds, sweets, candles, etc, etc, etc, whatever you feel led to - please leave them in the buckets on Sundays, or drop them in at the Vineyard Centre. Thank you

Storehouse volunteers

Do you have a heart for what Storehouse does? Would you like to become involved with Storehouse? We would love to have a team of people who are able to spend one morning a week (in pairs at least) at the Vineyard Centre helping Storehouse. This would involve taking phone requests for food bags, filling bags where necessary and meeting the people who come to collect them. We would love to be able to offer people some time to chat if they would like to, as well as maybe a cup of tea or coffee, or even some soup. At the moment we probably average around 4 or 5 bags going out per day, so it won't be really busy. If you would like to be a part of this, please speak to Margaret or Jonathan. Thank you.

October stats

October wasn't quite as busy as September, as far as Storehouse requests are concerned at least. However, September was an exceptionally busy month (see earlier post). During October, Storehouse received 65 requests from 10 different local agencies, plus some non agency requests, resulting in 76 food bags being given away to needy men, women and families in Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. A young lady called in at the Vineyard Centre today to collect a bag; she had not realised beforehand that we were there, and she was so thankful for her bag of food. The things we (and "we" means everyone who gives anything to Storehouse) give away through Storehouse we describe as a token of God's love; sometimes in our eyes that token might not be much, but in the hands of someone who really needs it, is desperate and might never receive much else in life, that token might be huge. Let's not underestimate the impact our giving can have in the lives of those who use Storehouse, and let's keep asking God to show HIS love through what we do.
Is that something that you would like to be involved in. We are still looking for volunteers to spend a few hours a week (preferably one morning a week) at the Vineyard centre to help fill food bags, take requests and meet the people who come to collect the bags. If you would like to get involved in this please let the office know, or speak to someone on the team. (Or even leave a comment here). Thank you

Requests update

As we receive food from several local schools' and churches' harvest festival celebrations, we are currently well stocked on some items, but still rather low on others. At the moment we particularly need the following:

• small cereal packets
• long life milk (we have none left)
• toiletries, especially deodorants & toothpaste
• any food that can be eaten by someone with no access to a cooker or kettle

Thank you for your continuing support and ongoing generosity with your involvement in Storehouse. As you give to this ministry, you reach out with compassion to those in need and show them that they are not forgotten, that God's love can reach them wherever they are. Thank you, and may God bless you.

As September was such a busy month, that meant that the Vineyard Centre staff have been very busy assisting with Storehouse requests. We would love to be able to have a team of people at Storehouse who are able to spend a morning a week taking the phone calls from agencies and also giving out the food bags, whether they are to agencies' staff or clients. If this is something that you would like to be involved in, please speak to one of us. Thanks.

September stats

September was an incredibly busy month for Storehouse, by far the busiest month we have ever had in fact. During the month we received 102 requests from 15 different agencies plus some non agency requests. These requests resulted in 118 food bags being given away to needy people in and around Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk. At times the stock of food was very low, but thankfully we didn't have to turn anyone away. Thank you for your amazing generosity through this very busy month - each one of those 102 requests has been met, and each bag will have made a real difference in the lives of the person or people who have received it. We do this, not only to make a difference in those lives, but we also believe that we are helping those people that are on God's heart - the poor and needy whom he has always cared for, and whom he wants us to care for too. In this way, each tin or packet that is given to Storehouse goes to help in this Ministry for God, as we show his love to those in need. Thank you.