Dear Church Family,
The holiday season is a time when our hearts are turned toward giving to those in need in response to the great gift God has given us in Jesus Christ.  
The Falls Village Congregational  Church has a long tradition of giving: providing food baskets and gift cards at Thanksgiving and Christmas, supplying gifts to children who might not have much, participating in the reverse advent. 
This year the Outreach Committee got us involved in a new project—Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.  For more than 25 years church folks have packed shoeboxes with items for children in need in developing and impoverished countries of the world.  Falls Village decided to focus on children 5-9 years of age.  Boxes were packed with school supplies like pens, pencils, and rulers;  a ‘wow’ item like stuffed animals, yo-yos, and jump ropes; personal  care items like combs, toothbrushes and wash cloths; and small clothing items like socks and slippers.
Outreach packed 20 shoeboxes—double the initial goal.  A picture of the Outreach  team and a note was included with each box, and they were taken to a distribution center for shipping..  We’re hoping to hear where our boxes were delivered. 
Rowena Fenstermacher and Maria Bulson spearheaded the project, but many others from the Outreach Committee and beyond helped make this happen.  Thanks to all of you.  We may be a small congregation but we have a big heart shown by our commitment to compassion through tangible actions of love.  
I loved seeing all the Advent purple last week.  Keep it up!!  Peace is the theme for the 2nd Sunday in Advent.  The 2nd candle on the wreath will be lighted.   The sermon is “Touched by an Angel” and the texts are Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27 and Luke 1:26-38.
See you in church.
Rich 
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