Advent Offering 2016
Advent Offering 2016
The Holiday season is in full swing. Many of us are still recovering from turkey comas. Others rejoice because it’s now “ok” to play Christmas music whenever they want. Ultimately it is a season where all of us experience two competing stories or ideals.One story tells of a culture that is obsessed with consumption. Economists predict that we will spend over 650 billion dollars on Christmas in the United States alone. The other story is marked by the coming of a savior that through His life, death and resurrection creation could be saved. Advent is a season where we see generosity at its peak and it is this story that should shape the way we live.It is this story that moves us to take up our annual Advent Offering. Every dollar given will go directly local and global partners. Last year we gave $7,000 to three organizations: The Peak School, Redemption Foster Care & Adoption, and Champions In Action. This year I think we can give even more. $10,000 is our goal. This Sunday, December 11th will be our Advent Offering (you can also give until the end of the year toward advent), we will take this offering, seeking to be generous in light of the generosity of our God, giving to three different partners: one close, one near and one far.
CLOSE - The Peak School
The Peak school is located in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Flagstaff. It was created to help kids without a ride to school, have the ability to walk to a school close by. Over 80% of the students that go the Peak School qualify for free and reduced lunch, which means they can’t necessarily afford lunch on their own. We are using the advent offering to bless the Peak school in a number of ways: Helping fund their Soccer Club, which we organize and lead, Bless the faculty, and . Last week we did an All Of Life Interview with Tracy Braatz, the school director, read her interview HERE.
NEAR - Redemption Foster Care & Adoption / Foster Care Initiatives
The Arizona foster care and adoption crisis is real and Redemption Church is heavily involved. More and more of our work is moving up North into Coconino county as we partner and establish a movement of local churches and community members that are invested in being part of the solution to the problem through trainings, support and identifying local, potential foster and adopting families. If you have never seen ReMoved, watch it : HERE.
FAR - Champions in Action - Guatemala
CiA is an amazing non-profit organization that reaches at-risk youth throughout the urban centers of Guatemala through mentorship and soccer camps. This past summer we had the honor to travel to Guatemala and serve at their kick-off soccer camp. This year, we are going to help fund months of mentorship, resources for their camps, and send a team again this summer from Redemption Flagstaff to help serve alongside them.Not able to join us in December or prefer to give online? Give HERE: Go to “Give Online”, and select “Advent Offering” in the drop-down menu when prompted.