Living with Strength and Kindliness
Loving God,
In this Christmas season we thank you for the great joy you have sent us in the birth of Jesus.
Help us to be the voice and hands of the angel sharing Jesus with one another this Christmas season.
In Your name, we pray,
Amen.
Merry Christmas to you all.
May you have a very happy and holy Christmas and a joyful holiday season with your families and your friends.
God Bless,
Kirrilee
How can we be ‘of service’ this Christmas?
Advent has traditionally been associated with the idea of waiting; waiting with a sense of anticipation and excitement. It is also a time when we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child Jesus. During this time of waiting we are offered the time to renew ourselves spiritually.
Shops are currently full of Christmas cheer. It’s harder to get a park in the main street and the supermarket carparks seem to be a hive of activity. The temptation to spend, spend, spend is upon us… and it is very easy to get caught up in it all.
As we know Christmas is a time of giving and a time of receiving. It is a time where we can offer the generosity of ourselves and/or share our wealth. Giving gifts of ‘things’ is not the only way that we can show our love and appreciation for one another.
Each year during Advent there are countless people who work behind the scenes to ensure that the joy of Christmas is felt by others; especially those who may be forgotten or may in this unprecedented year have a higher level of need than might normally be so. There are too many charitable organisations to mention them all but those that come to mind for me immediately are The St Vincent De Paul Society, The Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, Caritas Australia (on both a national and world level) and local organisations like those who prepare for our Community Christmas Luncheon for people in the Echuca Moama Community.
Responding to the cry of those who need us most is the real spirit of Christmas. Each individual who works to help in these organisations does so on behalf of the Church to bring the face of Christ at Christmas time. They act on our behalf.
We have been talking a lot about Advent over the last couple of weeks. We have been telling each other what it means to be Advent people. In our personal preparation for Christmas we might try to think about ways we can extend ourselves to be Advent people during this coming Christmas season. In giving either of ourselves or in kind we are able to support the work of people from our community who bring the love of Jesus into the lives of others and offer them the dignity that circumstances in their lives take away. I can’t think of a better Christmas gift, can you?
I have compiled a range of gift alternatives that might interest you as you are writing up your Christmas To Do Lists.
Financial Donations to the Brigidine Asylum Seeker’s Project
All financial donations will go towards practical support of asylum seekers or those who have recently received refugee status.
Cash donations of over $2 are also tax deductible.
Cheques: Cheques should be made payable to:
Brigidine Association Asylum Seekers and Refugee Trust and sent to:
Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project 52 Beaconsfield Pde, Albert Park, Victoria 3206
Vinnies
Here’s an idea.
The local Vinnies Op Shop sells gift cards, the same as any other store card. Often the Vinnies Conference will hand out these gift cards to those in need in our community so that they can use them to purchase items in the shops. You could buy a Vinnies card from the Op Shop and ask them to donate it to the Conference – then the gift becomes a real one for those who receive the gift card.
Caritas’ Global Gifts
By sharing a Global Gift with a loved one, you will help spread the message that together as one global family we can make the world a better place.
http://www.caritas.org.au/globalgifts
End poverty. Promote justice. Uphold dignity.
There’s a few ideas to help you get your Christmas Shopping started!
Kirrilee Westblade
Catholic Identity Leader
Sandpiper and the Australian Catholics magazines have now gone digital!
Please see the link below to access: