The Deacon's Corner

As I sit at my computer on the day after Christmas reflecting on the glorious celebration of the Word made flesh, I am thinking about all those with so many needs-the folks who come to our church door needing food to fill their pantries, to the homeless we feed at Oasis each month and those we see on the street corner and those we don't see who are in so much need. And I am thinking about how we might be able to continue to help those who God loves as much as He does each of us.

One Sunday morning, one of our youth who sings in the choir and does as much as he can to make a difference for so many came to me and said his dad, who is a Portsmouth Police Officer, wanted 100 Manna Bags! I was delighted that this wonderful young man had told his dad about our Manna Bag project and that he wanted to help those he sees daily. But we don't have nearly 100 Manna Bags ready to go so I told the youth that we will get as many as possible filled and give him as many as we can each week.

So, my plan is to ask each member of St. Christopher's to help gather the items for the Manna Bags and help us to fill this big order that will help so many needy people out there, especially during the coming winter months.

The items needed are:

• Individual cans of pasta - Walmart has them for less than a dollar each
• Cans of Vienna Sausages - Dollar Tree stores have them for 50 cents a piece
• Juice boxes or bottles of water
• Granola Bars - Price Club or Sams or BJ's have large quantity boxes
• Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers
• Fruit such as applesauce or other individual fruit containers
• Socks - Ollie's has 12 pairs of men's crew socks for $13.00
• Napkins
• Plastic spoons
• Gallon size Zip Lock bags

Please bring in whatever items you can collect and put them in the box in the Narthex. Beginning Sunday, January 8, join us in the Parish Hall to put the Manna Bags together as we drink coffee and enjoy conversation between the services. Every member of St. Christopher's can help make this project work by filling even one bag. And once we have made 100 bags for the police officer to hand out, make sure each member of the congregation picks up a bag or two each week to give to the person you see standing on the street corner. I promise that you will be blessed beyond your imagination as you help a person in need. Oh, yea, and God will continue to smile on each of you as you feed his hungry people.

God's Blessings and Peace!

Margery+