Pastor Chris' Letter December 2018


Dear Trinity Family,
The Advent season is upon us. Advent is a time for us to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. This preparation is both a celebration of Christ’s entry into this world in Bethlehem, but also a hope that Christ will come again in final victory. To help us on this Advent journey, we are centering our thoughts on Jesus, the real reason for the season, with the sermon series, “Silent Night.” This is to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Christmas song “Silent Night.” To go along with this series, we will be doing some things that help us to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
One of the key ways we can celebrate Jesus’ birthday is to think about what we are going to spend on Christmas. I am not suggesting that we tend toward the side of Ebenezer Scrooge, but that we really think about whether what we are spending brings honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. This question may lead us to find that we need to cut back on what we spend on ourselves and to think about what is on Jesus’ wish list.
As a way to help us focus on what Jesus would like for His birthday, we are continuing a fund at the church called “Operation Christmas Transformation.” This fund will be divided evenly between local and international ministries. The international ministry this year is Quechua Benefit. This is the non-profit that our Peru mission team worked with on their recent trip. There is more information about Quechua Benefit online at quechuabenefit.org and included in this  newsletter that shares the wish list for the children of Quechua Benefit at their schools Casa Chapi and the Yanahuara.
In past Christmas seasons, I have talked about one area we as a church can cut back in our Christmas spending is poinsettias. I want to again clarify that this does not mean we will not have poinsettias. We are taking orders for poinsettias, and they cost fifteen dollars each. Instead, I encourage you to donate to “Operation Christmas Transformation,” and for every ten dollars you donate we will put up a paper poinsettia in the church. Another way we are giving to Christ is throughout the advent season, we will be collecting hats and mittens for the local elementary schools. With all of this, I hope we all can remember that Christmas is not our birthday—it is Jesus’.
2018 Casa Chapi Wish List

Things needed by teachers and students at both Quechua Benefit schools in Peru.
These items will be provided through your generous gift to
Operation Christmas Transformation.
  Reading Centers in each of our 5 Casita in Casa Chapi Chivay.  Each center will have 25-30 age appropriate books, bookshelves and chairs.  This will augment our already successful reading program. Cost $1000 per Casita

Classroom Projectors for each classroom.  Currently we have two laptop projectors and they are constantly in use. Cost $400 each (need 4)

Sewing Machine Both boys and girls use them for making clothes.  We need one for the older
children in Arequipa.  This is great vocational training. One project they use the machines for is making baby blankets “Warming WA WA’s” for single mothers in the highlands.  Cost $350 (Note:
Wa Wa is Quechua for “baby”)

Art and Craft Supplies Our children are budding artists!  They love drawing, knitting and crocheting.  Please help to them stocked with these supplies.
Cost $250 


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