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14 December 2025

O is for offerings

In many households Christmas is a time of abundance.  We’ve thought about it, budgetted, saved and planned and Christmas is the time when we enjoy a few extras.  That’s how it is my house and probably yours too.  I’ve got some special things stored in the freezer and Mr Sainsbury will bring a few more before the big day.

But it’s not like that for everyone.  Many will rely on foodbanks and other charities for Christmas dinner, and many will be worried about paying for the fuel to cook it.  Tiny Tim is still around.  Special shelters for homeless people will be opened and doubtless will be very well used.

When Christmas is over there will still be great need and aching poverty.  Many will be malnourished or cold or frightened.

Over the next few days Eric Milner-White’s Bidding will be used at many services.  We are called to worship but reminded that “because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children”.

Remembering is not enough.  Generous offerings of our money, our resources, our time and our prayers are called for. 

8 comments:

  1. Amen to that. Last Sunday we had our special collection at chapel of foodstuffs. I was delighted to be able to fill my little car with 14 carrier bags full of items to deliver to our local Foodbank.

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  2. So true. Our Home group fills two large boxes each year to go to families who otherwise would have very little.

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  3. Our u3a provided two car loads of food and toiletries for our local food bank.We asked what they needed and our members donated accordingly. We also asked for monetary donations if people preferred to do that. Norrie and I will also support Social Bite as we always do rather than give each other gifts. Catriona

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