The people of Hope welcome you!

What's Important? In an article by Dave Urbanski from the "Outreach" magazine, he poses the question, can we become too focused on numbers - attendance and budget - when the real question should be, "Is what we are doing making a difference in people's lives?"

That question got me thinking about what is happening at Hope. With the economic downturn and job situation our loyal volunteers at the Food Pantry on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are seeing and serving twice the usual number of clients. At the Mobile Food Pantry during the past two months over l00 new families have signed up for food assistance.

With Thrivent's financial support our outreach event, the Halloween Fall Festival, we served dinner to 246 people. One woman insisted on giving us a $20 donation and commented, "It's a wonderful thing you do for the community."

With generous contributions from our members, the Bless the Backpack Sunday's donations of backpack and school supplies has grown every year. This year of the 25 backpacks distributed, 13 went to nearby schools and 12 went to needy Child Care families. Our Child Care Center, under the leadership of Laura Cahall and a dedicated staff works diligently to provide experiences that will help prepare children to be successful academically and socially and gives them a spiritual base as well. Hope's Child Care and Day Care program has been in existence more that forty years. As we prepare to celebrate one of our most holy days, let's not forget the many ways we are impacting our community. Each and everyone of us does make a difference as we strive to follow where ever God and His precious son lead us.

Have a blessed Christmas!
Nancy Wilson-Cameron