18th Annual CommunityThanksgiving Celebration
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004, 12:002:00pm
Central Presbyterian Church, 31 N. 7th Street in downtown
Lafayette
Red brick education building (at 7th & South Street
near the library)
Who's invited? EVERYBODY! Bring yourself, a friend,
a neighbor, the whole family!
What happens at the Community Thanksgiving Celebration?
Turkey dinner with all the trimmings, plus fellowship, fun,
and music!
Want to help? Donate cash! Drop off food! Be a volunteer!
For more information contact LUM at 423-2691 or visit the
LUM website at www.lafayetteurbanministry.org.h
donations especially needed!
With your help, we hope to serve about 800 people at this
year's Thanksgiving event. Please consider making a cash
gift of $30, $50, $100, $250, or more. You may send your
gift in the enclosed envelope. Or, if you attend, you may
place your contribution in a "free will" offering
box.
"'Tis the season..." by Mary Anderson, Acting
Executive Director
Ready or not, here come the holidays. Each year, the Christmas
decorations hit the stores earlier and earlier. I know that
Christmas ornaments were on store shelves before the Halloween
candy was gone. The grocery had garland up and trees decorated
three weeks before Thanksgiving. I got together with friends
last weekend, because we knew schedules would fill up and
we wouldn't be able to spend a day together until sometime
in January.
It's the season for lots of feelings. The excitement of
back-to-school and Halloween fun is barely behind us. We're
thinking thankful thoughts with the coming of Thanksgiving,
and we sense the mix of nostalgia and hurriedness that is
Christmas. Some of us look toward the long winter of cold
weather and dark days with less than enthusiasm. For some,
holidays are just stress, or sadness, or disappointment.
For others, it's a non-stop rush of adrenaline.
LUM has its own rhythm of the seasons. For the staff,
things are hectic, and fun, and sometimes a little trying.
Joyce is planning Thanksgiving dinner for 800 people (that
puts my cooking chores in perspective!) while still managing
the shelter daily. Christmas toys for 1,500 Jubilee children
are stacking up in the hallways. Jo is busy setting up the
accounting programs for the new year. Kaye is preparing
multiple newsletters and bulk mailings between now and the
end of the year. Rita is doing a great job of containing
the excitement of the afterschool children. Patti is preparing
for the new legislative session, while still wrapping up
some loose ends on Hunger Hike. Nancy is handling a zillion
calls from Thanksgiving volunteers and Jubilee parents.
Tom is still mowing the grass but has the snow blower tuned
up just in case. Joe Micon is still keeping it all running
smoothly while giving me a crash course in administration.
This will be the last newsletter of the year for LUM.
So I'd like to share with you my holiday wish list: l
- That you find the time to reflect on blessings
those you have received and those you share with others.
You are a blessing to the work of Lafayette Urban Ministry,
and we are thankful for you.
- That the holidays will be a time of peace and joy
for you. Whether you are lighting the candles of Hanukkah,
or putting the baby Jesus into your Nativity manger,
or coming together for Kwanzaa, I hope you have the
opportunity to share memories and laughter with others.
- That the cold of the winter months be warmed by a
sense of sharing and caring for others.
- That your New Year be filled with possibilities and
opportunities, and with health and happiness.
- That you remember the staff, volunteers and donors
of Lafayette Urban Ministry and especially all
those we serve in your thoughts and prayers.
Lafayette Urban Ministry's Jubilee Christmas
December 11, 2004
Almost 600 families will participate this year -- over
1,500 children! Parents will be able to select gifts for
their children, wrap them and take them homealong with a
ham, food certificate and other "goodies" for
their own family celebration on Christmas.
How you can help:
- Give a cash gift that we will use for toys, hams,
gift certificates and to help these families throughout
the year!
- Donate a new toy (newbornage12) or contribute
new children's clothing!
- Provide gift wrap, ribbon, bows, tape!
Reminder:
Gifts may be delivered to participating churches or to
the LUM Office, 525 N. 4th Street, before Thursday, December
9, 2004.
For more information, call Mary Anderson, 423-2691 or e-mail
manderson@lafayetteurbanministry.org.
Staff Changes at LUM
The Lafayette Urban Ministry announces the following staff
changes, effective January 1, 2005:
- Mary Anderson is re-assigned from the position of
Acting Executive Director to the position of Interim
Executive Director.
- Joe Micon is re-assigned from the position of Operations
Manager to the part-time position of Director of Development.
As Interim Executive Director, Mary will assume full responsibilities
as LUM's Executive Director including church, community
and board relations, program development, staff supervision
and agency administration. Joe will be responsible for LUM's
fundraising and development.
The changes come as a result of Joe's recent election
to the Indiana House of Representatives in District 26.
Questions or comments? Contact LUM Board President Carolyn
McGlone at 474-2945.
Christmastime
| Gift |
Snow |
|
|
Good gifts
|
Soft snow
|
|
| |
God's good gift |
Soft silent snow |
|
Peace
|
Love |
|
|
Perfect peace
|
Live love
|
|
| |
Pray for peace
|
Love life |
by J. Philip Klinger
from Keeping Christmas, c2004, printed with permission.
Briefly Noted
- LUM's emergency shelter is open every night of the
year, including holidays. We are currently in need of
volunteers to staff the shelter on Thankgiving night,
Christmas Eve, and Christmas night. If there is any
way you can serve one of those nights and help make
the holidays brighter for the homeless in our community,
please contact Joyce Boehm, LUM's Shelter Director.
She can be reached at 423-2691 ext. 22 or at jboehm@lafayetteurbanministry.org.
- The St. John's/LUM Food Pantry is in need of volunteers
to help distribute food to the public. Food Pantry volunteers
serve from 9am to noon on Mondays Tuesdays, Thursdays
or Fridays. Contact Patti O'Callaghan for more information
423-2691 ext. 17, or pocallaghan@lafayetteurbanministry.org.
- "Come You Thankful People: Annual Multi-faith
Thanksgiving Celebration." 7:00pm Wednesday November
24, 2004, at First Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall,
7th & North Streets, Lafayette. Music & musings
from many faiths and cultures will be shared. Offered
by Lafayette Area Multi-faith Advocates.
- Please remember to bring your empty inkjet printer
cartridges to LUM (525 N. 4th, M-F 8:15am-4:30pm). We
recycle them and receive $2 for each one! We accept
every brand except Epson.
- The Endowment for Lafayette Urban Ministry Programs
supports needy children and their families both now
and in the future. Gifts made to the Endowment are held
in perpetuity while interest income is disbursed to
LUM programs. During estate planning, please consider
making a gift to the Endowment for LUM Programs. For
more information contact Joe Micon at 423-2691 ext.
20 or lum@lafayetteurbanministry.org.
The SEED, NOVEMBER 2004