Generosity on Display
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:31-40
As we continue to walk by faith on our journey together as a church, I am profoundly grateful that our faith has been demonstrated by such amazing acts of compassion and love towards one another, and especially towards those of the Greater Rochester Communities.
Leading up to Thanksgiving, I witnessed members of our New Hope Church congregation volunteer to help “Beyond the Sanctuary” provide over 600 Thanksgiving meals to Rochester families in need. Beyond the Sanctuary (BTS) is a local ministry that addresses the physical and emotional challenges of poverty and hunger in a collaborative, compassionate and dignified manner and helps community members move from assistance to become self-sustaining. Partnerships with organization such as BTS is another way that God has provided for our church to faithfully carry out our mission to; “Love God, love each other, and serve the world”.
In addition, New Hope is one of twenty faith-based partners in Greater Rochester (City and Suburban) who participated in the second annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive. Through our ‘Adapt -A- School’ partnership with John James Audubon School #33, our participation helped provide over 650 students/families (estimated 2,000 city residents) with a Thanksgiving meal.
I am also so pleased to report that your donations of clothing items for those children overwhelmed (in a good way!) the administration, staff and children at the school.
As a body of believers God has not called us to be the biggest, the richest, or even the strongest, but He has called us to be faithful to the mission and vision that He has given New Hope. We must not waste our opportunities to minister to our Lord by serving others.
Our final year ending opportunity to help at School #33 will be their Holiday/Winter Gear Drive (new hats, gloves, socks, scarves, etc.). Drop-off of the Holiday/Winter Gear will be made on Thursday Dec. 16th at School #33. Please consider providing one or more of the winter gear items to be collected in the Community Room of New Hope. Your donations and love will help keep a child a little warmer this winter.