Thank you to our entire St. James community for your generosity with several of our recent missions collections. In December 2012, our “mitten tree” project was a huge success. We collected 33 pairs of gloves and mittens, 17 scarves, and 35 hats. The items were then sent to Ponca Creek UCC in South Dakota. Judy Hanson from Ponca Creek told Phil Levering of our Missions Committee that the children were very happy to gets these items as winter there is brutally cold and long. They sent along thanks to St. James for the generous donation.

We also had a fun and friendly competition for our annual Souper Bowl of Sharing! The final was 211 points, with the Ravens winning! Half of the donations went to the Hope Rescue Mission in Reading (all of the instant soup and toiletries); and the rest of the donations of shelf-stable food items went to Project Outreach.

Finally, on February 17, we raised $480 for our Blanket Sunday collection! One of the most important efforts of Blanket Sunday is providing durable wool blankets that are essential to disaster relief efforts. These blankets can be used for warmth, tents, and emergency stretchers, among other things. Your generous donations can mean the difference between life and death in the most critical moments of disaster response. Thank you for reaching out in the spirit of Jesus Christ to those who are most in need!

On March 10 during our worship service, St. James will participate in the One Great Hour of Sharing Special Mission Offering. This collection united 8 different Christian denominations in gathering funds that can be dispersed immediately in times of the most critical need. In 2012, over $1 million was distributed worldwide. Our church missions were there to offer help in response to disasters like drought and famine in East Africa and Ethiopia, humanitarian and refugee aid in Syria, earthquake relief in Japan, and more than half a million dollars to the earthquake response in Haiti.

In the United States, nearly $300,000 was used to continue recovery work from Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin tornado; to equip volunteers across the country with disaster clean-up training and supplies; and for flood relief and recovery right in our area. One Great Hour of Sharing uses funds to assist people across the United States and throughout the world who are affected by natural disasters, conflict, and poverty. Please consider participating in this special offering, which brings hope and life to our neighbors around the world.