12 Days of Giving by mwmaguire

DECEMBER

Advent Central Shares Drive-by We kick-off these 12 Days of Alternative Gifting with our Advent Central Shares Drive-by. All six Central Parishes will host this special driveby at various locations from 3 to 5 p.m. If you have joined us in the past couple of times, you know how fun and safe these are.

he season of Advent reminds us that waiting can be difficult for many of us. Perhaps we run out of patience or perhaps we lose hope. Especially during this time of pandemic, social isolation, and financial distress we come to the realization that for many of us waiting is no longer an option. And so we may ask ourselves, what can we do to change the world? What does the world need now? The world needs more people like you. People who welcome others with radical hospitality. People who pray for one another night and day. People who sustain the spirit of community despite the distance. People who share their resources with neighbors and strangers to generate and sustain goodness in this world. For the next 12 days, we invite you to consider sharing your time, your energy, and your resources with the following ministry partners at Central. With love and gratitude,

The Ministry of Missions at Central Presbyterian Church

For this Central Shares, people are encouraged to donate winter items for the Outreach and Advocacy Center and the Courtyard Ministry. Their shopping lists can be found at the right. In addition, Central Deacons have prepared a gift for each household in our community. They will be giving out “Advent Bags of Hope,” which will include a Christmas Candle to be used during the Christmas Service online, and a couple of more surprises created by our beloved Central members. Decatur - Kathy Harben 525 Avery St. Decatur, GA 30030 Northern Lights - Ginger Heidbreder 4663 Village Ct Dunwoody, GA 30338 Intown North - Debbie Miller 1721 Noble Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 Intown South - Amy and Philip Covin 203 Hurt St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Brookwood - Sherry Wright 3272 W Shadowlawn Ave NE. Atlanta, GA 30305 Down Yonder - Anne Watkins 1717 Rugby Ave. College Park, GA 30337-1925

Here is the shopping list: CLOTHING ITEMS Please place in a Ziploc bag. You are encouraged to bring as many items as is possible 1. 2 pairs of socks (warm) 2. 1 pair of gloves (large) 3. 1 poncho 4. 1 foil blanket 5. Winter hats HYGIENE KITS Place in a different ziplock bag *travel size (you are encouraged to bring all these items together) 1. 1 toothbrush 2. 1 toothpaste 3. 1 deodorant 4. 1 bar soap and 1 Shampoo 5. 1 nail clipper and 4 bandaids 6. Kleenex Questions? Contact Jasiel G. Hernandez at jhernandez@cpcatlanta. org

DECEMBER

New Hope House Christmas Packets

Recreating the World with God: Stewardship Season 2021 As you consider your year-end giving and hopefully participate in the 12 Days of Giving initiative, please remember to include your pledge in the mix! Your faithful giving to Central will allow us to move forward with confidence, continuing our worship and mission into the new year and finding new ways to serve. As of Dedication Sunday on Nov. 22, we were 46% of our way to the goal so far out of last year’s total number of 195. We are so grateful to those who have already made their pledges. We still have a way to go, but with your help we will enter 2021 with the financial underpinning to continue to recreate our world with God. To learn more about how our resources are used, we invite you to click on our narrative budget: https://cpcatlanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Narrative-Budget-11.04.2020.pdf And to give to Central, please visit: https://cpcatlanta.org/give/ We are grateful for your support!

New Hope House has been offering support and hospitality for Georgia’s death row prisoners and their families since 1988. Nestled in a beautiful wooded area and just five miles from the prison where death row is located, this ministry provides a quiet, peaceful and private guesthouse for friends and family members of death row prisoners during visitation and executions, free of charge. For over 30 years, Murphy Davis made sure that every prisoner on Georgia’s death row received a box of Christmas gifts that included essentials. In previous years, a small group from Central has partnered with NHH to deliver these Christmas packets. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, only staff at NHH will be making the deliveries on December 17 for this year. You can still participate and make a difference by donating $75 (the cost of making one these Christmas packets) or by sending your own box directly to New Hope House. Visit www.newhopehousega.org to donate online or refer to following link for more information: http:// www.newhopehousega.org/uploads/1/3/2/6/132661607/murphy_davis_xmas_packages.pdf

DECEMBER

Haiti Partnership Lunches for Students in Trou Jacques Central along with Fernandina Presbyterian and McDonough Presbyterian partner with the community of Trou Jacques. At the annual Partnership meeting in 2019, Debbie Miller, Tricia Downing, and I asked Per Vil and Per Ricot, the priests in charge â€œWhat is your biggest need?â€?

Central Night Shelter

The immediate answer was a kitchen and lunch room. Each day women in the community prepare a nutritious lunch for the children in school. Often it is the best meal of the day for some. In Trou Jacques where there is no kitchen. Together, the three churches have been able to fund this kitchen which is in the process of being built. We want to be sure we can continue to provide the lunches so we are suggesting a donation for the school lunch program at Trou Jacques.

Central Night Shelter is a non-profit organization started in 1980 by an ecumenical group concerned about the growing problem of homelessness in Atlanta. This season, we celebrated our 40th anniversary. As a ministry of hospitality, the CNS provides winter night shelter serving the needs of 90-100 homeless men in downtown Atlanta from November 1 through March 31.

For a donation of $25, all the children in school at Trou Jacques will be fed one day! You may donate by check or online to Central Presbyterian Church with a notation for Haiti. For more information, you may contact Bede Campbell at bedecampbell@yahoo.com

Due to COVID-19, CNS has shifted its ministry to providing meal packets (which include a warm dinner, breakfast and lunch), clothing items, blankets, and other immediate resources for the remainder of the 20202021 season. While this decision has been challenging during this great time of need, we continue to follow the advice of health experts. Central has committed to serve meals for several dates during the season. To sign-up please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040a4caeab2fa02-central1 To learn more about Central Night Shelter and how you can donate, please visit https://www.centralnightshelter.org/donate

DECEMBER

Central OAC

Central OAC is currently open on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We hope to open an additional 1-2 days early in 2021, but the Executive Committee has advised to wait and see how the Covid numbers are tracking in January. On the days the OAC is open, the following services are provided: Birth certificates, GA state ID, Social Security cards, medical referrals, homeless verification letters, food stamps, and reading glasses. In addition to the services provided by one of the OAC team members, guests are allowed to check and pick up their mail on these three days while receiving a snack and hygiene bag. To learn more about the OAC and how you can participate, please visit the following links: Website: www.centraloac.org To Donate: https://centraloac.org/donate/ In Kind Wish List Link: https://centraloac.org/get-involved/wish-list/ For more detailed information, please contact Executive Director, Kimberly Parker at kparker@centraloac.org

DECEMBER

AMIS AMIS (Atlanta Ministry with International Students) is the French word for â€œfriends.â€? We welcome and connect international students with local American friends through our many programs and events. Our Amigo Friendship Program matches an international student with an American individual or family for friendship and sharing of cultures. Every year (except this one) Central Presbyterian has hosted our Christmas House International group for a lively lunch. During COVID-19, we have offered virtual events through Zoom, gathering international students and volunteers around engaging and educational topics and outdoor events when feasible. Your support can help international students in their adjustment to American life and culture, as well as enrich your understanding of the world. It also is a way to to practice Christian hospitality and welcome the stranger (Matthew 25). To learn more about AMIS and how you can participate, please visit the following links: www.amis-inc.org/donate For more detailed information, please contact, Executive Director, Rev. Irene Wong at irene@amis-inc.org

DECEMBER

Memorial Drive Ministries

DECEMBER

Memorial Drive Ministries was incorporated in December 2017 as a church-based nonprofit that manages the Memorial Drive campus with the mission of fostering diverse Christian worship, innovative community services, and transformative relationships. MDM’s mission is to provide a safe, welcoming and affordable space where organizations that serve those in the greater Clarkston and Stone Mountain area can meet, collaborate, thrive and build community. Leveraging the community trust, location, and campus of the historic Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC), Memorial Drive Ministries convenes critical leadership, organization, and a wide network of loving neighbors to create a new expression of God’s Beloved Community. Organizations benefiting from this are Shalom International Worship, Inspire (after-school initiative), Mommy and Me, Just Bakery, and Amani Women’s Center. To learn more about MDM and how you can participate, please visit the following link: https://mdmatl.org/ways-tohelp/

El Refugio

El Refugio in Lumpkin GA is a ministry to 1,800 detainees and their families at the Stewart Detention Center. The detainees are awaiting trial and/or deportation; many of their families travel long distances to be with their loved ones. El Refugio’s main action during the Covid pandemic include a “Sending love in a time of Covid-19” letter writing campaign; providing funds for commissary items, phone fees and travel bags; preparing family solidarity kits; assisting families and detainees through hotline; advocating for release of detainees; and sending letters to the CDC and the GA Department of Health. To learn more about El Refugio and how you can participate, please visit the following link: www.elrefugiostewart.org/donate/ In-kind donations may be made through Target, Amazon and Kroger.

DECEMBER

Olive Tree Campaign

CEDEPCA

The Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA) is an educational institution that contributes to the transformation of lives and contexts by providing training and accompaniment, and by offering spaces for reflection to women and men from diverse Christian traditions, communities and contexts. Back in 2017, Central participated in a mission trip that included the youth group. Many of them described this missional opportunity as a formative experience for their faith. You may visit the following link to see more images from this trip: https://cedepca.org/en/photos/central-presbyterian-atlanta-2017/ CEDEPCA also participated in our World Communion Celebration at Central back in October 4th. We rejoiced in sharing this sacrament with them despite the distance and language. They have also published an Advent devotional: https://files.constantcontact.com/0b33f4e9201/5db08538-78b7-474d-87bd-ffdb6e622cb4.pdf To learn more about CEDEPCA and how you can participate, please visit the following link: https://cedepca.org/en/donate/

The Olive Tree Campaign is an opportunity to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and help Keep Hope Alive for a peaceful future in Palestine. Palestinian women, men and children are committed to rebuilding their society and structures without the use of violence. The Olive Tree Campaign aims to plant trees in places where they have been uprooted and destroyed or in areas where the fields are threatened by land confiscation. You are invited to participate by donating an olive tree as it will benefit Keep Hope Alive and contribute to the efforts for a peaceful future for Palestine. The amount of $20 covers all the costs related to planting a young olive tree - the cost of the tree, preparation of the field, and the irrigation system. You may donate by check or on line to Central Presbyterian Church with a notation for the Olive Tree Campaign. Read more about the campaign at www.jai-pal.org or reach out directly to Ann Hunter at annhunter126@ gmail.com

DECEMBER

The Christmas Joy Offering

Christmas Morning Breakfast Courtyard Ministry

The Christmas Joy Offering is one way we join together as Presbyterians from around the country. The gifts we share connect us. They also change lives. Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we support church workers and their families who experience critical financial needs through help from the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions. We connect with the young people attending Stillman College, Presbyterian Pan American School (where our Associate Pastor Jasiel H. Garcia attended High School), and the Menaul School, supporting the education and leadership development for students of color, who will soon be leaders in our Church and in the world. “God is with us.” All the time. During this season of Advent, as we approach Christmas, I can’t think of a more perfect gift than that. Thank you for sharing those lessons and those truths, through your gift to the Christmas Joy Offering. To learn more about CJO and how you can participate, please visit the following link: https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/make-a-gift/gift-info/ christmas-joy/

Central has the annual tradition of offering a warm breakfast on Christmas morning to the guests who stay at the night shelter. This year, while we will not have guests staying with us at the shelter, we still hope to provide this meaningful meal for at least 100 people. This effort is in collaboration with Central Night Shelter. We will follow the guidelines we currently have for our Sunday morning courtyard fellowship hour - we will set up a couple of tables within the courtyard facing the fence, offer coffee and

treats, and provide care packets that will include winter clothing and hygiene items. Only 2-3 guests will be allowed to come into the courtyard at a time. It is our hope to create an atmosphere that is festive and safe for everyone. You can participate by donating items for our care kits, by volunteering to serve coffee or meals on this particular day, or by supporting us financially. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Harbeen at kharben@mindspring.com or Jasiel Garcia at jhernandez@cpcatlanta.org