Raise your hand if you love receiving a gift (my hand is raised!) Gifts are ways for others to express their love and appreciation to someone they value. We give gifts to those we love at Christmas. We bring gifts for birthday parties. And sometimes we give gifts “just because.” Gifts come in all forms. Sometimes they are big packages filled with expensive things, and other times it’s as simple as surprising someone with a cinnamon roll from their favorite bakery. No matter the size or value of the gift, it’s a way to say to someone else “I see you. I love you. I appreciate you. You are worthy.” As an act of love and a way to nurture intergenerational faith, our amazing Prayer Partner Ministry gathered at the end of August and created 34 care packages for college students, educators, and administrators in our faith community.
They packaged each gift (care package) with care, love, and intentionality. They wrote notes and letters of encouragement and drew pictures to hang in dorm rooms or on office walls. They selected dozens of items with the goal of bringing a smile to the recipients’ faces. Each year, we package these gifts to remind our students and educators that we value and love them. We want them to know how much we love them being part of our faith community, even while they are away at college or working hard each day to help teach and lead classes.
Our Prayer Partner Ministry is a partnership between our Children and Older Adult Ministries. Each school-age child (K-5th) is partnered with an older adult, and together, they build a relationship over the course of 6 years together. Our care package project is one way they work together to serve our community to spread love and encouragement. I believe deeply in the value of intergenerational relationships within a faith community, where we learn from each other and lean into seeing God in new ways. So join me today in celebrating our Prayer Partner Ministry and the many gifts they offer to each other and to those in our community.
You are loved!
-Pastor Amy
