In the next several weeks you will receive many different appeals for donations to all sorts of charities. Each of them is designed to prompt your response. Sadly, not all of them are worthy. Their financial records may reveal more dollars paid out for marketing than used to help others. Some organizations may support projects that conflict with your own values. Some may be nothing more than money-making schemes taking advantage of the season. How can you be sure your gift will not be wasted?

As you make decisions about donations to ministry initiatives, or to assist people in need because of natural disasters or personal challenges and wonder how to give wisely, please consider this:

Giving to and giving through Christ Covenant is always a very good way to respond to the needs in our community and across the globe. We are actively involved in more than 50 different ministries, all year round. We are as concerned with feeding the hungry in July as we are in January. We don’t wait for Christmas to befriend the widow or the orphan.

Through the work of the Presbyterian Church in America and our network of sister congregations around the world, we are a part of the quick response at the scene of emergencies like wild fires, floods and storms. We know how to offer both immediate and long-term assistance, sharing the hope of Christ while meeting physical needs and establishing long-term relationships through the local church.

Here in our own community, partnerships with local ministries who share our goals allow us to direct our efforts to those in need without duplicating costs. Every dollar given to Christ Covenant to help others stretches a little further because there are no administrative deductions and volunteers, including members of our own church family who give so much of their time and skills to these ministries.

If you have questions about year-end giving, or want to know more about the ministries we help support, please contact your pastor or call the church office. We are happy to assist.

Remember, gifts to the church in December go toward all our ministries and are a significant part of our annual income. Generally, gifts to the church in the form of checks or cash that are mailed (and postmarked) by December 31 or delivered in person to the church office by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, should be deductible for tax purposes. You may also take advantage of our secure online giving. God blesses Christ Covenant through your gifts, and they are greatly appreciated. Call Sandy Spitz at 704-814-1010 with any questions or for more information, including details on handling stock/fund transfers..

All men ages 16 and older are invited to attend the Ministry to Men Fellowship Breakfast on Saturday, December 5, from 7:00 - 8:30am at Stacks Kitchen in Matthews. Come join your brothers in Christ for an intentional time of fellowship, prayer, and food. Please feel free to bring a guest. The only cost is your breakfast. You can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4eafaf2da1f58-mtmdecember.

We invite you to help beautify the worship center by purchasing a poinsettia. Also, you can purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one or family member. You can purchase a poinsettia online at https://ccym.wufoo.com/forms/qc3zrcv126xz9v/.

The cost of each poinsettia is $10.

Join Changed Choices this Christmas with a very different Changed Choices Christmas party. As followers of Christ, Changed Choices empowers currently and recently incarcerated women to achieve lasting, positive change through programming and personalized mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support. They will be blessing their Care II clients (women who are again living in the community) with a set of cookware and a gift card for groceries for a cooking class. Then they will learn about healthy cooking and eating in 2021. To participate and to learn more, click here for the sign up genius. Here you will find instructions on where to have gifts or gift cards sent directly (we will not be collecting at the church). Thank you for your love and support of our Changed Choices sisters.

Stop by our Book Nook in the Main Lobby to pick up an Advent book for you, for your family, or as a gift! There are four to chose from:

Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski,

Love Came Down by Sinclair Ferguson,

Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller and

Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul Tripp.

Registration is now open for select winter/spring Women’s Bible Studies. Small Group Bible Studies will meet at a variety of times throughout the week, and the Winter Short Study, taught by Sarah Ivill will meet on Thursday mornings. To learn more about these studies and register, please visit the Women’s Ministry website at https://christcovenant.org/womensbiblestudies/.