Dear Friends,
Do you know the story of how “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” came into being the carol it is today? It is a quite interesting story based on the juxtaposition between the sound of church bells ringing after hearing the artillery of the Civil War. There is more to the story. We are planning a carol singing with short, interesting information times about the carols for this year’s Christmas Eve Service. It will be held at Klamath Falls Friends Church at 6:00 PM. Come and enjoy the fellowship and treats as we bond together over some songs of our childhood, and sometimes our parents’ childhoods.
We have several events coming up in the near future that we would love for you to participate in. As mentioned above, please come to the Christmas Eve service that begins at 6:00 on December 24 as we wish you a very happy holiday and New Year.
If you have any ideas about staff or programs at Klamath Falls Friends Church, please mention them to one of your pastors, Wendy or Bernie before January 14. That is the day that Ministry and Care meets at 5:30 in the church office.
Peace and Social Concerns has been steadily working for positive change for peace and equality in our community. If you are interested in Peace and Social Justice, please attend the Peace and Social Concerns meeting on January 19 at 9:00 AM.
Also, on January 19 we will start a new book group on Quaker Ecology using a book written by Oregonian author and Friend, Cherice Bock. If you want a book, there is a sign-up sheet on the entryway table. Sarah Watson is our facilitator. The group will meet every third Sunday at the end of meeting for worship, and will end with a celebration of ecology for Earth Day in April.
On January 26 there will be a Meeting for Business to cover December and January matters at the end of meeting.
Then on Wednesday the 29th at 3:00 PM please join us in listening to and seeing a presentation by Marilyn Gran-Moravec who is the teacher for the OSHU street nursing program. Come and find out how the unsheltered people are treated medically and spiritually through this wonderful program that offers foot-washing to the local people who do not have homes. This presentation is a joint endeavor between Klamath Lutheran Church, Hope Lutheran Church, The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Klamath Falls Friends Church. The presentation will be held at Klamath Lutheran Church (1175 Crescent Ave., Klamath Falls, OR 97601).
Thanks to all who contributed money to the program for Street Nursing to buy tokens for people to access medical care. The tokens will be used to send someone to the doctor, the urgent care or the emergency room.
Linda Warner gave a very good update on the December Food Pantry. The Interfaith Food Pantry served 56 households, 124 people total (83 adults and 41 children). 35 volunteers (with 6 new volunteers) gave 184 hours of their time during a very busy time of year.
The sponsoring congregations donated 537 pounds of food, 258 pounds came from Hope Lutheran thanks to grants and donations totaling $290. However, the pantry is now nearly depleted. They need donations of both food and cash to purchase food, especially since our January pantry is almost five weeks away.
The Pantry also served many new Hispanic families which made the bilingual talents of Joe Tolton and Jeff Newman appreciated. If anyone is interested in volunteering as a translator, please text or call Linda at 541-281-5535. Our Welcome Table greeter, Kathleen, is putting together a “cheat sheet” for those who don’t speak Spanish.
We need more laundered blankets, comforters and quilts as we are running out and they are certainly needed and appreciated. Also, the Food Pantry could use toiletries, socks, and used clean warm clothing like coats, hats, and gloves as those were almost depleted on Tuesday as well.
Thanks to all of you for all that you are doing for Klamath and for Love in your daily walks. It is an honor to be able to serve you.
Sincerely,
Leigh Tolton
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