Lord, when did we see you hungry? (Matthew 25:37-40)
At Good Shepherd we have a dedicated fund to help the members of our congregation who are in financial need. We call it "The Christmas Stocking."
As long as I have been at Good Shepherd, at least 17 years, every Christmas we literally hung a red Christmas Stocking (like the one in the photo) on the back wall of the sanctuary next to the wood-cut image of of the face of Jesus (made by Preston Luck) and the baptismal fount. This Christmas stocking was the brainchild and personal project of Kathy Engeness, a small ball of endless energy, a retired secretary for the Pentagon, who has since gone on to be with the Lord. People would place checks and cash in the stocking, in addition, to their offering in the plate. The monies gathered, then, in the stocking would be used to help those members who were in financial difficulty.
Since those early years, "The Christmas Stocking" has now become dedicated account to which people give throughout the year, not just during the Christmas season, to assist our members in need. The hanging of the stocking is more symbolic than functional, serving as a reminder of the needs of our people all throughout the year. Now people just note on envelopes or checks that they want to give to The Christmas Stocking.
Your donations to "The Christmas Stocking" are used exclusively for Good Shepherd members. To help others, we have another account, "The Samaritan Account" that assists those in need from our community. Both are different from our benevolence accounts, which is a tithe of all that we receive in the General Fund that is then allocated to local and foreign missions and missionaries to help with the advance of the gospel and God's kingdom through evangelistic and humanitarian work.
The Christmas stocking has been used to help with rent, mortgages, utilities, clothing, food, medications, Christian counseling, car and home repairs -- whatever is the most pressing need. These are free gifts to the families and individuals, although almost all who have received have out of gratitude, when they are able, replenished the fund for others. Others give to The Christmas Stocking out of an awareness of those in need. As long as there is money in this account, we are able to help our church family members.
As you tithe to the general fund of the church, I would encourage you to consider a little extra to give to "The Christmas Stocking." It is in keeping with the Christian heritage of the origin of Christmas stockings, when Bishop Nicholaus of Myra secretly gave a stocking of money to a poor father of three children in their time of need. Look for the stocking near the baptismal fount. Let's celebrate the joy of Christmas all year long.
- Pastor Jeff
