Christmas Giving for 2020

**Check for an update part way through**
Our congregation has a tradition of collecting funds for a gift for the pastor and his or her family each Christmas.  Knowing this tradition, Pastor John has requested an alternative this Christmas if people wish to give.  He and Emily said the congregation has already done so much for them this year through gifts for them and the baby.  

With so many others in need this season they would prefer to see any gifts from the church members go to Marceline UMC to support the charities our congregation gives to annually.  The Serve team has not been able to do their usual fundraising activities and this donation would help honor our commitments to these entities.  

​If you wish to honor Pastor John and his family this Christmas, please bring your donations to the church.  Checks should be made payable to the church with the notation “Pastor Christmas” in the memo line.  

Any donations for Christmas gifts to Beth or Mary Beth may also be left at the church with notations on the memo line. You can also give online and chose from the options or just make a note of where you'd like those gifts to go.
**Update** ​Beth and Mary Beth have also asked that gifts to them would go to the Charities we normally support through the sharing table

Below are the many opportunities we have to give this year

Our annual "March to the Manger" will be handled differently this year due our safety restrictions. The "March" is when the congregation is invited to donate money to help our covenant church, Betula United Methodist Church, in Mozambique. Our goal each year is $1,000. This year there will be a sack in the back of the sanctuary where you can leave donations or you can go to our online giving and choose Mozambique from the drop down.

Any money beyond the $1,000 will be split between the eight Missouri based service agencies we donate to through our Sharing Table we normally hold throughout the summer and at Christmas. We were not able to hold the Sharing Tables this year due to the pandemic, so this is our way of donating to the agencies this year.

We have seven families this year for our Christmas baskets. If you would like to give, you can put your donations in the bag in the Sanctuary, or give online and choose Christmas Baskets from the drop down.

Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. What an opportunity we have to practice that with our annual UMC Giving Tree event. The following was listed by our local school nurse as items of need:

They are:
no show socks
girls underwear sizes 4-6
boys briefs sizes 4-6
sweatpants: blue or black
gloves: blue or black
Kleenex
Chapstick
shampoo
toothpaste
toothbrushes
deodorant
lice kits
"clear" water bottles
gift cards to Dollar General & Prengers

Due to Covid concerns, boxes will be placed at both keyed entrances to the church for drop off of items beginning November 29th. If you are unsure of the code to the doors, contact Pastor John 816-520-7841

​We're ringing the bell at Walmart in Brookfield on Dec. 12 from 10am-7pm. We're looking for volunteers to ring and help our community. Marceline receives a lot of help from the Salvation Army through the course of the year because of the generous donations that come through bell ringing. Add your name to the time(s) that you can ring by clicking on the link below. If you're on your phone, tap the pencil icon to edit

Salvation Army Sign-Up

or contact Pastor John 816-520-7841