Olive Crest United Methodist Church
7180 North 60th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68152

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Rev. Debra Tompsett-Welch

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Olive Branch Newsletter For December 2001

Missions

By Kurt Lambrecht

To my Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings once again!

We have finally been found by the winter weather that we have been eluding for so long. Hopefully it will stay cold enough that any precipitation will come down as snow, as opposed to freezing rain or sleet.

We all have made it through the beginning of the holiday season, with only two left to go, Christmas and New Years. Unfortunately, these two holidays and I sometimes do not get along too well. Part of it has to do with the way the holiday is treated anymore. You can't even get past Halloween without seeing the Christmas stuff on the shelves. This holiday has been commercialized for all that it can be, and more. I guess I am too much of a traditionalist, but Perry Como, great of an artist as he is, should not be let anywhere near "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". A country singer, yes, can do the song justice. In fact, the original was done by Gene Autry many, many years ago.

What I am getting at is that some people get all caught up in all the pretty lights, and bells, and parties and whatnot, and forget the basis for the holiday. (Though last year, one of the local car dealerships had ads on the radio urging people to remember that in Christmas, Christ comes first. At least their hearts were in the right place. They also put a Christian message out that was played on most local radio stations). The reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus and the love that he and his father has for each and every one of us.

I guess I feel this is one of those gifts that shouldn't be trivialized, and hopefully people have learned over the last few months to not take things (like loved ones) for granted. It is something that we as members of a church congregation know that all gifts from God are precious, and none more that the gift of his son to humanity. Let us remember that as we greet our brothers and sisters (even those we do not know) in Christian love, as we enter this holiday season.

Now for the business part of this article. First of all, I would like to thank each and every one of you who have helped with the "Push for Pearl Pantry" over the last few months, as well as those who gave gifts of food and money on the night of the Thanksgiving Eve service. Usually, this time of year, they have plenty of resources, because they get a large number of their donations during the holiday season. But this year, they are in need of help more than ever. If you can, please drop something in the collection box or jar for Pearl Pantry, even if it is only one can of food, or one dollar. Remember that one dollar can be used by them to buy $12 worth of food, so every little bit helps.

As for Missions, the International Food Fair and Health Fair will have to wait for spring, but once again Mom Burgess (I have to say which one it is, because I seem to have gained at least 2-4 extra mothers besides the one that gave birth to me. I guess they think I need to be watched over. :-) is going to be making pies to help raise funds for our apportionments. Since a good chunk of that money goes to fund our missions at home and abroad (like Africa University and La Casa del Pueblo), I figured that it deserved mention here. See Mom for details as to types and price.

That's about all there is for now. Everyone out there have a great holiday season, and God bless you and yours. As always, I remain

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