Christmas Alternatives

Luke 6:30-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Because we are blessed with many material possessions, when Christmas comes around, we encounter a huge challenge selecting gifts for family and friends. Finding the perfect gift for someone who has many wonderful possessions is a difficult task! With this in mind, in 2001 the newly formed Mission Committee at St. Mark created “Christmas Alternatives.” 

After much research the Mission Committee selected three international and four national missions to support during the first St. Mark Christmas Alternatives. A shopping list was created that included items such as: school supplies, chickens and other animals, scholarships to train nurses, vaccinations for villages, drilling a water well and more. Purchasing a gift through Christmas Alternatives not only honored the recipient, but also aided other deserving people.

During Christmas Alternatives 2018, you will be able to give support to our mission co-workers Jed Koball in Peru and Mark Hare in Haiti. You might select to purchase ducks, goats or seeds for farmers in Haiti. Perhaps the person you honor with a gift would appreciate knowing that their gift would be building a well, supporting a health clinic or training a nurse. Medical Benevolence Foundation and Marion Medical Mission will apply your gift to make this possible. This is our third year with “Give a Child Christmas” a component that we developed with Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. This gift allows children to celebrate Christmas at a modestly priced restaurant and receive a gift of new clothing such as a sweater or shirt.

Thank you for your support during the past 17 years. Our displays will be in the Narthex in December. We look forward to helping you select the perfect gift!