CHRISTMAS ALTERNATIVES 2021

Chenoa Stock is accompanied in her service by her husband,
José Luis Claure, and son, Leandro Aiden.

 -The Tradition Continues! 

Are you struggling to find just the right gifts for family members and friends? Look no further than the St. Mark Christmas Alternatives shopping list! Purchasing a gift through Christmas Alternatives honors the recipient and helps those who have so little, but need so much. Please visit our displays in the narthex December 19th. We look forward to helping you select the perfect gift! Of course, you are welcome to drop your completed shopping list and check (Christmas Alternatives on the memo line) in the Mission Committee mailbox in the church office or via mail. You will find the Christmas Alternatives Shopping List on the back of the bulletin---for information on these missions, see below.

*Nicaragua Plan Grande 2 c/o Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, 1001 Craig Rd., Suite 170, St. Louis, MO 63146 Harriet Hall, Coordinator 

https://glpby.org/ministry-teams/mission-connections/nicaragua-community-partnership/ • 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of this long-term covenant partnership between our presbytery and the rural community of Plan Grande 2, Nicaragua. The primary focus is on providing funding for a Secondary School Scholarship Program. In addition, travelers from GLPBY have built pilas to improve access to water, hosted Vacation Bible Schools, visited schools, played games, read books, learned to make tortillas, strategized regarding Jenga, built relationships and worked to follow Christ’s example of love and care. 

*PCUSA International Agricultural Missions Presbyterian Mission Agency, PCUSA, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202 PCUSA Coordinates with International Mission Partners 

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/102/ • Gifts to these selected mission partners enable the Presbyterian Hunger Program to respond to support requests from partner churches and from secular groups for their community activities dealing with food security, sustainable agriculture, food processing and small income generating activities for women.

*PCUSA Mission Co-workers Presbyterian Mission Agency, PCUSA, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202 PCUSA Coordinates with Mission Co-Workers 

• • Jed Koball connects PCUSA and the Joining Hands network in Peru as they identify and interpret root causes of poverty in Peru, such as mining contamination, global warming, and unfair trade agreements. Jenny Koball coordinates the Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) program in Peru, organizing volunteer and cultural immersion experiences in Peru for US young adults. 
• .Chenoa Stock serves in Peru as delegations and partnership coordinator for PERUSA, a new program of the Joining Hands Peru Network. Through this program, she works with PC(USA) delegations to foster partnerships with our Peruvian covenant partners, the Evangelical Church of Peru (IEP) and the Joining Hands Peru Network.

*Presbyterian Children’s Home & Services 1220 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132 Debra Paulus, Development Director 

pchas.org • Established in 1914; gives kids a safe, loving place to heal and to grow when their families cannot provide that along with extra support like therapeutic mentoring; foster care case management and in-home family therapy. Recently when the needs of the Farmington community and St. Francois county changed, PCHAS responded with several new programs and methods of treatment to give each child and family the opportunity to find their strengths, overcome obstacles and build futures.  

Marion Medical Mission 1412 Shawnee Drive, Marion, IL 62959 Kimberly Richey, Director of Development 

 mmmwater.org • Since 1990, MMM has helped over 38,000 villages in rural Africa gain a sustainable source of safe drinking water. Each well costs $450 and supports 125 people, reducing disease, increasing productivity, and allowing children to attend school. MMM is a PCUSA mission partner and the beneficiary of the annual St. Mark Lent Water Challenge. 

Medical Benevolence Foundation 9555 W. Sam Houston Pkwy South, Suite 170, Houston, TX 77099 

PCUSA Mission Coordinates Relationship with MBF www.MBFoundation.org • Medical Benevolence Foundation has supported healing ministries and programs in over 100 hospitals and clinics throughout the world since 1964. Funds continue to be needed to support medical ministries in developing countries. MBF works in partnership with PCUSA, congregations, and mission networks.