Alternative Giving

 Honoring Family and Friends Through Alternative Giving

Finding the perfect, meaningful gift for someone who has many wonderful possessions is a difficult task! With this in mind, the newly formed Mission Committee at St. Mark created “Christmas Alternatives” in 2001.

Purchasing a gift through Christmas Alternatives honors the recipient and will help lift a family out of poverty. That family will in turn help another community member. Every gift is another word in an ongoing story of hope that will help create a cycle of change for generations to come.

A copy of the “shopping list” is available in this month’s Messenger and on the welcome desk.

Displays will be in the Narthex on December 8, 15, & 22

Christmas Alternatives 2022

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 18th. 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- 

PCUSA International Food and Income Security 

Family of Chickens 25.00 

 Share of Cow ($450/cow) 50.00 

 Share of Goat ($178/pair) 30.00 

 Piglet 40.00 

Share of Bee Hive ($240/hive) 20.00 

Share of Moringa Seeds (food for humans - $40/bag) 10.00 

Share of Rainwater Catchment ($75/system) 25.00 

Share of Sewing Machine ($50 each) 25.00

General Gift to Christmas Alternatives 

St. Mark Mission Committee to Designate Recipients 50.00 

Thank you St. Mark!

 Thank you St. Mark for your generosity in a number of projects!

YOUTH LID PROJECT GREAT JOB EVERYONE! On Sunday, December 5, we weighed all of the cleaned and sorted lids and we have 526 pounds! 26 pounds over what we need. Soon Tricia Rouff will be driving to the site to make the exchange; lids for a plastic table which we have decided to donate to Mound Ridge Camp!

THANK YOU, ST. MARK, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! 138 pounds of food/hygiene items were donated for Circle of Concern through the Children's Christmas program. In addition, Isaiah 58 was the recipient of 63 angel tree gifts PLUS 43 teddy bears from PW for their annual holiday store!

 CHRISTMAS ALTERNATIVES – Our 21st Year! St Mark Christmas Alternatives: a better way to live the values of the Season and make a real impact. Over $10,000 of alternative, transformational Christmas gifts were donated in December. Amen!

THANK YOU TO ST. MARK PW MEMBERS! Thank you to the PW Circles for providing Christmas gifts to children receiving care through Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. Your generosity has provided Christmas blessings to 60 children.

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.

Christmas Alternatives

If you missed the Drive-Through Donation yesterday, you are welcome to drop off your completed shopping list and check (Christmas Alternatives in the memo line) in the Mission Committee mail slot in the church office or via mail (601 Claymont, Ballwin Mo 63011) 

*PCUSA Mission Co-workers Presbyterian Mission Agency, PCUSA, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202 PCUSA Coordinates with Mission Co-Workers (Chris Polak and Clarice Hutchens, St. Mark Liaisons)

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/mark-hare-and-jenny-bent/ • From their base in the Dominican Republic, Mark Bent and Jenny Hare work with Haitian farmers to develop systems that produce more food with minimal labor. In the Dominican Republic they lead a critical community health program. 

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/the-rev-jed-and-jenny-koball/ • 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. 

*Presbyterian Children’s Home & Services 1220 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132 Debra Paulus, Development Director (Sharon Cardwell, St. Mark Liaison) 

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. 

More Missions for Christmas Alternatives Giving

NEW this year is a drive through donation drop-off of your shopping list and checks. This will be held in the St. Mark parking lot on Sunday, December 13th from 1-3PM.   Click here for the shopping list.  Two more missions which help those recovering from Hurricanes and other natural disasters are these ministries that benefit from your Christmas Alternatives Giving:

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

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 (Clarice Hutchens, St. Mark Liaison)

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.

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

Christmas Alternatives

 

Christmas Alternatives Giving Celebrates 20 Years Christmas Alternatives will look a bit different this year. However, we will continue to support Christmas Alternatives with our gifts to honor our loved ones, while benefitting many deserving people throughout the world. 

Twenty years ago, St. Mark created the “Mission Committee” with the vision of our Pastor Howard Gleason and endorsement of the Session. St. Mark Church was noted for founding and supporting many local missions within St. Louis and St. Louis County. It was Howard Gleason’s vision to expand the mission of the church beyond the borders of St. Louis. This vision continues to flourish. 

The Mission Committee was created in 2001 with these goals: 

1. To educate the congregation and raise the awareness of non-local mission needs; 

2. Along with the pastors, to monitor and recommend activities for mission at St. Mark; 

3. To research specific mission activities to sponsor; 

4. To continue our level of funding and discover new mission needs. 

The committee was allotted a budget through St. Mark, but it was always the committee’s emphasis to obtain additional funding outside of the budget. The committee members observed that all of us have too much “stuff.” 

With that in mind the committee created a unique way of giving that provided two gifts: (a) honoring a loved one or friend and (b) concurrently benefitting deserving people with a tangible gift. After much research, the committee decided to raise funds by creating an alternative Christmas event which we termed: Christmas Alternatives. That first year, the following missions were selected:

 National Missions - John Hyson School (New Mexico), Menaul School (New Mexico), Koinonia Partners, Presbyterian Children’s Services

International Missions - Marion Medical Mission, Rancho Ebenezer in Nicaragua, and Heifer Project.

 Each Mission was contacted to determine the types of items that could be “purchased” by our members to give to loved ones at Christmas. A shopping list was generated, Minutes for Mission were presented to the congregation, and posters were displayed. Our first year, $1395 was donated by our members on gifts that would honor the recipients and benefit deserving people in multiple places around the world. The committee was thrilled! The second year, $10,024.83 was donated via Christmas Alternatives. When the congregation was informed of this news during a Minute for Mission, gasps of astonishment were heard throughout the sanctuary. The St. Mark congregation had embraced a new way of shopping for Christmas gifts, and a tradition began that has continued for 20 years. 

During our first 19 years, St. Mark members and friends have contributed over $150,000 to Christmas Alternatives. You have provided health to communities through the drilling of wells for clean water, vaccinations and maternity care. You have given livestock and seeds so that people can provide food for themselves and their families. You have given gifts for children at Christmas and supported mission co-workers throughout the world. Thank you for supporting Christmas Alternatives during the past 19 years. Let’s make 2020 a truly spectacular 20th year celebration! 

Sunday, December 13 1-3PM  DRIVE THROUGH

We are offering a drive through drop off of your completed Christmas Alternatives shopping list and check. As a bonus, complementary Christmas Cards with artwork from our St. Mark children will be available for you to select from the warmth of the front seat of your vehicle.

Christmas Alternatives: International Missions

1 John 3:17-18 New International Version (NIV)

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Medical Benevolence Foundation – Clarice Hutchens and Christine Polak --  https://www.mbfoundation.org/ https://www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/E862700/

·       For over 50 years, the Medical Benevolence Foundation has been an independent non-profit organization working in partnership with individuals and churches throughout the U.S. to equip Presbyterian partners in developing countries to proclaim the gospel through medical ministry.

·       Build infrastructures and systems and processes and competencies. Raise the financial support for ministries until the ministries can be self-sustaining. Each program and project have a specific business plan, since the scope of activities varies so greatly.  Specifically focus on four main areas of medical ministry:

o   Hospital Development

o   Nursing Schools and Scholarships

o   Critical Services for Women and Children

o   Primary Health Clinics

·       St. Mark support includes giving through Christmas Alternatives.

Partners for Just Trade – Clarice Hutchens -- https://partnersforjusttrade.org/

·       Partners for Just Trade is a non-profit, faith-based organization that builds partnerships between producers living in extreme poverty and consumers in North America.  PJT addresses root causes of poverty through Fair Trade sales, education, solidarity, and a commitment to trade justice.

·       PJT began as an initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program.  It began informally when a handful of volunteers from Giddings-Lovejoy congregations visiting Peru through the Hunger Program's Joining Hands Network began bringing handcrafts made by their new colleagues back to the United States for sale in churches and among friends. Very quickly, thanks to the work of committed volunteers, that tiny partnership blossomed into a growing non-profit organization with a national outreach that sells a wide variety of Fair-Trade products and creates educational materials about the importance of Fair Trade.

·       More than 15 artisan groups, with over 200 artisans, work with PJT through our Peruvian Trade Partner Bridge of Hope. We now work with four Trade Partners - Bridge of Hope and Manos Amigas in Peru, Comite Artisanal Haitien in Haiti, and VillageWorks in Cambodia.

·       The fair wages the artisans receive enables them to afford food, shelter and medicine for their families, to educate their children and to reclaim personal dignity so they may assert their economic, political and social rights.

·       PJT is a recognized player in the national Fair-Trade movement, providing Fair Trade products, upholding strong, transparent relationships with its producer partners, and educating consumers about the benefits of Fair Trade. PJT is a screened member of the Fair-Trade Federation and the Green America Business Network. 

·       St. Mark support includes giving through Christmas Alternatives.

PCUSA Plan Grande Dos Scholarship – Christine Polak and Clarice Hutchens -- https://www.glpby.org/ministry-teams/justice-and-compassion-ministry-team/mission-connections/nicaragua-community-partnership/

·       Individuals representing different congregations within the Giddings Lovejoy Presbytery make annual trips to Plan Grande Dos (25 trips as of 2016!)  We raise funds for high school scholarships, we’ve built pilas to improve access to water, we’ve held Vacation Bible Schools, visited schools, played games, read books, learned to make tortillas, strategized regarding Jenga . . .  we’ve laughed and cried . . . we’ve built relationships and worked follow Christ’s example of love and care.

·       A primary focus is fundraising for scholarships for secondary school education. 

·       Our partnership is coordinated by CEPAD – the alliance of Protestant churches in Nicaragua – where PCUSA Mission Co-workers have served for years.  CEPAD serves as the bridge between North American and Nicaraguan partners and provides all of the coordination and logistics for our donations and trips to Nicaragua.

·       St. Mark support includes giving through Christmas Alternatives.

For more information about Marion Medical Mission, click here.

Heal

Isaiah 38:16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

16 O Lord, by these things people live,
    and in all these is the life of my spirit.[a]
    Oh, restore me to health and make me live!

One of the charities which benefits from our Christmas Alternatives is MBF.  For more information on Medical Benevolence Foundation, click here.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Refuge

NLV

Psalms 14: 26 There is strong trust in the fear of the Lord, and His children will have a safe place.

For more on Presbyterian Children's Home and Services, click here.  This is also one of the charities supported by our Christmas Alternatives.

Strength

Psalm 124 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
    when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
    the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
    would have swept us away.

6 Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
    and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

Through our Christmas Alternatives, St. Mark Presbyterian supports two PC USA mission families.  They are there helping those who need someone by their side to guide them in farming and developing income.  For more information on the Hare family, click here and the Koballs, click here

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.