On April 18, the Tuesday Morning Class, led by Rev. Donna Strieb, concluded their lesson by making over 100 Blessing Bags. Class members donated and filled plastic bags with items that could be given to people who are experiencing homelessness within our community.
Items included: bottled water, socks, protein bars, tuna packets, peanut butter crackers, lip balm, hand cream, soap, Wet Ones, and various toiletries. Known as the Lifting Up the Lowly Project, this is one of the efforts made by the class to show the love of Jesus to those in need. After class members took some of the bags, the remaining 61 bags were put aside. They are available for church members to pick up in the Atrium or be distributed by our Mission Central.
Other projects by this class have included writing notes to the elderly and youth of our church, collecting underwear for our Mission Central and Haven for Hope, helping create a devotional booklet for Mission Central to share with those they help, and now these Blessing Bags.
These efforts were initiated as a loving response to the class's study of Adam Hamilton's book, Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outlaws, and Outcasts, which focuses on Jesus lifting the lowly throughout Luke's Gospel. Consultation with Rev. Janet Weatherston, Director of Mission Central, has also played an essential role in the class's creation of these projects.
