December Newsletter
Happy December!
What is your favorite Christmas song? There are so many good ones, it is hard for me to choose a favorite, but He Who is Mighty by Sovereign Grace Music is up there.
The chorus sings:
“He, who is mighty, has done a great thing
Taken on flesh, conquered death's sting
Shattered the darkness and lifted our shame
Holy is His name”
Jesus came, God in the flesh, and lifted our shame!
This is the hope of Christmas!
A woman came into the family room yesterday with her head down as she got a bowl of stew. I asked her name and she barely lifted her eyes to reply. I noticed that look of shame. I do not know her story, and she was not ready to tell me more, but her eyes told me so much about what she believed about herself. We have seen it over and over again especially as we meet new people. Our friends wonder if we care about them as a person or if we are just pushing them through a list of services.
I paused, reached for her hand, waited until her eyes met mine, and smiled as they did. I said, “I’m really glad you came today, I hope I get to see you again soon.” She smiled back at me and said, “I will be back.”
Brene Brown says, “ Love and belonging are essential to the human experience. As I conducted my interviews, I realized that one thing separated the research participants who felt a deep sense of love and belonging from people who seem to be struggling for it. That one thing is the belief in their worthiness. Is is as simple and complicated as this: If we want to fully experience love and belonging, we must believe that we are worthy of love and belonging.”
Today is Colorado Gives Day!
Your gift to JOC helps us to continue to show up, love people, build relationships, and cultivate wellbeing. Jesus has lifted our shame and we are on a mission to share that hope with our friends.
Ways to get involved:
Opportunities that do not require training:
Bring food for the JOC Christmas Party on December 19th- sign up here
Make Burritos for Tuesday Night Outreach - Our Tuesday night outreach is growing. We are serving more people and need more food. If you would like help, you can sign up to make burritos and bring them to 9360 E. Colfax (or send them with another volunteer) on Tuesday night by 6pm. The burritos can be breakfast/egg burritos or regular bean/beef and rice burritos. Please NO pork. Email kayla@jesusoncolfax.org if you are interested in making burritos (please note you do not need training to make burritos, but you do need training to volunteer for Tuesday night outreach.)
Buy things for the Family Room store from the Amazon wish list.
Serve a Community Meal- Meals are dinner on the first Thursday of the month or any Monday at lunch. Email kayla@jesusoncolfax.org if you would like to serve a community meal.
Buy a Christmas present for one of our friends. Email kelsey@jesusoncolfax.org
Opportunities that do require training:
Our Next Volunteer Training will be on January 21st. Mark your Calendar!
Volunteer in the Family Room. Sign up Here for the Radiant or here for the JOC building.
Join us for Tuesday night outreach. Sign up here.
Get involved in Women Only Hours
Prayer Requests:
Our outreach for women-only hours in the Family Room starts tomorrow! Pray that we will make good connections.
The cold weather is hard for many of our unhoused friends, pray for their safety.
We have some friends who have expressed their need for prayer to grow spiritually.