As with last year, in the run up to Christmas, we will be involved in packing gift boxes to support Operation Christmas Child, a project which collects shoebox gifts for children in need worldwide, especially those affected by poverty, war, or disaster over Christmas.

You can find out how last year’s event went here.

Shoe boxes are filled with toys, school supplies, and personal care items, and are then donated to be delivered to children in over 160 countries, with the goal of helping those in need and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

There will be a ‘Packing Party’ on Saturday 10th October. We will share a time of worship, assemble, pack and pray over the shoeboxes, and enjoy refreshments together.

As we prepare to pack the gift boxes, we hope that our hearts will be filled with joy and gratitude. We do our part, and trust God to do the rest.

We look forward to a blessed time together, as we pack each box and pray over them- believing that every single one will carry God’s love to a child in need.

Shoeboxes will be provided and we invite donations in two ways:

• Physical items which can be packed into the shoeboxes (please see the recommended list below); these can be brought to church ahead of the packing party and we will store them, or brought in on the day.
• Financial contributions which can be placed in a marked envelope in the offering bag at church. As a guide, it typically costs £20-£25 to fill one shoebox. You can also contact us if you would like to donate.

Many thanks in advance for your help – we hope to see you there!

Sarah, who organises the packing party, shares her invitation below:

Dear church family,

What a joy it was last year to give towards Operation Christmas Child (OCC), pack gift boxes together, and spend time writing notes and praying for the children who would receive them.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Paul reminds us, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” As we collect items for our shoeboxes, each toy, school supply and gift is an opportunity to sow seeds of God’s love. We faithfully give what we can, trusting God to use these gifts in ways far beyond what we could imagine.

Last year was our first time packing shoeboxes as a church family, and reaching 50 boxes felt like a step of faith. Yet God provided beyond what we imagined. This year, we’re prayerfully aiming for 100 gift boxes, trusting Him with the outcome as we faithfully do our part.

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful,” and invites us to participate in His work. Through these gift boxes, we have an opportunity to share faith, hope, and love with children around the world

Please join me in giving, praying, and inviting friends and family to our OCC Shoebox Packing Party on 10 October, from 2-4pm. Together, we can share hope, joy, and the love of Jesus with children around the world.

We’ve attached some gift ideas for items that can go into the shoeboxes. If you would prefer to give financially, donations of any amount are warmly welcomed and will be used to purchase items for the shoeboxes. As a guide, it typically costs around £20-£25 to fill one shoebox.

What a joy it is to be part of this together. As we faithfully do our part, we trust God to bring growth.

God bless,
Sarah Hatzaw