And . . .they're Off!

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Sunday morning, we commissioned a new mission team to travel to the Dominican Republic. I can't help but remember we did the same thing in March of 2020 only to have everything cancelled by COVID-19.  I guess it is a sign that the pandemic no longer holds us in its grip, that, this time, there is no cancellation. 

For the past several months we've been collecting and storing supplies at SPPC. On Saturday, they were all hauled out and organized in preparation for packing into suitcases on Sunday after service.

The pictures at right show the wealth of school supplies donated by the congregation and the community. 

The pictures below show some of the medical supplies the team are taking to restock the medical clinic in Pedregal. In a lovely bit of synchronicity, many of those items came from the Compassionate Resource Warehouse, an organization that is supported by our congregation. The goal of the CRW is to get supplies to places in the world where they are needed. Often that means paying freight. In this case, our mission team will 

carry the goods in their bags, saving the cost of freight. It's a win-win-win. 

Note the lovingly assembled maternity kits. There is a package for the new baby including diapers, receiving blankets and a knitted cap and toy. A second package contains supplies for the mother, including some of those cotton dish clothes knitted so assiduously by members of our congregation.

I had to include this set of photos. Note the package of Tim Horton's coffee. How Canadian is that?

Volunteers can be few or many, but no one works well on an empty stomach.

There are six people going from SPPC are joining with volunteers from other congregations to form a large team of helpers. 

Packing -- Packed

Like the volunteers before them, our team expects to work to build brick houses, so much more durable than wooden ones, and to assist in the medical clinic. 

We wish them God speed, safe travels and the experience of a lifetime.

To cheer your spirit;

• Last week I dropped my Smile card outside of Thrifty's. When I realized it was missing, I called the store, but without much hope. As it turned out, some honest soul had found the card and turned it in, with the balance intact. How's that for an antidote to the endless bad news on our television sets?
• On Thursday this week, Friendship Coffee will be held at the church at 10:00 am. Come meet old friends, discover new ones, and enjoy a time of fellowship.
• Bible Study resumes at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm on Wednesday

Our mission team is ministering with the House Upon the Rock. To learn more about them follow this link. http://houseupontherock.net/