Gifts of Grace

November 28, 2023

​Beloved:

          And just like that, Christmas time is upon us.  As you plan your own festivities, I hope you will include some local parents and grandparents who can use a little extra help making this season extra merry and bright for their kids.  They come to us by way of IU Health Positive Link, an organization serving neighbors who are living with HIV/AIDS.  You can see more information about Positive Link below.
          Last year we provided Christmas to 11 kids, and this year they’ve invited us to take twenty-six.  I have every confidence we can meet the need.  As you can see from the list provided, their Christmas wishes are not extravagant.
          Simply choose a child, or two, or a family; go shopping and deliver the wrapped and labeled gifts to UBC no later than Sunday morning, December 17th.  If you prefer not to wrap them, deliver them no later than Friday, December 15th (even better would be by 4:00 PM Monday, December 11), and we will make sure they get wrapped and labeled for you.
 
Other ways to help:

• Sponsor without Shopping – Give at least $30 designated to UBC Benevolence and let someone else do your shopping;
• Shop without Spending – Volunteer to shop for someone else ~ just let Fan know you are willing.

          As winter sets in, children and families are suffering in ways we are helpless to resolve.  But we make a profound difference for these twenty-five kids, and most especially for the parents and grandparents who care for them.  Please join me in this ministry of grace.

~ peace & prayers,
pastor annette
    
          Positive Link’s Client Holiday Gift Assistance Program ~ Gifts of Grace ~ is an annual holiday gift drive that links community member gift donations to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Bloomington and the surrounding counties.  Positive Link provides social services for those living with HIV including linkage to medical care, social support, medication assistance and adherence tools, food and nutritional needs, housing and utility assistance, advocacy, mental health and substance use counseling and referrals, PrEP and PEP Services as well as Primary Care for our clients.  Eighty percent of our clients (and their affected families) live on or at Indiana's poverty level.