The Woman at the Well

Have you tried to make a difference in her life?  Who is she?

Maybe we don’t know for sure who she is, but many of us have tried to make a difference in her life this winter. Did you see it? Well, I saw a bit, and would like to share what I saw!

At Christmas time, we at Orange Friends Church began collecting shampoos, lotions, toothbrushes, and other small items that would be donated to The LifeLine Project and assembled into gift bags that would be given to human trafficking victims in Franklin County. The Project had a goal of filling 500 bags. At Christmas, that seemed like a BIG goal.  

Many generous members dropped items in our donation baskets, and our Outreach Commission provided almost $600 to purchase hotel-sized shampoos, lotions, soaps, etc. Our donations were combined with donations from other churches, Franklin County judges and attorneys, and other interested individuals. On February 28, about 40 people packed more than 500 bags in less than 2 hours! A shout out to our Youth Group, many from our congregation, and a few from outside our congregation. Thank you!

The following week (March 5 & 6), I joined a small group with Karen Monroe to deliver some of the bags. The first stop was Franklin County CATCH Court (Changing Actions To Change Habits).   After delivering bags that will be given to CATCH Court members when they are released from jail, we sat in for a bit of the court. Judge Herbert, who founded CATCH Court, has received a national award for his innovative and effective work with human trafficking victims. The courtroom included representatives from many social and Christian service organizations, as well as the women who are part of the CATCH program and required to be in court each week. It was very much a “wow” experience to see people ready and willing to make a difference in these women’s lives, and to see how much the women wanted to live a better life and to help one another.

On Friday, we delivered more bags – to the Amethyst House; Franklin County Health Department; The Well (housed at Salvation Army); and Choices (housed at Faith Mission). Each bag includes a message directing the recipient to Christ in addition to the soaps, socks, etc. There are still more bags to be delivered over the next month, and bags that Karen will be distributing on the street throughout the summer.

You have tried to make a difference in the life of a human trafficking victim. Who is she? We may never know. But, thank you for the part you played in trying to make a difference.

Kay Cermak

Another New Year...And Time For A New Beginning

This time of year we hear a lot about New Year’s Resolutions. Why, this is even the inspiration for our pastor’s current sermon series. Have you made any resolutions – either formal and written, or just that mental note to yourself? How about this: MONEY!?

The Harris Interactive poll from December, 2012, lists “Improve financial budgeting” as the #2 resolution (behind #1 – lose weight). No surprise, is it? But, sometimes it is just tough to get started. Let me give you a couple of ideas.

Idea #1: A 21-day Financial Fast. This idea is offered by Michelle Singletary, who writes for the Washington Post and has a column each Sunday in the Business Section of the Columbus Dispatch. It is based on the Biblical principle of fasting. The requirement is that you can’t buy anything that is not necessary, and you cannot use credit cards. Debit card use is discouraged. Michelle is sponsoring a group fast that is scheduled to begin January 11th and end January 31st. The fast allows you to focus on what you really want to do with your money. You can follow or join the financial fast at wapo.st/financialfast.

Idea #2: Join our next Financial Peace University class. Our class begins February 1st (the Financial Fast ends the day before, so you will REALLY be ready). Classes are at 6 PM every Sunday night through March 29th, in the OFC Courtyard Room, and the cost of your kit is $93 (workbook, cd’s of each lesson, on-line access to tools, bonus videos, and more). You’ll learn seven “Baby Steps” to living debit free and living generously. Each class lasts 2 hours. 

Want to know more? Visit www.daveramsey.com/fpu/preview/. Please register with Jim or Kay Cermak, so we can have your material at the first class.

Jim and Kay Cermak

Christmas: Better Than We Deserve

In December of 1892, a world-wide tradition was born. The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky was first performed. Although it took many years for this orchestration and ballet to “take off”, today there is hardly a ballet company in the world that does not perform this classic during the Christmas season. One of the most beloved aspects of the performance are the children who dance and play instruments. It has been said that, at the inaugural production, the children did not learn their instruments well and did poorly. In spite of this, in an act of great kindness and grace, Tchaikovsky wrote a generous thank you note to each of the children expressing how pleased he was with them. To the children’s delight, each note was accompanied with a box of sweets! This story reminds me of what popular financial guru Dave Ramsey always says when asked how he is doing. He replies, “Better than I deserve!”

Just as these children received “better than they deserve”, we also have been delivered a grace-filled letter, the Bible, and the precious gift of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. This Christmas season, we celebrate the fact that we are treated “better than we deserve”. The Bible even states that our works are but filthy rags (Phil. 3:8) and what He offers is worth more than gold (I Peter 1:18-19)! Our response? Surrender completely to Jesus Christ, celebrate fully “The Gift”, and be grace-filled toward others, treating them “better than they deserve”.

This is the ultimate Christmas tradition.

Merry Christmas and much love!

Pastor David