Shoeboxes, National Collection Week Nov 13-19

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Today, hundreds of Operation Christmas Child drop-off locations open across Canada for National Collection Week! It's time to bring in your prayerfully packed gift-filled shoeboxes. Each box is a tangible expression of God's love and an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with a child, their family, and community!

Find Your Drop-off Location

Elizabeth lives with her single mom in a remote village in Kenya. When her parents separated, she became sad and withdrawn. A friend invited her to a festive outreach event where she received a gift-filled shoebox. Elizabeth was overjoyed with the gifts and felt God's love. She then attended The Greatest Journey where she learned how Jesus gave His life for her. The Gospel message she heard was so powerful that Elizabeth gave her life to Christ and started regularly attending church. Soon, she invited her mom to come with her, and she also gave her life to the Lord! Now, mother and daughter are actively involved in their church and are no longer isolated from their community.

If you haven't started packing yet, there's still time. Need gift ideas? Check out our How to Pack a Shoebox page for some creative suggestions. You can also Pack a Shoebox Online.

Ways to Give

Declare His glory among the nations!
Psalm 96:3

Connecting Meota!

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Dear Meota,

Click here to read Connecting Meota!

So much is going on in our churches! Hooray! 

Wednesday Nov 1st is a prayer vigil for world peace at St George's 7 pm.

The world needs all the prayer we can give it!!

Nov 5 at Christ Church is the dedication of the Ash Garden.

November 12 is ONE SERVICE at St George's in honour of Remembrance Day.

And there is so much more.

Check it out and have a blessed week!

October 2023 Oilfields Food Bank E-News

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FIREFIGHTER COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE
 

YAY!  It’s back!  Our steadfast & faithful firefighters will be going door-to-door to collect food & deliver it to Oilfields Food Bank in November.  Nov. 13th they will be covering Diamond Valley West (formerly Turner Valley) and the Town of Longview (still the Town of Longview!).  They’ll be knocking on doors in Diamond Valley East (formerly Black Diamond) on Nov. 14th.  They’ll head out about 6pm & will wind it down around 9pm.

This food drive will fill our rather empty shelves & help sustain us for a few months.  Times are tough & demand is not slowing.  As we head into the winter cold & utility bills rise it will increase the pressure on already tight budgets. 

We know when this food drive is announced everyone wonders, “What should I give; what is the best choice?” Here’s an answer:

Are there items we really need?  You betcha!  They are canned soup, chilli & stew,  tinned meat & fruit,  peanut butter & jam, baking supplies & coffee.

Are there items we really don’t need?  You betcha!  We currently have 43 cases of spaghetti, 26 cases of kidney beans & 54 cases of chickpeas. 

Please know that we are tremendously grateful for every donated item…even more chickpeas!

JACKET RACKET
 

United Church In The Valley has once again spearheaded this important community event which will run until January 2024.  Anyone in need of warm winter outerwear is welcome to look through the racks of coats, snowpants, boots, hats & mittens.  We have items for both kids & adults. 

Everything is set up in the Food Bank.  Browsing hours are:Every Tuesday between 11 & 3pmTuesday Nov 21st 6-8pmThursday Dec 21st 10-3pmIf you have clean items to donate you may drop them off at the Alberta Treasury Branch, Sheep River Library & Diamond Valley Town Office.

THANKSGIVING HAMPERS were given out on October 3rd
 

Thank you to the Diamond Valley community & surrounding area for continuing to support Oilfields Food Bank.  We were able to provide 60 Thanksgiving Hampers which fed a total of 186 people.  Demand was up over last year.

A huge thank you to our hard-working, dedicated volunteers who have been working extremely long hours to make sure we have enough inventory on hand to complete every single hamper request.  Whew.  Well done.

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
 

Again this year we are offering Christmas Hampers. We include a turkey, chicken or ham & all the fixings for 3 meals on Christmas Day…from breakfast right through to dinner.

Hamper pick-up day will take place Thursday December 21st.  This hamper is an extra & not part of our regular hamper schedule.

Pre-registration is required.  We are now accepting requests.  You may submit your request using the online form or by phoning 403-612-1291.  This year we ask you to submit your request sooner than later so we can get an idea of how many we’ll be preparing.

It will be a drive thru event & you will be contacted with your pick-up time closer to the event date.
 

INTERESTED IN DONATING TO THE CHRISTMAS HAMPERS? 

We would certainly appreciate it. If you’re planning on collecting food donations/gift cards/gas cards please arrange to drop them off by Dec. 12th for inclusion in our Holiday Hampers.  Check out our website donation page for more ways to give.

THANK YOU, once again, to our sharing, caring community. Our volunteers acknowledge your support, generosity & kindness. Whether you’re young or old or somewhere in between, we couldn’t do it without you.
 

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Copyright © 2023 Oilfields Food Bank, All rights reserved.

Franklin Graham Update: October 2023 Never Underestimate the Power of a Simple Gift

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Christmas will be here before you know it. Next month, Samaritan’s Purse will be collecting Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts that we’ll deliver to millions of children around the world—many in areas where few people have ever heard the Name of Jesus, including the Philippines.

Your shoebox gifts go to hard-to-reach places where children hear the Gospel for the first time.

Never underestimate the power of sending a simple gift all across the globe. Decades ago, a 13-year-old boy named Manar in a Middle Eastern country opened a shoebox and could not believe how many gifts were packed inside. “The toy store came to me!” he said. “I felt the love of Jesus throughout the shoebox. …

Read and See More

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan's Purse
 

O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth.
Psalm 65:5 (ESV)

DONATE TO
Samaritan's Purse Canada

Your gift provides physical and spiritual aid in Jesus' Name.

Give Today 

© 2023 Samaritan's Purse Canada
20 Hopewell Way NE | Calgary AB T3J 5H5 | 1-800-663-6500

Connecting Meota!

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Dear Meota,

Click here to read Connecting Meota!

Coming up is Fifth Sunday. There are five Sundays in October.  When we have five Sundays in any given month, we all gather at one location for a joint service and a potluck! 

This coming Sunday, we will all meet at Christ Church at 10:30 for worship, to be followed by a potluck. Christ Church is responsible for the main course and St. George's is responsible for salad or dessert. It will be wonderful to get together again!!

This Thursday is Prayer and Praise.  Don't miss it and fill your soul with music!

There are the usual, timely articles, the Sunday Readings and subject  specific cartoons. 

Enjoy our newsletter and have a great week! 

Connecting Meota!

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Dear Meota,

Click here to read Connecting Meota!

Check out this week's Upcoming Events. Hint - Meota has the best cooks!!

Ven. Alan encourages us to share our faith; I found an article that has simple tips.

We are in tricky times when you listen to the news; a prayer for peace is included this week.  

Finally the Readings and cartoons are on the story of the israelites- this week it's the story of the golden calf.

Have a great week!

Connecting Meota!

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Dear Meota,

Click here to read Connecting Meota!

Well FOLKS! 

See the posters, the community announcements and a crossword puzzle. 
And...there are two big topics this week: Thanksgiving and our scripture reading includes the Ten Commandments!  I have included cute children's graces for Thanksgiving and I have been saving Moses cartoons for just this week! Giggle and Enjoy!!!

National Day for Truth and Reconcilliation

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Watching and Waiting: Ministry in the Time of Wildfires

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Rt. Rev. David Lehmann, Bishop of Caledonia

Feeling powerless and unable to help in times of crisis is difficult. TV and social media present tragedies instantly, and without ceasing. These can be in farther places, like Morocco, or closer to home, like Lytton or the Northwest Territories. Waiting to see the next update–to know how this real-time story will unfold as the fast-forward button doesn’t work– is challenging. Listening to people comment on the heartbreak can be equally unpleasant. One of the drawbacks to all our connectivity is a lack of room to reflect and to see wisdom.
 
I was raised in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and I was the rector of the parish there. My family has been part of the community for nearly fifty years, so when the wildfires threatened the community this summer, it was not the first time I had experienced something like this. Memories of the near evacuation in the mid-1980s came to mind, as well as the preparations for an evacuation in 2016. The boreal forest is renewed through fire, and it is a natural process. A truth that we forget and try to prevent. It is not possible to fire-smart all of Canada’s forests, but being prepared is an annual tradition.
 
Taking a step back from the coverage and anxiety of watching family evacuate twice, first to Yellowknife and then to the Edmonton area, left me waiting on news and the Lord. As the weather cools and I look ahead to Advent, I think about watching and waiting as themes of the upcoming season. They are part of our spiritual disciplines and practices, and they undoubtedly come with an expectation that when the watching and waiting are over, we will always have a positive result. 
 
These disasters feel like the end of times, and they sadly do not always have a positive outcome. While the community of Enterprise and parts of Hay River were lost, at the time of writing this article Yellowknife and Fort Smith have been spared. The watching and waiting we practice in our spiritual lives is also complicated: we wait for the end of life as we know it, but we are also waiting for Christ’s return. 
 
The ultimate question remains: When will Jesus come again? As we watch and wait for His return, we are called to prepare. Just as communities and homes are fire-smarted, we too are called to prepare our lives–making straight the paths of hearts, and caring for our neighbours as we would want to be cared for. I witnessed glimpses of this for my family in the evacuation. I pray that as I watch and watch, I too may be prepared for the stresses of life, and for Christ’s glorious return.
 

Thank You Letters: Bishop Michael Hawkins

Rt. Rev. David Lehmann, Bishop of Caledonia

The pandemic has had many costs to it: A suspension of normal routines was one, but the effect on personal health and wellbeing was immense, and will continue to be going forward. For the Diocese of Saskatchewan, part of that cost was the retirement of their Bishop Michael Hawkins. Bishop Michael suffered greatly from COVID-19, and though we are blessed to have him still with us, his formal episcopal ministry has concluded early due to his infection.
 
I first met Bishop Michael at a Council of the North meeting. He had graciously called me prior to that meeting and extended a virtual hand of friendship and comradery. As I remember those interactions, it was his warmth, kindness, and wisdom that stood out for me. His leadership in the Council of the North was a blessing. Bishop Michael earnestly wanted to serve Christ, His church, and the people of Canada’s north.
 
His support of the Rough Riders led to many questionable fashion statements, but did not underline his care for the people of Saskatchewan and their passions outside the church. (As an Elks fan I would postulate that the CFL is a great place to foster a deep prayer life!)
 
As I have said to Bishop Michael in private, I say publicly, thank you for being an incredible servant of Christ. Thank you for your deep commitment to the faith, to the people of Saskatchewan, and to the members of the Council of the North. Thank you for being the child of God that you are. And of course, “Go Riders!”

Thanksgiving Hampers

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Are you looking for help with your Thanksgiving meal this year?

We are proud to continue this tradition for a fourth year. During this time of huge food insecurity for so many which has been brought about by record-setting inflation, rising utility costs and more, we are here for you.

This community takes care of their neighbours & reaches out to donate to Oilfields Food Bank whenever folks are struggling. We are blessed (both givers & receivers) to be part of such a strong, kind & caring community.

Thanksgiving Hamper Requests
 

Pre-registration is REQUIRED. Registration opens today, September 12th.

Submit your request online or give us a call at 403-612-1291. You may choose from a turkey, chicken or ham and we’ll include all the fixings for your holiday meal.

You must pick up your hamper on Tuesday, October 3rd between 11 am & 3 pm.

Want to help feed your neighbours?

Food donations can be dropped off every Tuesday from 11-3pm.

Cash donations may be made online at
oilfieldsfoodbank.com or drop by on a Tuesday from 11-3 or pop a cheque in the mail to:
Oilfields Food Bank, Box 1318, Diamond Valley, AB T0L 2A0.

BRITISH COLUMBIA WILDFIRES: Our Neighbors in the Okanagan Need Help

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Wildfire has turned many homes to ash across British Columbia’s Okanagan region. In the Shuswap area, nearly 180 buildings have been burned. Charred foundations are often all that remain. As families face the immensity of the damage, we have sent a second Disaster Relief Unit to help in Jesus’ Name.

Give Today

Precious possessions frequently survive in the ruins of these properties. Your support enables volunteers to safely enter the debris to find these items that can mean the world to residents who are hurting.

Samaritan’s Purse volunteers search for surviving possessions in the ashes of a home in West Kelowna, British Columbia.

In West Kelowna—where our first Disaster Relief Unit tractor trailer is stationed—the team rescued a cherished antique motorcycle from the ruins of Sean’s home. Fighting back tears, he said, “Just thank you … it meant more than words can say.”
 
Just days after helping Sean, the team was present as a couple trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We praise God for that.
 
Please keep praying for these families. Evacuation orders continue in parts of the Okanagan. Our teams are helping to operate evacuation centers. Ask God to strengthen them as the scale of these disasters stretches resources.
 
Your prayers and support are vital.
 

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18, ESV

DONATE TO Samaritan's Purse Canada

Your gift provides physical and spiritual aid in Jesus' Name.

Give Today 

© 2023 Samaritan's Purse Canada

Connecting Meota!

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Dear Meota,

Click here to read Connecting Meota!

Manna from heaven is this week's Sunday reading.  I had such fun choosing the cartoons for this subject; I had many to choose from. I hope they give you a giggle.

There are both church announcements and community announcements so check them out. There are inspirational quotes, the Sunday readings, a word scramble and a closing prayer.

Enjoy!

Samaritan's Purse: Help Kelowna Residents Affected By Wildfires

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CANADIAN DISASTER RELIEF

You Can Help Kelowna Residents Affected By Wildfires

Volunteers are urgently needed in British Columbia’s Kelowna region after a wildfire forced thousands of residents to evacuate and burned more than 200 buildings, including around 150 homes.

A Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Unit tractor trailer has arrived to equip volunteer teams to remove debris and help families sift through the ashes for treasured possessions. Will you consider volunteering to help in Jesus’ Name?

Volunteer to Help Today

We provide full training, safety equipment, and expert team leaders. You can learn more and register to serve at SamaritansPurse.ca/BCVolunteer. Please also forward this email to others you know who might be interested.
 
Groups interested in coming for week-long deployments can contact us at canadianrelief@samaritan.ca.
 
Thank you for your prayers for those devastated by these fires. Please also pray for our teams as they help homeowners start a long journey to recovery and share the Gospel in word and deed.

You can also help by giving to this response.

DONATE TO
Samaritan's Purse Canada

Your gift provides physical and spiritual aid in Jesus' Name.

Give Today 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Operation Christmas Child: Free Shoebox Materials

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It’s time to begin preparing for National Collection Week, Nov. 13-19!
 
To help you gear up for the start of the Operation Christmas Child 2023 season, check out our Free Materials page where you’ll find refreshed promotional resources, including brochures, posters, and prayer guide bookmarks. These will help get your church or group excited about sending gift-filled shoeboxes and the Gospel to boys and girls around the world.

Get Free Materials

Also, join us as we celebrate Operation Christmas Child’s 30th anniversary!
 
We praise God that over the past three decades over 200 million children have been delighted to receive gift-filled shoeboxes and discover how much God loves. Join us in praising the Lord for all He has done and experience 30 years of Good News and great joy!
 
Thank you for your love of children and for your faithful prayers as we prepare for the 2023 shoebox season.

Ways to Give

Declare His glory among the nations!
Psalm 96:3

Operation Christmas Child® is a project of Samaritan's Purse®.Franklin Graham, President

© 2023 Samaritan's Purse Canada