Update Tuesday - Christmas Baskets and other things

It was while standing on the street corner serving coffee and sandwiches to my homeless and underprivileged friends that the strange irony of the past week really hit me.  It was only a few days prior that my 17 year old son had been released from the psychiatric ward of our local pediatric hospital with a list of homeless shelters.  To be honest, this is the situation that has consumed most of my mental, emotional and physical energy this past week.  We told our story to our local paper, have asked people to share the link or retweet it, and asked Ontario residents to write or call their MPP, the Minister of Health Deb Matthews and the Minister of Child and Youth Lorel Broten.  We are asking people to request that they intervene and help us find some solutions as well as asking about what is being done for this huge gap within our healthcare system for youth between 16-22.  You can read the story here:

The Spec

But, although this has consumed most of my attention, I do not want that to dominate this post, nor do I want to miss the opportunity to share a few moments that have really shone in the darkness these past two days.

Firstly,  we had our monthly LoveLoud event in the downtown core where we took coffee, sandwiches as well as coats, blankets, hats and mits that we have collected over the past few weeks.  It was an amazing scene when we served a few of our neighbours on the street, who in turn brought other friends and began to serve them themselves, helping to organize hats and mits and coats.  We are truly thankful for all those who dontaed and who came out to help us hit the street.

Kim's Buttons

Jason with Dave and Shirley

Perhaps the highlight of the week was the opportunity I had to deliver Christmas Baskets to my friends on the street corner outside the Beer Store that I meet with each week.  Members from our church, and even some of our Sanctuary brothers and sisters, adopted one of my friends and put together a personalized basket.  We were also able to add a few extras from things that have been donated by many of our friends across the US who have sent us donations of gift cards, winter items and bibles.  I delivered the last of the baskets this morning, and in each case, we saw expressions of disbelief and smiles of thanksgiving. 

Rick with his Christmas Basket

Paul with his Christmas Basket

I will end with this image.  As we were leaving Paul, and getting back into the van he quickly made his way back over to us, pushing his basket in the shopping cart that he had been using to carry his recyclables.   He wanted to thank us again, and said that this was the only present that he would be receiving.  He had not really received a Christmas gift since his mother had passed away a number of years ago.  That story right there made it all worth it.
Thanks to everyone who helped us to make this happen!!!

Friday Art - Waiting

With the arrival of the Advent season I thought I would post a link to a song that appears on my first album, and on my web site, called Waiting.  It is based on some reflections on the world as it was waiting for the arrival of the Messiah, as well as seeing the parallel to our present time as we await Jesus' second coming.

Waiting

Feel free to check out other free music at the site

www.jasonmcgibbonproject.com

Update Tuesday - Dec.

December, which brings with it the beginning of the Christmas season, is definitely upon us.   Our decorations are up, radio stations are beginning 24hrs of Christmas tunes and the malls are getting busy (so they tell me!).  The calendar has also become packed to overflowing.  Although I try not to get carried away by many of the trappings of the season, there are a few things happening in our Fellowship that I am happily anticipating and for which we would ask for your prayers.

First, we have our annual winter coat and blanket drive.  We will be doing our first LoveLoud outreach and handout on December 16th, during which we will be giving out coffee, sandwiches, coats and blankets to the cities less fortunate.  We have had some "Christmas in August" donations, including hats, mits and scarves, that we will be delivering and we are currently gathering clean blankets and warm coats.

Secondly, and something new for this year, is that we will be preparing a number of Christmas baskets.  Specifically, we will be putting baskets together for a number of the individuals that I meet with every Monday morning.  Meeting with them each week gives us a unique opportunity to know them better and thus to serve these neighbours in a more personalized manner.  We will be gearing each basket to one of our friends specifically. 

Lastly, we will be hosting a Christmas dinner with our Fellowship on December 19th, to which we are encouraging our people to bring a friend.  Prayerfully, this will be an opportunity to introduce a few new people in our circles of influence to our Fellowship.

We are also already looking ahead and working on a LoveLoud Valentine's event, but I will share that at a later time!