<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dear Friends,</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It has been more than six decades since the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ in the United States and Canada has been sharing their material resources with a hurting world through Week of Compassion, bringing glory to God as well as joy to others. God’s people giving of their resources � prayer, money, time, talent � remains the propellant behind Week of Compassion. As we reach out in love, we open the way for God to reach more deeply into us. Sharing will joyfully transform us as we help transform the world.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Our theme this year, Sharing Brings Joy, is based on Paul’s words in 2nd Corinthians 9:7-8, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything you may share abundantly in every good work.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Joy motivates us to share our resources with a hurting world because we, as followers, have been changed by God’s gift of Jesus. God’s love moves through us to bring help and blessing to hurting lives.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Each of us has a personal invitation to help people in aching need through the Week of Compassion offering. By sharing our resources, combined with offerings from thousands of other congregations in eight denominations across the United States, we:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">- build homes, schools, medical clinics, and clean water and sewage facilities in villages devastated by earthquake;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">- bring safety, shelter, and food to refugees after often violent circumstances have made their hometowns uninhabitable;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">- nurture stronger futures and self-sufficiency through health care, education, job training and tools for livelihoods.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This year, as you share your offerings with Week of Compassion, remember all the ways your gifts bring joy to others. Sow bountifully and share abundantly, knowing that you are not only helping change the statistics, you are also helping change lives. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Our Week of Compassion goal is $20,000.00. May we all give generously and cheerfully, in the spirit of Christ? Check out some of the ways your gifts help others at this web site: </FONT><A href="http://www.weekofcompassion.org/"><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">www.weekofcompassion.org</FONT></A><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. <BR><BR>Accept our heartfelt thanks, in advance, for your gifts.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you have any questions, please contact Dianna in our Church Office, 301.733.0144 or via e-mail diannasnow@fcchagerstown.org</FONT></P>
