Welcome to

CHRISTMAS MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

 

  -- Mitten and Undies Tree--  This tree is located at the back of the sanctuary and we invite you to decorate it with new or homemade mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, socks and underwear.  These will be distributed to the clothing closet at the 1st Baptist Church, Rome Rescue Mission, Connected Community Schools and Rome Neighborhood Center. We will continue collecting through December.

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--Giving Tree--  This year we have the opportunity to collect toys and clothing of your choosing for children in the Rome community. They will be distributed to families through the Connected
Community Schools and the Rome Rescue Mission. Tags with suggestions of items,  will be on the tree located near the piano in the sanctuary.  Have fun giving a special gift to a child as if they are
a member of your family.  We are all God's children.  Please bring your gifts in unwrapped by Monday, Dec.12 and placed under the tree.

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--Christmas is NOT your Birthday--This offering will be collected for two very worthy missions this year.  Abraham House in Rome, to purchase recliner/lift chairs ($440 each) for the guest rooms.  And, $250 to complete the roof of a new rural church in Africa, pastored by a recent graduate of Nexus Seminary in Mayuge district, Uganda. Please read the article below regarding both of these organizations. The principle behind this offering is to not spend as much on ourselves, but to match what we give to family and friends with an equal dollar amount for Mission.

 

-- Regular Christmas Offering-- Envelopes will be placed in the Christmas Eve envelopes.  This is for our local church expenses. 

 

ABRAHAM HOUSE --In September of 2019, Abraham House Rome, a 6-bed home located on the corner of Washington and Thomas streets, officially opened. Formerly known as the Rome Home, a facility for the elderly, the property was donated to them in 2017 to provide end of life care for the residents of Rome and neighboring communities. There is also a 2 bed home in Utica which has been serving that community since 1998. Their mission statement is: Abraham House offers our guests a secure loving home without charge while providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to the terminally ill. Learn more about this wonderful organization that is truly a blessing for us to have as neighbors at  Abrahamhouse.org

 

NEXUS SEMINARY- Founded in 2006 by Davis Matovu after graduating as valedictorian  from Alpha Omega Seminary in Jinga, Uganda.  It was formed with Rev. Alan Howe seeking to empower marginalized rural church leaders  and  meet their educational needs.  The Nexus seminary training, 2years (20 classes) is free, open to women and men, and available to those who will commit to being faithful in attendance and diligent in study.  The Seminary owns no buildings and uses the area churches for classes where the pastors live, to eliminate travel and absence from home. To date Nexus Seminary has had 35 classes,  graduating 653 pastors. Davis has published several books used in seminary teaching.  Our congregation has supported our missionary Davis and Nexus Seminary for 12 years.