Outreach Dollars at Work

1302 W. 11th St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 266-5959
email to: Church
Rev. Liz Woodward, Pastor

Church World Service
Founded in 1946, Church World Service is the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States. Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works worldwide to meet human needs and foster self-reliance for all whose way is hard.
Within the United States, Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring through participation in CROP WALKS, the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program, and the “Gift of the Heart” Kit Program.
Everyone Should Have a Blanket
     Versatility is the blanket’s strong suit. When worn as a coat, the blanket has many interesting features. Perhaps the most surprising of these is that one size does fit all—both children and adults.
     Blankets can also be “chill specific”—wrapped wherever the wearer wants the most warmth. For example, you can fold it over your head as a protection from the wind and cold. Or wrap it around your legs. And, of course, a blanket is good for wrapping around your whole body. A blanket can be used on a bed for warmth and comfort. It can be used on a floor as a sleeping pad or to provide space for a crawling baby. It can be used as a tent, a partition for privacy, a drapery or a door. A blanket finds many uses in a refugee camp, hospital or clinic.
     A blanket is portable. You can fold it up, or bunch it up, and take it anywhere you need to go. You can wrap your baby or your clothes in it. In fact, you can sling it over your shoulder and carry almost anything. Tie one blanket to each end of a pole, put the pole across your shoulders, and carry two loads at one time.
     Blankets are always stylish. They are used in many countries around the world and are just as useful in a warm climate as a cold one—warmth in the winter and shade in the summer.
     Blankets offer equal opportunity comfort. They work for women, men, children and babies alike—and can be used while standing, walking, sitting or lying down. Anyone, anytime, anywhere.
     Come to think of it, a $5 blanket has a lot in common with something like a hoe or trowel—it’s a small, simple, relatively inexpensive item, but for someone in need, it’s a gift that can make a world of difference!
     In times of trouble, following disasters—tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes—or in parts of the world where ongoing poverty and hunger grind people’s lives down daily, Church World Service is there to help—and blankets and similar tools are a part of every relief and development effort.
Your gift of $5 or more to the Tools of Hope and Blanket Program will enable CWS to prepare a blanket or other needed tools for shipment, so when disaster or needs arise anywhere in the world, CWS is ready and able to respond rapidly and appropriately.
Through the generosity of your giving, $535.00 was raised on January 20th towards this project.

Outreach to the Home Bound.... All-Church Caroling Party

More than thirty members of First Christian Church turned out for our All-Church Caroling Party on the uncommonly calm and balmy night. We met at the church to pick up our sheets of favorite Christmas carols and then we split up into carpools, one group taking the Cedar Falls vicinity route, the other group driving south to visit members in the Waterloo area. We met back in Fellowship Hall nearly two hours later to feast on holiday cookies, hot cocoa, and storytelling for another hour before going home, refreshed and renewed. What a great time! Let's do it again next year!