Christmas Families 2018

​And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:40)

"Christmas Families" is Immanuel's ministry to share a spirit-lifting Christmas with families and children who struggle in life. Child Protective Services provides us with a list of families in need of assistance, who are "adopted" by Immanuel parishioners and families. Our goal is to bring the good news of Christ's coming and God's love in a very tangible form – a toy to grow with, clothing to keep warm in – to another family, transforming a bleak Christmas into the light of Christ present. 

Mark your calendar with these key dates:

Contacts:
Dagobert and Lissa Soergel (703-823-2840, 703-585-2840, ds@dsoergel.com; 703-869-9848, lissa@whollygenes.com).
Ashley Chappell <ash22301@yahoo.com>
Linda Serabian (703-683-5226 X17, 703-836-4670 Home, serabian@somaarchitects.com)
Connie Kurz 703/370-0062 <cgkurz@aol.com>
Tom Cuddy <twcuddy@hotmail.com> cell 703-967-7660

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Christmas Families Announcements 

​For 2018, we will have about 90 families designated by Child Protective Services, 10 - 15 families from the Alexandria Community Shelter, and 5 - 10 families from the Lazarus ministry administered by Christ Church.

 What can you do to help? 

• You can sign up to buy gifts for a family, or part of one, before or after each service on Sundays, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, or in the Zabriskie Narthex in between.  In addition, used computers (in good working condition, with or without an offer of set-up and some initial orientation), will find eager fingers and minds. Also very welcome are used bicycles, good used toys and children’s books, calendars you receive in the mail, and gently used clothing and blankets (for children and adults), especially warm winter coats and clothes to wear to a new-found job. (Please label packages of clothing as to kind and size.) 
  
• You can select books (2-3 per child) for your adopted family in the Zabriskie Parish Hall on Sunday, Dec. 9. 
• You can contribute money and we will do the shopping for you. Please make your check out to Immanuel and mark it "Christmas Families".
• You can leave a financial gift in the offering plate on Sunday, Dec. 16, when the special collection will be dedicated to Christmas Families.
• You can help with behind-the-scenes organizing: ​   We urgently need helpers for fixing bicycles (starting now; the experts will show you how) (Tom Cuddy). We also need help with books (Connie Kurz) and with arranging and tagging the toys (Sa Dec. 15, 9 am -) (Nancy Wise) and sorting gifts at Human Services (M Dec. 17 9 am - ) (Linda Serabian).