2024 Advent Missions

Each Christmas is a joyful season, but what we are celebrating is bigger than one day of the year: the mystery of the incarnation: the ongoing, embodied movement of God transforming our world through Jesus, who came into our broken world in the flesh.

So as we move into this season, be thinking: how will you and your family creatively find ways to serve and love and celebrate the goodness of Christmas this year? As always, we are offering chances to participate in FPC’s Advent Missions, still modified by the pandemic this year.

Participate in the annual FPC Community Toy Store through the donation of new toys or volunteering to make this toy store a wonderful gift to our neighbors. Through local schools and mission partners, we invite families to shop for new toys for their kids. By allowing shoppers to make their own toy choices and purchase the toys (at 20% of retail price), our hope is that the parents feel a sense of pride and dignity in providing for their families during what can be a challenging time. Drop off new, unwrapped gifts for ages 2-12 at the giving tree in the FPC Reception Room or designate a financial gift to the toy store. The Toy Store itself will be, Dec. 14 so sign up to volunteer HERE or First Word!

Get a gift for our neighbors who live at the Alberta House, low-income transitional apartments that are part of our mission partner The City Gate. We will have tags with gift ideas from the residents at the giving tree — take one, and then bring the wrapped, tagged gifts by the deadline on the tag! This is a great way to bless our neighbors! As is our long tradition, Santa will be making a visit to the Alberta House thanks to your generosity!

Support our local mission partner, the Mission Community Outreach Center in their annual “Children’s Christmas Joy” collection.  For 25 years the Center has provided free clothing bank services, personal hygiene items and basic household goods to Spokane families living in poverty. Our donations of new jeans, shirts (long sleeve preferred), gloves, and underwear for boys and girls ages infant- 6th grade will make this a joyful Christmas for many children!  On a typical year over 1,000 children in need receive these gifts from MCOC — a small organization with one paid staff member (and many FPC volunteers)! Monetary donations are also accepted through MCOC’s website - just click the debate button at the top of their website at www.4mission.org and the gifts they receive during this season will help provide for even more children! Or simply bring your donation of these items to the bin in the FPC reception room!

Give to the Christmas Joy Offering … through this offering we share our love with the leaders of the Church - past, present and future - who point us to God. Part goes to 7 developing leaders currently in our care.

May you and your family be blessed as we celebrate the coming of Christ this Christmas season!