The PCO Alternative Christmas Market will be held after worship, 11:30 – 1:00, on December 3 in Fellowship Hall. Find a gift for your loved ones or dear friends and also benefit those who need a gift the most. Spread a little Christmas Cheer! The following organizations will be represented:
Advent House Ministries offers weekend shelter and food; outreach to children who come to weekend shelter, including educational assistance; assistance with literacy skills, GED program; two shelter homes for men, one shelter home for women who are victims of domestic abuse, assistance with monthly rent; prisoner re-entry program, Christmas Day meal. Gift cards and note cards will be available.
Asian Pacific American Women’s Association (APAWA) supports educational and community service projects, also assisting refugee families. Hand crafted goods: silk scarves, framed and unframed folded paper cards, Oshibana (pressed flower) cards, decorative tiles, fabric bags, glass suncatchers and snow flakes and enameled tins will be available.
Books that Heal – Becoming Maddie Panda, a book written by Maddie Shumaker and her mom, Corrie Shumaker, and illustrated by Maddie, is part of the Books that Heal program in which seriously ill children are helped to write a book, the program publishes them, and funds assist families to pay hospital bills. (Maddie Shumaker was Clyde and Harriet McDaniels’ great grand-daughter).
Cass Community Social Service’s mission is to fight poverty, create opportunity and to build community in the Detroit area. Door mats, key chains, books, coaster sets, draft dogs and herbal tea will be available.
Dream Club is a kid led Christian group to help at risk kids earn and save money for college or trade school. Dreamcatchers and other crafts are made by these youth in local United Methodist Churches. The funds are deposited in education savings accounts for each youth, with 10% going to Free the Slaves organization.
The Global Institute of Lansing (GIL) is an education program supported by PCO and others to provide appropriate educational options for refugees and immigrants to complete high school and earn a diploma in an atmosphere of peace, respect, encouragement and inspiration. Gift cards, the photo album book, Refuge Lansing and PCUSA Welcome signs will be available.
Haitian Artisans for Peace International, (HAPI) is a United Methodist mission changing lives with educational and employment opportunities. Handmade dolls, clothes, cards, baskets and more will be available.
Hmong Crafts – Assorted needlework goods (dolls, stuffed animals, small purses, aprons, etc.) crafted by Hmong in Thailand will be available, with proceeds returned to Hmong in Laos and Thailand.
Medical Benevolence Foundation is a Christ-centered organization dedicated to transforming lives by building sustainable medical ministries through strategic partnerships with indigenous health care organizations in developing countries. Gift cards will be available for the four focus areas: critical health services for women and children; nursing schools and scholarships; primary-care clinics; hospital development and support.
Mayan Women’s Cooperative of Guatemala – Woven and beaded items crafted by Mayan women (small purses, beaded jewelry, ornaments, eyeglass cases) will be available, with all proceeds going directly to artisans. Also available will be a variety of handmade and gently used jewelry as a gift for any donation made to “Educando Vidas”, sending desperately poor children to school in Guatemala.
Note Cards with a rendering of the good shepherd carving (in the entrance to the sanctuary of Presbyterian Church of Okemos) will be available.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) – Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Earthquakes in Mexico, Malawi flooding and food crisis, Mudslides in Sierra Leone – Contributions to PDA and your prayers for survivors are crucial in a year when God’s children have been plagued with disasters.
Presbyterian Giving Catalog with gift cards for items such as: rainwater catchment system, jerry cans, container garden, farming tools, bag of seeds, etc.
Simbolei Community Assistance is constructing a high school for girls in rural Kenya. The program also conducts annual literacy workshops for students in six rural primary schools in Kenya, sharing stories and art and donating picture books for classroom use. Handmade nativity sets, East African cookbooks and children’s picture books will be available. .
Solar Circle distributes solar lanterns in very remote villages in southern Tanzania and supports construction of a school. All proceeds from the sale of items made from Tanzania fabric (table napkins, potholders, table runners) will support this program.
