Today I would like to invite you to remember that Lent is a season that calls us to pause and look again at our faith and at the world around us, because we believe that following Jesus is about prayer, and reflection, but also about love in action. Throughout the Gospels we see how Jesus constantly paid attention to those whom society often overlooked: the poor, the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten.
As we do each year, Groveville UMC is living that call through our Outreach Lenten project, which began on Ash Wednesday and continues through Palm Sunday. During this season we are collecting clothing and supplies to support people in need throughout our area. In partnership with the ministry of Church by the Bay, these donations will help serve individuals experiencing homelessness and others who are struggling across several communities in New Jersey, including Hamilton Township, Mercer County, and Atlantic City.
We are inviting our community to help us collect coats, jackets, blankets, shoes, clothing, and new socks. These simple items can make an enormous difference in the life of someone who is living without stable shelter, especially during the colder months. Many of us have closets filled with things we no longer use, yet those same items could become a blessing for someone else.
Along with clothing, we are also preparing what we call Blessing Bags. These are simple kits with food and small items that can be easily distributed to people who need immediate help. Some of the items we are collecting include small bottles of water, tuna or chicken snack packs, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, fruit cups, applesauce, cookies, beef jerky, and other individually packaged foods. We are also collecting personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wet wipes, and other basic hygiene supplies. These small gestures of care can provide both nourishment and dignity to someone going through a difficult moment.
When we share what we have, we participate in God’s work of compassion in the world. A coat, a pair of socks, or a small bag of food may seem simple, but in the hands of love they become signs of hope since faith is not only something we believe, but something we practice.
If you would like to participate, donations will be received through Sunday, March 29. Clothing items can be labeled to help with sorting. Monetary donations are also possible for those who wish to support the effort in that way.
Thank you for continuing to support the ministries of Groveville UMC and for helping us share God’s love with those the world often forgets. During this season of Lent, may we continue learning together what it means to follow Christ with open hearts and open hands.
Warmly,
Rev. David Gaitan
