The Blessings at Holy Cross Are Abundant

We have finally found a bed for a family in dire need. The grounds are being kept up by Becca in extraordinary fashion and J. C. had been giving her some help. Jess Morgan has been cooking on Wednesdays for the homeless and I am hear to tell you it is some good eatin', Jess will be cooking on Wednesdays until after Advent. We had a Merry Christmas time at the party on Friday evening. Lots of children were able to tell Santa their wishes and plenty of food and dancing was available to all. On Saturday, Dec 19th, approximately 12 people visited Asbury Place for the assisted living. The blessings were huge for all of us. I am trying to think of something we can give the staff at that facility to show them we care about what they do. We are truly a blessed church and our love is shown every we go. What a gift our God has given to us and he knows we will take care of it. We are still looking for used or new toys for Children's Services Parent Place if you have anything you would like to contribute. Everyone of you make my job very easy because of your gift of caring. Blessings, God loves you and so do I, Miriam

Christmas Needs and Deeds

All of the Angel Ornaments have been pulled from the Angel Tree. The choir, Santa Claus, Pastor Sandy, and myself will be going to Ashbury Place, Saturday, Dec 19th at 6:15. Miriam will meet you at the church at 5:30 pm so you can follow to the assisted living facility. The address is 4916 Mobile Hwy, Ashbury Place, almost directly across from Sacred Heart Physical Therapy. We are still in need of used and new toys for the Children's Services Parent Place if you were unable to get a tree ornament. All that you give is always so much appreciated. We are such a caring church, when a need is expressed it is fulfilled. There are many people who are alone this time of year, please seek them out to let them know they are loved by you and the Lord. Blessings, Your Care Minister, Miriam

Thank U, Thank U, Thank U

We had 28 Christmas shoeboxes go to Olive Baptist. Outstanding, every year there is more. We distributed 9 Thanksgivig Baskets, thanks to all who participated. An Angel Tree went up last Saturday for the Assisted Living Facility, Ashbury PLace, there are 55 clients on the tree. There needs seem to be very simple. We have already had 29 angels take from the tree. Please stop by and pull an angel from the tree. These gifts should be returned by Dec 18th. "God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith, the warmth of Christmas which is love...the all of Christmas which is Christ. Merry Christmas, Your Care Minister, Miriam

New News

The Fellowship and Care Ministry are partnering in forming a new team called "Southern Hospitality". You will be called in the event a casserole, dessert, salad, etc. is needed because of congregation tradgedies. You may start signing up on November 15th in the Fellowship Hall. Please remember that your Christmas Shoeboxes are due to the church by November 22nd. See sample shoeboxes in the Fellowship Hall, along with information pertaining to them. If you are signed up for a Thanksgiving basket please bring them to the church by November 23rd. There are boxes in the Fellowship Hall for this purpose. I haven't as yet been to the nursing home for our Angel Tree but hope to accomplish this next week. We are blessed that Hurricane Ida came in as a tropical storm. Please remember that the Care Ministry has very little space at the moment if you should happen to have large items notify the Care Minister and quite possibly I could store these items at my home for use at the April Yard Sale. Please try to donate all clothes to Loaves and Fishes, Salavation Army, Goodwill, or the Waterfront mission for the time being. "Blessed are you, O God for your care for the poor is unending. Inspire us to open our hands to the poor among us, following your command and the example of your Son Jesus Christ, through whom we pray." Amen. Blessings and Love, Your Care Minister, Miriam

The Holidays Are Upon Us

Because of the economy being the way that it is,I am already receiving calls for assistance at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please consider making a Thanksgiving Basket for a needy family. There is a sign up sheet in the fellowship hall along with a list of suggestions for filling the basket.(on the card table with the Christmas shoebox sign-up). As soon as I recieve the boxes for the baskets I will make sure that you get one. If you have cans for Joe and Cleo during the month of November, please bring them to church and give them to Miriam. Your Care Minister is in the process of finding a nursing home and using their clients for our Angel Tree, (more to come on this endeavor).
A prayer for us to give us strength and peace sometimes when things get hectic.
"Lord, there is nothing better than knowing you and your love. I am sorry I am so easily swayed by all the information that comes at me every day. Today keep my eyes on you, my mind seeking you, and heart filled with you-- and then I will have peace. Amen." Blessings, Your Care Minister, Miriam

The Care Ministry Is Downsizing

I hope all of you visit my blog often as we have all of the Care Ministry goings on on one page. You can go to my blog and receive what ever information you may need, if you don't find an answer, please see me so we can help. The Care Ministry has down sized to just one room as we are making room for the childrens' and youth ministries. Our needs at present are food for the pantry, jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks, etc. for the homeless. Please take all other items to the Waterfront mission or Loaves and Fishes. We will start gathering items in April 2010for the yard sale. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped with the yard sale on October 17th. You all are very much appreciated. We couldn't accomplish anything without you. Thank you Dusty Joe and Cleo for an outstanding job on the Pet Blessing this year and especially for the great flyball demonstration. We have the Christmas shoebox area set up in the Fellowship Hall,so that you may start packing your shoeboxes. Please return the shoeboxes by November 22nd. The Care Ministry is undecided about Christmas and Thanksgiving this year but will enlist the Council of Ministries at tomorrow's meeting. Thank you for all that you do to give to many many people in the Pensacola area. Blessings, Your Care Minister, Miriam

2nd Annual Frog Fest

If you have extra time please volunteer to help with the Yard Sale and Pet Blessing on Saturday, Oct 17th, yard sale, please come around daylight. We have a lot of clothes, so much so, that we will be selling the clothes at 25 cents each. The Pet Blessing will be at 10:30 a.m. Please be here at this time as Pastor Sandy will bless all pets at one time. You will receive goodie bags for your pets and be entertained by our in house, ventriloquist, Don Julian. Please come and support our church events. Blessings, Your Care Minister, Miriam

Great Trip and I Am Working Again

I returned from vacation on August 5 and hit the floor running. I had a great time and but sure do miss my family and friends. I probably should go to see them more often than I do. There will be a FROG Fest meeting on Friday, August 21, at 5p.m. All volunteers are welcome to come and see where they might be needed. FROG Fest will be held on October 17th. Mother Hubbards' Cupboard is completely bare, if there is anyway you can donate food to the food pantry, please help. We are feeding from 20-25 families weekly. A lot more people in Escambia County are without food and shelter because of the recession. Excel of the Sand Dollar will be held from Oct 3-5th, please consider attending this worthwhile retreat. Pride Fest will be held at Seville Park on October 10, the Care Ministry and Outreach Ministry will be present in the park for this event. Dont forget the Pet Blessing will be held the same day as FROG Fest. Our next yard sale is the same day as FROG Fest. If you have donations please try to hold off bringing them until the week of Oct 12th. Thank you everyone for all that you do to keep our church and family together. Blessings, your Care Minister, Miriam

Arrived Safely in Iowa

Hi,everyone;
I have arrived safely in Iowa after driving 1212 miles, lots of delays from construction and traffic accidents. My sister, brother-in-law and I went to a casino yesterday and I won $65.00 on the penny machine. It takes a while to click off 6000 pennies but it was fun sitting there watching it click. I will be seeing my two new great-nieces this evening and we will be off to see my other sister tomorrow morning. Family is a good thing, it makes your heart feel good. Love to all, I will return August 5, in the meantime don't hesitate to call if I can help you. Blessings, your Care Minister, Miriam

Thank You So Much

Thank you so much for last Sunday's donations to United Ministries. It was awesome. I remain so proud of Holy Cross MCC and its caring congregation. Thank you, Louis Cooper for the article in the News Journal. Please remember what I said in worhip yesterday. If you have lost your job or your hours have been cut because of the recession get in touch with United Ministries, 850-433-2333, because they have money for that purpose from the Barocoa Grant. A new Care Ministry bulletin is in the Fellowship Hall down by the big screen TV. There a lot of resources listed there for your use. I will be on vacation from Jul 26 until Aug 4. Hopefully all will be well but if not please call my cell, I will be in reach, Blessings, your Care Minister, Miriam

Care Ministry Happenings

I apologize for not changing my blog for a while but I was having some sort of network problem. It wouldn't let me change it when I tried. Hopefully this blog will happen. Our Care Pantry is very small. We basically need items that the homeless people can use, such as; anything with a pop top,(meats,beans&franks. ham spread, vienna sausages,), crackers,puddings,pop top soups. We are serving more people without homes, which is sad. We are also in need of small toothpastes, toothbrushes, bar soap, small shampoos, deodorants,and combs. The Care Ministry thanks you for all of your clothes and shoes donations. We have been outfitting a lot of people. Blessings, "The Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free"(Ephesians 6:8, your Care Minister, Miriam

Happenings in the Care Ministry

The Yard Sale was a success. In the last 6 months the congregation has generated enough donations to make over $2100.00 for the Benevolence Fund. Our Earth Day service and celebration was very uplifting and I believe we left the church wanting to make a change somehow for our planet. We had ice cream sundaes for our Volunteers the following Sunday. It was quite apparent that our church just would not run without our volunteers. For that we are thankful and grateful. At present there are many needs in the community, first and foremost Ms. Margaret was found a new home by our Pastor and she presently has only her clothes. I know a lot of you know already about her plight and I am sure she will have her needs met shortly. In advance the Care Ministry thanks everyone for all contributions. Always remember wherever you are, wherever you may be I remain your Care Minister and I love each and everyone of you. Blessings, Miriam

Great Annual Yard Sale (GAYS)

The yard sale on April 4th is in full swing. We have some very hard working volunteers who are working diligently to get the items priced. We even found a picture that needed an appraisal and found that selling it for $5.00 would have been a crime. We will be having an Earth Day Service and a Volunteer Appreciation Day in the month of April. Details to follow. God loves you and so do I, Your Care Minister, Miriam

Recyling and Great Annual Yard Sale

We were unable to generate enough for the recyle area. Their costs were to high to continue it for us. Please if you live in Escambia County, stay green and request a recycle container from www.ecua.com. We will be having a yard sale on April 4, 2009.
We have a lot of donations and very little space so we will be having 2 yard sales a year. We will need a lot of volunteers, please see Miriam. We will start taking in items on March 16, 2009 through April 3, 2009. Miriam will be at the warehouse from 12-6 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you bring clothes please make sure they are laundered and folded, or hung on hangers. We are in need of high ticket items like recliners,couches,televisions,any kind of furniture. I have someone that needs a refrigerator at present if you know of anyone that has one. Miriam is in need of a riding mower for her home if anyone has one. I have had a lot of volunteers give their time recently, it certainly helps our Care Ministry and we are very thankful. Isiah 41:10,"So do not fear.for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

The Care Ministry is Flourishing

TO THE CONGREGATION AT HOLY CROSS MCC, Your hands that serve and hearts that care keep our Care Ministry in very good shape. You are always there when people from our congregation are in need of help and an enormous amount of help goes outside the church. The Care Ministry expresses heartfelt thank you's for everything you contributed in 2008. In 2009 the Care Ministry will do a better job of recognizing and saying thank you. The Lord blesses each and everyone of us daily and we all have a gift to share. Blessings, smiles, hugs, and love, your Care Minister, Miriam