“Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know
that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I.”
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
-Isaiah 52:6-8
Dear Friends,
Have you ever noticed that bad news seems to spread faster than good? It shouldn’t be that way! On Saturday, Louanne Jourdan shared some heartfelt good news with me. She told me that while shopping at the grocery store the cashier commented on her purchase, “Are you having a party?” Louanne’s answer was, “No, I am making cookies for PADS.” The woman’s face broke into a smile. “Oh, PADS. I love PADS. Last March my daughter and I had no food and they fed us.” A real person. An unexpected moment. A new learning. PADS* makes a difference. We made a difference this summer. A great big thank you to those of you who donated your time, your money, and your hearts to helping Southminster Presbyterian Church reach out in Christian love to people who need our support and love.
This Sunday, August 16, is Barefoot Sunday.
We have an opportunity THIS Sunday to do something more. Soles4Souls is this Sunday. Please bring your gently-worn shoes, sandals, flip flops, or even boots to worship this Sunday. If you like you can give the shoes off your feet! The shoes―the soles―collected will be sent to people in need.
Soles4Souls has a simple concept. They get shoes and give them away.
In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls™ Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do.
He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.
A year later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.
It has been that simple: Changing the world one pair at a time.
Elsey recently left an executive position at a large footwear company to join the charity he founded. “I’m happy to be able to help people with such a simple mission,” Elsey said. “The growth of this organization has been rapid, and I am excited to get involved on a daily basis so that I can devote more time to a cause that makes a difference in people’s lives.”
Soles4Souls receives large donations from footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools, and individuals and saw that this could become a full time organization. That’s why Soles4Souls was created – to facilitate the donations from these groups to the people who desperately need footwear.
So Friends, blessed are the feet of those who bring good news! Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
* PADS = Public Action to Deliver Shelter
Announcements:
Bring a hearty appetite with you to the Progressive Dinner this Saturday, August 15! We have all the plans in place, and those who signed up to attend have been notified by e-mail as to their assignments. (If you haven’t researched all the directions, don’t worry; directions will also be available that evening.) The first stop –appetizers– will be Jerry and Marge Engdahl’s home (1425 Oxford, Wheaton) at 5:00 p.m. For directions call the Engdahls (630-653-7479) or the Pats (Wiedner 630-858-0761) (Petersen-630-690-1434). Yum! Yum! Yum!
This Sunday, August 16, we’ll leave our soles at church... with the mission project known as “Soles4Souls.” (See Wendy’s letter above for more information.) Plan to leave your shoes here after worship as a donation or bring an extra “gently used” pair to donate. Some of us will walk out barefoot to remind us of the many people in the world who have no shoes. Please put each pair of shoes in a plastic bag or tie the laces together to make it easier to sort them.
Notes from Christian Ed.:
VBS Mission Project: Thank you for your school supply donations for our VBS mission project. They have been delivered (thank you to Jessica Parks and Megan Bohi), and we were told by the PRC how much in need they were of these items for the fall.
“Second Helpings” - By now you have probably heard about an exciting idea to augment Christian education, called “Second Helpings.” It will meet the 3rd Sunday of the month (September-November to start) at 11:00 a.m. and will include an extra time of learning and connecting... plus lunch. Look for more information coming for this all-church event!
Mark your Calendars!
August 30 - Bible story by Jim Shiflett (during Sunday School)
September 6 - Last day of summer Sunday School
September 13 - Fall Kick-off. Please encourage your child/children to bring friends. We’re planning a special event at 11:00 (pending Session approval) for everyone who is involved in any aspect of Christian Education. Stay tuned!
September 20 - Second Helpings event at 11:00, following the Mission Fair. More details to follow.
September 24 – Child Protection Training for all teachers and staff who work with children and youth
Hear The Message with The Messengers! On Sunday, August 23, The Messengers, a musical outreach ministry, will bring its special blend of gospel music to our worship service. The group, which includes a doctor of internal medicine, a piano technician, an accountant, a music teacher, and a drug store owner, has been together for 25 years. They first came together to sing one song at a Good Friday service in 1983; their ongoing ministry now averages 20-25 appearances each year in congregations of many faiths.
We have only 8 tickets left for our annual outing to the Kane County Cougars, so get your name on the sign-up sheet in the narthex. Don’t miss the good food, good fun... and Jake the Frisbee Catching Dog! All this can be found for only $5 per ticket on Monday, August 24, at 6:30 p.m. Questions? Call Caroline Linde (630-469-9482).
