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JANUARY
2010
Meditation
President's Message
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MEDITATION - DECEMBER 2009
KEEPING CHRISTMAS
Matthew 1:20-21
We have trouble "keeping Christmas". In other words, we have trouble sustaining the Spirit of Christmas after the festivities are over. It gets away from us. Too quickly, it slips through our fingers.
How can we hold on to the spirit of Christmas? How can we make Christmas last all year? Maybe we have trouble making Christmas last, keeping Christmas fresh , is because we have lost our roots. Maybe our celebration of Christmas is not rooted deeply enough. Maybe we have concentrated so much on the gifts we give to one another that we have missed the gifts Christmas gives to us.
In Matthew we see that the Christ Child gives us three special Christmas gifts which are the most important gifts we can pass along to others. In Matthew we read that "the child is of the Holy Spirit." In Jewish thought, the Holy Spirit was the truth giver. Matthew is saying, "Here is God's truth wrapped up in a person - this baby is of God."
If you want to know
what God is like, look at Jesus. If you want to be what God wants you
to be, then be like Jesus. This is the Christ Child's Christmas gift to
us - the gift of truth.
Matthew sums up the message of Christmas in one word" Emmanuel, which
means"God with us." And it also mans that God is for us. It
means that God is on our side. God will not desert us. That is our hope.
Nothing can separate us from God and His watchful care. That, too, is
the Christ Child's gift to us - the gift of hope.
"Love came down at Christmas." That is the way the hymn writer puts it. This is the root message of Christmas - that God is love and God wants us to be loving. Love is the strongest thing in the world, stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death and the Christ Child is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love.
Isn't this what Christmas is all about? It's about caring, accepting and loving people. It's about truth and hope and love. When we grab those things and make them part of our lives, we can keep Christmas and we can celebrate with great joy the Christmas gifts that are eternal and most precious.
PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
It is no secret that the economic crisis during the past year has had an effect on the work that all non-profit organizations can do. The King’s Daughters and Sons has been challenged by this situation, too. Yet there is an ever increasing demand for funding for scholarships, missions, and various other projects such as autism and literacy. At the International level, we are constantly seeking ways to belt tighten so that the goals of education, religion, and philanthropy can continue to be met.
You and I know that this Christian service organization plays an important role in the lives of thousands of people. During 2009, many worthy students applied for financial assistance to help achieve their lifelong dreams of higher education resulting in stable jobs and better lives for them and their families. The Around the World Department distributed 24 scholarships but received requests from 40 students. The North American Indian Department was able to award scholarships to only 30 of the 51 applicants. Vicky Rechkemmer, Director of the Student Ministry Department received 77 applications but had funding for only 28 students. The Health Careers Director found that she was unable to give awards to 15 qualified students.
I am writing to ask you to renew your support with a gift to The King’s Daughters and Sons earmarked for one or more of the scholarship programs (Around the World, Chautauqua, Health Careers, North American Indian, or Student Ministry). Your support is highly cherished by the students who receive these scholarships.
Elisha, an Around the World Scholar in Kenya: KDS has helped me to have hope in life and to see a bright future ahead, as education is the key to success.
Jennie, a Chautauqua Scholar: Thank you! I love Chautauqua. I have had an amazing time and I feel like my mind is expanding every day.
Jonathan, a Health Careers Scholar: Thank you for the generous support. It has been a great encouragement and a blessing.
Kara, a North American Indian Scholar: I commend the outstanding efforts of you and your colleagues in assisting students on their journeys to achieve success through education.
Joseph, a Student Ministry Scholar: …my deepest gratitude to you and your organization for the scholarship. I cannot express how much the money has helped me. Thank you for graciously providing for me to continue my education.
Your gift to The King’s Daughters and Sons for these students will make a significant change in the lives of these and many other students. Don’t miss an opportunity to make a difference today. Please forward your check (payable to KDS with a notation for scholarship departments) or call The KDS office (716-357-4951) to pay by credit card. The work of this 123 year old Christian service organization depends heavily on you. I look forward to your continued support.
In His Name,
Frances B. Sellew
International President
NEWS FROM ONTARIO'S FAITH CIRCLE
The final total of money that Faith Circle raised through a "Walk for Memories" for the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton reached $1,700. This beat the previous total for a similar walk 2 years ago of $1,600.Members enjoyed the walk after worshipping together earlier in the day.
The Circle is happy to announce that Samuel and Mamata Saler have decided to join.The installation will take place in St. Catharines on September 19. This brings the active membership up from three only a few years ago to 14 adults and possibly two junior members.
On the same day, Sept 19th, the Circle welcomed New Horizons on the Road and received training from Phoebe McLelland and Janet Laude. Going international in a sense through Phoebe, Faith Circle is inviting members from western New York State, those who live right near the border, to join the Circle for that day, if they are available. A lovely and state of the art training space in St. Catharines has been rented for this event.
A sizable quantity of books supporting the IOKDS literacy initiative was delivered to Welcome Inn Community Centre in Hamilton, Ontario and a sizable quantity of similar books will be sent to Chautauqua for the Circle's American friends.
Chautauqua Scholarship
students celebrate July 4th. Eleven students from four different countries
were welcomed to the Chautauqua Scholarship Program this year. Their names
are: Erin Meid (Indiana), Hajni Domokos (Hungary), Hala Saad (Lebanon),
Jennie McMullen (Ohio), Kathleen Brown (South Carolina), Laura Breen(Canada),
Natalie Brown (Kentucky), Nicole Jeffrey (Canada), Parisa Saravi (Missouri),
Reka Koren (Hungary), Tiffany Qualls (Texas). They were led by Pat Bowen,
Linda Wilk, Ian and Val Sneddon.
Chautauqua
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on the Program and how to apply.
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