All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Acts 2:44–45
An update from Sarah Carnes
A month ago Jeannie McCoy spoke to you about the LoveJoy United Philanthropic Crusaders. The Crusaders job is to recommend to Session how to use the proceeds from the sale of the former College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Our goal is simple, stay true to the church’s mission statement and improve our community in any way possible.
The Crusaders have been evaluating LoveJoy United’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. By connecting those items to our Mission statement we hope to create a list of projects that help LUPC continue to “joyfully serve through compassion, mission, justice and all-inclusive grace”. In a few months, the team will be back to tell you more about large project ideas for 2021 and on, but right now we have exciting news about our first steps.
The team felt very strongly that there is great need in the community right now during the Advent season and that some of this money needed to get out into the Riverbend area before Christmas. The Crusaders also wanted to honour our various church histories with monetary donations to the different organizations we have previously supported. In November the Session agreed with our proposal and here is what has happened…
As a church we have donated $1,000 to each of these local missions.
- Crisis Food Center in Alton
- OASIS Women’s Shelter
- Community Hope Center
- Overnight Warming Center in Alton
- Roxana School District (Christmas Present fund)
- East Alton Wood River, Hartford School District (Christmas Present Fund)
We are also allocating $3,500 to be used for the purchase of a washer and dryer for Riverbend Family Ministries in Wood River, which is currently renovating a new facility.
