Christmas giving….

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Every Christmas Eve we love to give ALL the offering away to a local charity – or not-for-profit –  a group or groups that are doing things we are passionate about as a community.

Over the course of this year we have been gradually getting our ducks in a row for launching an immigration legal aid centre here at Restoration in 2016. We are inching closer… 

BUT – one thing we have learned through all our research is that work of this kind is complicated and needs lots of solid backup! Two organizations locally have been enormously helpful to us as we have researched and thought, and our admiration for the work they do is vast.

We plan to partner with both of them in 2016: Good Samaritan Advocates (GSA), and Catholic Immigration Legal Network, Incorporated (CLINIC).  GSA is a local organization that provides general legal services pro bono, or at a reduced rate.  Partnering with churches to provide access to legal services and counsel is central to GSA’s mission.  CLINIC is a national organization that works exclusively in immigration law by providing low-cost immigration law services, as well as supporting immigration law programs.  By partnering with CLINIC, we will receive direct supervision from experienced immigration attorneys, as well as access to immigration law resources.

So this Christmas Eve we’re going to ask you to dig deep as we give to CLINIC and Good Samaritan Advocates. They will be continuing to help us – and supervise all we do in 2016 – so we would love to bless them liberally up front!

To hear more details about what we are up to put 7.30pm – 9pm Feb 16, 2016 on your calendar NOW. We are having an info night in the fellowship hall for all who want to hear more about this; GSA people will be there, our team will be there, all potential volunteers (does that include you?) should be there….

More info: Restoration Immigration Legal Aid  or ask Natalie Foote, Jason Braun, Michelle Swearingen, Susie Wallin, Erin Owen, Christine Jones or  Liz Gray to fill you in.