Letters of Light by Calvary Youth Group – photo by Alyssa Finke
How’s your Advent? Mine is feeling a little ramped up. Even though we focus our hearts and minds on preparing for Jesus’ birth, those preparations lead to an expanded calendar. Choir concerts, dance performances, diocesan meetings – I find myself waiting for everything to slow down, somewhere around Advent 4.
Many of you know that I work at Forward Movement as the development director – which means I get to raise money for our ministry. Each year, we send letters, emails to people asking them to support our work to send copies of Forward Day by Day and other books to inmates, hospital patients, Seamen’s Institute, and elderly who cannot afford to pay. This year, we wanted to do more. That something more is Letters of Light.
Letters of Light offers a simple, affordable way for kids of all ages and the adults who love them to bless someone who needs a prayer of support or an encouraging word. Inspired by my colleague Rachel Jones’ Hurricane of Love, we invite you to send us your favorite prayer, a simple message of hope, or a verse of scripture.
Here’s what you’ll need:
• paper or cardstock
• scissors or paper cutter
• sharpies, markers, crayons, colored pencils
THAT’S IT!
Your Letters of Light will be sent to Inmates, military, seamen and women, hospital patients and many others in need of hope and inspiration. Particularly when sending to prison, it’s essential that there’s no glue, stickers, staples, or other decorative items.
My youth group made the cards in the photo above one Sunday as we discussed Bless, a practice from the Way of Love. I opened a big box of sharpies and gave them sheets of cardstock, which they cut to mailable size. I passed around Bibles, The Book of Common Prayer, Prayers New and Old, and Prayers for All Occasions. I explained the reason for the project. They nodded and got to work.
The kids worked quietly for the rest of the morning. Some found prayers they liked. One person f the beatitudes and created a bookmark with that scripture passage. Others wrote short messages like “Inspirational Love.” They loved having the chance to care about others who they likely will never meet. They infused their creations with love and entrusted hem over to me.
As I prepared packages for inmates last week, I dropped in Letters of Light with the message that someone cares about them and prays for them. Inmates need this love. Soldiers need this love. Anyone away from home needs this love. Please send your Letters of Light so we can continue to share the good news – that God loves all of us, no matter where no matter what.
Letters of Light | Forward Movement | 412 Sycamore St | Cincinnati, OH 45202 | Attn: Miriam McKenney
Do you know someone who won’t be home for the holidays? Can you create a message they’d want to hear?
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