Thanksgiving 2015

THANKSGIVING 2015
Pulse
the
www.OpenDoorMission.com
A Newsletter from the Open Door Mission of Rochester, NY
“I put away
childish things…”
Why do we give
thanks?
The Apostle Paul began his
first letter to the Corinthians
with thanksgiving for all the
blessings God had bestowed on
those who had been called into
fellowship with his son, Jesus
Christ.
Later on, in Chapter 10, he
talks about seeking the “good of
others,” and concludes by saying,
“So whether you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.”
Here at the Mission, we are
thankful for so much: For food
that nourishes hungry men,
women and children. For being
able to shelter our neighbors
who are homeless. And for
the programs and services that
transform their lives!
But it is only through you
and your partnership with this
ministry that this is able to
happen, Mr. Sample.
So on this Thanksgiving
Day, we will be giving thanks
to God for His many blessings,
and thanks to you for helping
make those blessings available to
people in need!
A
llen’s life began to change because
of a Bible brought into the dorm at
our Samaritan House Crisis Housing
Center and opened at random.
“There was a little red dot next to
1 Corinthians 13:11: ‘When I was a
child, I talked like a child, I thought
like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put the ways
of childhood behind me.’”
Allen read the verse over and over
and knew what he had to do!
“I’d spent years walking in a fog.”
Michael Hennessy
Executive Director
P.O. Box 14236
Allen continued >>>
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Rochester, NY 14614
■
(585) 454-6696
Here’s my Thanksgiving gift to provide bountiful
meals and help for people in need:
❍
❍
❍
❍
❍
Sample A. Sample
1234 Main Street
P.O. Box 12345
Anytown, ST 12345
“I thought I knew the basics
of maturity...but that verse [and
some sermons at the Mission] made
everything click!”
Since his wife left, Allen had been
a wanderer, going back and forth
between New York and Florida, staying
with family members. “The last time I
came back from Florida, I had nowhere
to go. I stayed with a sister for a little
bit, but she couldn’t afford to keep me.
That’s when I was dropped off at the
front door of the Mission.”
“I was tired of just surviving.”
Allen entered and graduated from
our Christian Life Recovery Program.
Working and staying here at the
Mission, he was able to save up enough
money to get a place of his own!
“There’s not enough thanks I can give
to God for leading me,” he says with a
smile.
$AA.AA to feed and care for AA people
$BB.BB to feed and care for BB people
$CC.CC to feed and care for CC people
$______ to feed and care for as many as possible
I’ve enclosed a special extra gift of $50 in support
of “Code Blue” weather alerts.
■
www.OpenDoorMission.com
❍
Check enclosed
❍
❍
CREDIT CARD #
EXP. DATE
❍
Bill my credit card
❍
❍
CIV/SEC #
PHONE #
E-MAIL
Donate online at www.OpenDoorMission.com,
or call (585) 454-6696, ext. 132 or 130.
Open Door Mission
P.O. Box 14236
Rochester, NY 14614-0236
XXXXXXXX(Scan line)XXXXXXXX
>>> Allen continued
Today, he’s the
“Overnight Man” here at the
Caring Center. His job is to
make sure everyone is safe
and secure. And although
it’s not part of his job
description, Allen has what
he calls “a listening ear.”
He also leads devotions
with others. “A lot of time, I
just say what is swelling up
within me.”
“Not just a place to stay.”
“Open Door Mission
is not just a place to stay,”
Allen says. “It’s a home. A
lot of guys who have been
out on the streets, making
bad decisions and using
drugs...get a sense of family
here. It’s a big home, but a
home nonetheless.”
Code Blue –
These items
could save a
life.
All too soon temperatures will
begin dropping, and the lives of
our homeless neighbors will be in
danger. You can help save lives
and provide protection against
extreme winter temperatures
during a “Code Blue” alert. Your
gift provides vital necessities and
care to those living on the street.
Please check the special box on
the reply slip in support of the
outreach that takes place at the
Mission during a “Code Blue”
cold weather alert.
Get connected
Become a fan
Visit us online:
www.OpenDoorMission.com
Shopping for Thanksgiving?
P
lease add one or more of these
items to your shopping list and
donate them to the Mission. Your gift
will save us money, and be a
tremendous help as we prepare for
holiday meals!
Please bring donations to the Caring
Center, 156 North Plymouth Avenue,
Monday - Sunday, 12:00-6:00 pm.
THANK YOU!
Roaste d turkeys
Bake d hams
okies
Ho memade pies, co
& cakes
Sausage
ey
Canned beef & turk
gravy
Sugar
Milk
juice
Apple & cranberr y
Chicken broth
Butter/Margarine
Shre dded cheese
Potatoes
Onions
la d
Ranch & Italian sa
dressing
Dinner Rolls
Coffee
Creamer
Come & help us…
W
ith cold weather and the
holidays approaching, our
clothing room and our pantry shelves
are emptying fast. We need your help
to refill them.
Now is the time to get your friends,
family, church group and coworkers
busy collecting new and gently used
men’s,
women’s
and
children’s
coats,
winter
outerwear,
paper
products, nonperishable food,
and personal
hygiene items.
Then, on Nov. 14, bring them
to one of our Stuff a Bus locations
throughout Monroe County.
Our thanks to First Student Transit
Company, The Buzz 98.9 FM, WBEE
92.5, 98 WPXY and 96 WCMF for
teaming up with the Mission to fill
school buses with food and clothing for
the cold months ahead!
For the Stuff a Bus location nearest
you, go to OpenDoorMission.com.
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Pray for neighbors who are hungry,
hurting and homeless.
Pray for those who want to be free of
addictions that are keeping them from
their families this Thanksgiving.
Pray for the Mission that we may
continue, with your help, to meet all
their needs.
A 400 pound turkey?
On Thanksgiving Day, the Mission
will serve a bountiful holiday dinner.
Right now we’re expecting 400 people
to join us.
That means we’ll need 400 pounds
of turkey plus the mashed potatoes,
gravy, dressing, veggies and pie that will
make it a feast!
You likely won’t meet the people
who will be enjoying this bountiful
meal provided by you. You won’t get to
hear their stories.
But hopefully you can imagine the
smiles on their faces and the thanks in
their eyes!
It’s so amazing that
just $2.05 can do all this...
not only provide a meal, but a caring
touch, a listening ear and an open
heart.
Please help us reach out to those
who need a hot meal and hope
this holiday by making a special
Thanksgiving gift today.
Use the enclosed envelope, or make
a safe, secure donation online at
www.OpenDoorMission.com.
THANK YOU!