Christmas Outreach

 

Thank you to everyone who receives our newsletters, and who knew to be praying for our recent outreach event.  This was, for us, a late addition to our holiday season of activities.  The initiative was taken by those within our group to request the participation from the children's group, reserve the theater and distribute over 500 flyers at local schools and shops for this event.  We are so thankful for the willingness of the workers and performers from our mother church in Torino to add this second performance to their schedule.  It was afterall the 23rd and the first day of vacation for the children, and yet a full participation was given.

This was a first for us in Caselle, so we really had no idea how this was going to go over or how many to expect.  We did discover that that same night was the live nativity followed by Mass in Caselle.  We had many say they would like to come but that they were going to Mass that night.  Definitely a schedule conflict we want to avoid for next year!  The theater holds 140 and to give a rough estimate, we would say it was about 80% full.  It was a great facility and a place we will keep in mind for future events, considering it was a free rental to us as an association.  Many from the church in Torino were present, however, we were thankful to see a handful of new family faces from the community.  Please continue to pray as we try to faithfully make our evangelical presense know to our community through love, service and sharing of the Good News.

A very much before shot of the atrium area where we had two tables of food and one for gifts for all who attended:  Scripture calendars, candles, balloons, panetone from Compassion and a Manga booklet of the story of the Messiah.  The ladies of our church provided all the food--and there was plenty of it!  I failed to get any during the event shots, as my hands were completely occupied pouring drinks and blowing up balloons to give to very anxious recipients.

Waiting for the program to start and the arrival of more people.

"Jesus-the only Savior"

Jonathan was able to give a 5-minute presentation of the gospel at the end of the program.  He did a great job tying together the pieces from what was presented in the program and making clear the reason and importance of celebrating Christmas.  Again...no picture of him as I got up to catch a new family as they were leaving and then to ready the refreshment tables.  Our kids jumped right in to serve along Mamma and hand out balloons. They did a great job!  By the end of the night they were shot--we all were.  Thankful for the night and most of all for our Savior who gives us His great message of hope, love and peace!