12/29/2011 Cancun Christian Fellowship Newsletter

“Christmas is a celebration of the day our Heavenly Father took off divinity and put on humanity” Dr. Ed Young

Our Mission: We are servants of God by serving others. We share a responsibility to bring God's love to hurting people. We are a Christian outreach fellowship of believers dedicated to showing the people of the Yucatan Peninsula, through our teaching, actions and love, the life changing power of Jesus Christ.

12/29/2011

“Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad”
John Greenleaf Whittier

If you are considering a commodity contribution to Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza, here are items that are currently needed:
1. Children’s clothes and shoes (any size-any gender)
2. Clothes for young ladies ages 6-11
3. Clothes for young boys ages 3-5

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” Peg Bracken

If you are in the Riviera Maya and have a clothing contribution for our children, please contact Cherilyn for sorting, sizing and Wednesday delivery. Please strive to make sure all items offered are clean and serviceable.

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Charles Dickens

We have been blessed with financial gifts to benefit our children at Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza. We are always grateful for the assistance we receive from our worldwide mission partners. Recent gifts include:
Kim, Keith, Andy, Chris, Brian and Julianna, Colorado: Children’s Christmas
Gary and Carlisa, Texas: Children’s Christmas
John, California: Children’s Christmas
Charlie, Quintana Roo: Children’s Food Fund
CoF Member, Quintana Roo: Children’s Christmas
CoF Member, Quintana Roo: Children’s Christmas
CoF Member, Quintana Roo: Children’s Food Fund
Puerto Morelos Mission Partners: Children’s Christmas

“Sympathy is no substitute for action.” David Livingstone

In January, 2012, we will be starting a renovation of the kitchen and laundry area plumbing. It is the next step we need to take now that the kitchen and pantry have been renovated. The project should not take longer than a week and will add significantly to the home. The normal day-to-day operation of the home will not be effected. We will post pictures on the website upon completion.

“Jesus is the reason for the season!” Kirk Franklin

With the financial help of our Community of Faith Cancun English and Spanish service and 200+ worldwide Mission Partners, this past week, volunteers from Cancun Christian Fellowship were able to provide eggs, cheese, chorizo, molida especial, pork, cereal, peanut butter, bananas, oranges and sugar to our Cancun Christian home. Groceries are purchased and delivered every Wednesday. If you would like to make a contribution to our Casa Hogar Children’s Food Fund, please contact Cherilyn or Tom.

"From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another, the warmth and joy of Christmas brings us closer to each other.” Emily Matthews

Christmas Eve at Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza was wonderful, a genuine recharge for the soul’s batteries. You were represented by Cherilyn, Henry, TJ and Tom. Haven and her family were also there to help out and enjoy the fellowship. The children were a delight to watch and be with and all faces were filled with joy and appreciation. Our group arrived around 8:00 PM to place their presents around the tree and wait for our children to return from church. Before the children’s Christmas celebration we all gathered around tables to enjoy their traditional Christmas Eve feast. We cannot think of a better way to celebrate the eve of the greatest day in the history of our world. If you did not make it, why not join us next year?

“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart… filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever.” Bess Streeter Aldrich

Heartfelt thanks go out to all of our glorious Mission Partners that helped make this the best Christmas and best year ever for our children. Words absolutely cannot express our appreciation for your generosity and continued support. You are the light of Christ.

“A joy that is shared is a joy made double.” John Roy

The Webster Dictionary defines a missionary as “someone on a mission - especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country”. You may not consider yourself a missionary, but you are. Through your teaching, actions and love, you are showing the children of Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza the life changing power of Jesus Christ. God Bless You!

“I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.” Taylor Caldwell

Our Christmas Day Community of Faith Cancun English service was fantastic. It started with 30 minutes of traditional Christmas music which allowed us time to enjoy conversation and fellowship with our friends. Listening music was followed by singing traditional hymns, a great Christmas service lesson and a candlelight close.

“Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall and the genial flame of charity in the heart.” Washington Irving

Mark Shook will be providing this Sunday’s lesson on “God’s Law of Abundance”. We will be returning to our normal 10:00 AM service time and hope you will join us. We have previewed the lesson and know that you will enjoy it. If, for some reason, you cannot make it to church, the link below will allow you to view it from home. It’s a great lesson…don’t miss it! http://communityoffaith.lightcastmedia.com/console/3150/1751713864

“Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.” Saint Augustine

This week’s pre-church fishing video will present Flip Pallot and Dave Whitlock fly fishing on Lake Michigan. You will be surprised at what they are catching.

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.” Janice Maeditere

A Wednesday Men’s Group is offered by Cancun Christian Fellowship. The men’s group currently meets at McDonald’s McCafe on the corner of Nichupte and Kabah at 8:30 AM. If you would like to join us, please contact Tom Martin at tommartinmx@gmail.com or 998-121-1316 for additional information.

A Wednesday Morning Women’s Study Group also meets in Cancun at the Malecon Americas Starbucks. For information, please contact Cherilyn Martin. 998-121-1315 or cherilynmartin@gmail.com . 

Also, please contact Cherilyn Martin for more information on the Thursday evening Christian ladies’ group. If you have not attended, you absolutely do not know what you are missing. The group meets at California Pizza Kitchen in Malecon Americas.

Remember, church meets at 10:00 AM (SHARP), Floor B1 at Hotel B2B behind the bull fight arena just east of Avenida Bonampak and Malecon Americas. Why not join us? Tom

That’s it for today…WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN CHURCH THIS SUNDAY!