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A UMNS Feature
By Barbara Dunlap-Berg*

3:00 P.M. ET Jan. 6, 2012

Ed Metzler, secretary to the bishop in the Indiana Annual (regional) Conference, and his wife, Erma, the conference’s communications assistant, distributed $50 worth of $1 and $5 bills Dec. 21 at a Goodwill Store as part of a Christmas outreach. A UMNS photo by Dan Gangler.
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While we often envision a Christmas tree surrounded by presents in colorful paper with glittery bows, some of the most memorable holiday gifts come wrapped simply in love and kindness.

Here is a look at how some United Methodist congregations and agencies in 2011 kept Christ in Christmas.

Random acts of kindness

United Methodist Bishop Michael Coyner and 24 staff members of the Indiana Annual (regional) Conference took to the streets Dec. 21 during their Christmas luncheon.

Instead of a fancy holiday party away from the office, staff members used the money allocated for the meal, enjoyed a simple lunch and spent $625 on random acts of kindness. Each employee received $25 cash and printed cards saying, “You have been RACKed with a Random Act of Christmas Kindness.”

At 11 a.m., teams of two to four headed into the community. They returned two hours later to share stories of how their rapidly conceived plans played out.

Ed Metzler, secretary to the bishop, and his wife, Erma, a communications specialist, stuffed $1 and $5 bills into the pockets of clothing and purses at a Goodwill store.

“Such acts, small as they are, really do make the season of giving more meaningful,” Ed Metzler said. “I hope some children had their day brightened by the unexpected surprise of money in their new jacket or jeans.”

Accounting/payroll clerk Anne Hayton and three colleagues purchased and delivered pizza to families in a children’s hospital waiting room. One woman was with her little girl. When the volunteers walked in with a wagon full of pizzas, the mother’s face lit up.

“I felt so fulfilled to be able to brighten some people’s day and share the love of Christ,” Hayton said. “That is what Christmas and being a Christian is all about.” 

Co-workers Lisa Timmerman and Carla Johnson went to a local restaurant. Combining their money, they surprised the waiter with a $30 tip and gave $20 to the cashier to pay toward the next person’s bill.

Conference employees also bought lunch for McDonald’s patrons going through the restaurant’s drive-in, donated money to a mission store, gave $10 gas cards to people outside a large retail store, paid for prescriptions for strangers at CVS, placed $50 worth of dollars and quarters by a hospital vending machine and visited a young woman who has epilepsy and contributed to her foundation to help others.

Kathy Entsminger, who works with the General Council on Finance and Administration, turned her late brother’s love for cozy footwear into an annual “Steve’s Socks” collection to benefit three agencies aiding displaced families.
A UMNS photo courtesy of Kathy Entsminger.
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Steve’s Socks warm feet … and hearts

“The definition of ‘inspire,’” said Kathy Entsminger of Nashville, Tenn., is “to affect, guide or arouse by divine influence.”

In 2008, Entsminger explained, she was inspired to collect new socks for the homeless. “My brother, Steve (Watkins), lost his battle with kidney cancer in 1999,” she explained. “My family always joked about how he loved new socks. He sold used cars for a living and never cared about the finer things in life, but … I can still see him, smiling and wiggling his toes in his new white socks.

“So did God whisper in my ear?” Entsminger wondered. “Did Steve somehow communicate the idea to me? I don’t know. I do know this: All I did was put the word out, and socks poured in like love from open hearts.”

Four years ago, at her workplace — the denomination’s finance agency — Entsminger started “Steve’s Socks.” At Christmastime, staff members collected socks to benefit three agencies aiding displaced families.

The first year — 2008 — she amassed 88 pairs. That number multiplied nearly 22 times the next year with 1,886 pairs, with a similar number in 2010. In 2011, she set a goal of 2,000. However, on Dec. 1, Entsminger already had 2,195 pairs. So she upped her goal to 3,000.

The final count? 4,329 pairs of socks.

Already looking ahead to Christmas 2012, Entsminger hopes some congregations will adopt the socks project.

“Having United Methodist church partners … would be fabulous,” she said. “I’d be happy to speak to them, teach them, direct them — whatever it takes to keep this legacy going and continue to put socks on those who desperately need them.

 “For the veteran who was unable to pull his life back together after serving his country, for the mother who lost her job and her home and can no longer provide for her child, for the mentally challenged souls rejected by society, for the child who lives in a shelter with no home of her own … for all of the people with no voice, let me use my own voice to say thank you for caring.”

Congregation gives away entire offering

The counters on Christmas Eve at First United Methodist Church, DeKalb, Ill., were elated when they tallied up the offering — more than $14,000. The offering plate overflowed with generosity. But what makes this congregation even more generous? They gave the entire offering away!

“It was fantastic,” said the Rev. Brian Gilbert, associate pastor. “This church is so giving. This is what Christmas is all about.”

At a time when churches rely heavily on this yearend offering to ease strained budgets, First Church’s coffers benefited three social service agencies in the community including a food pantry, a transitional-living ministry for homeless individuals and families, and a shelter for battered women. 

“The donation will help a lot,” said Gary Billings, the Salvation Army food pantry coordinator and a First Church member. “We have seen record numbers in the past few months. In October and November, we served over 700 families. We have never gone above 700.” He said the donation would help keep the shelves stocked, especially during the slow season when contributions typically falter.  

“Believe it or not,” Gilbert added, “since we started doing this, our church finances have actually gotten stronger. I really think when people see the church acting with boldness, they want to be a part of it. People want to see their money being used in the community and helping others.”

The congregation also gives away loose coins dropped in the offering plate once a month to a designated charity, alternating between local and international organizations. In addition, members support a Good Neighbor Assistance Fund to help people in the community with utility bills, gas for cars and occasional help with rent payments. 

“This church has a heart for giving and a heart for being active partners with others to meet the needs of those suffering in mind, body or spirit,” said the Rev. Jon Hutchison, pastor.

An impromptu choir sings together Christmas Eve at worship held at a renovated warehouse in Nashville, Tenn. A UMNS photo courtesy of Rethink Church.
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Worship meets people where they are

Regular churchgoers have certain expectations around Christmas Eve worship: how the choir will sound, what the sanctuary will look like and how their favorite pew will feel. Remove all of those expectations and what do you have?

The Rev. Mack Strange of Brentwood United Methodist Church in Tennessee decided to try something different for Christmas Eve 2011. Securing a renovated warehouse, he teamed up with Ingrid McIntyre of Open Table Nashville Inc. to create a sacred space where people from all walks of life could come together to celebrate Christ’s birth and experience a different glimpse of God’s reign.

By getting away from the church’s suburban location, members reached new people where they were.

One person observed that it was as if adults returned to childhood during the impromptu choir formation. Previously solemn individuals jumped at the chance to participate, donning purple stoles and singing familiar Christmas carols to a slightly country beat. Gaiety turned to poignancy as the Rev. Justin Collett delivered a message about addiction, redemption and everyone needing a little bit of light. Those who have lived on the streets surrounding the warehouse understood, and when Holy Communion was offered, to some, it seemed like a kingdom feast.

The Rethink Church team at United Methodist Communications broadened the reach of this service to the online community at www.RethinkChurch.org. Digital advertising directed people to www.rethinkchurch.org/christmaseve, where they could watch and comment on the service (personalized through video co-hosts), send prayer requests to the Upper Room Living Prayer Center and find a church in their community.  

In the early hours of dawn, Tagawunia Tarleton waits outside Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church in Nashville to receive a ticket to shop for her nine children at the Last-Minute Toy Store. A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry.
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Last-Minute Toy Store offers hope, help

For four days in Advent, a tiny congregation in Nashville, Tenn., opens its doors to community families for the Last-Minute Toy Store. The store marked its 18th year in 2011.

According to the Rev. Paul Slentz, pastor of Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church, parents and guardians of 4,674 children and teens gave their families a happier Christmas, thanks to the generosity of others. Each participant received a ticket to choose new toys and gifts, plus books, oranges and candy canes, at no charge.

Reporting on the Faith and Leadership website, Fiona Soltes said, “But this is not an affluent church that just opens its pocketbook. The humble congregation, all but a few low-income themselves, offer their ongoing time, efforts and sense of ownership instead. The toy store — with more than 20,000 gifts worth some $200,000 donated by individuals and organizations citywide in the months preceding Christmas — is aimed at reaching those who have missed the deadline for toys from other agencies.

“It also draws hundreds of individual volunteers who join members of the congregation in pulling it off. Many volunteers receive assistance themselves.”

Slentz shared a thank-you note from one mother. “Thank you so much,” Sandra wrote. “You have given me hope in my heart. I was so worried that on Christmas morning, my little boy wouldn’t have anything. God bless and merry Christmas.”

Find Advent and Christmas Resources

*Dunlap-Berg is internal content editor for United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn. Also contributing to this report were Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication, Indiana Annual (regional) Conference; Anne M. Gearhart, director of communications, Northern Illinois Annual Conference; and Neelley Hicks, assistant director, Communications Ministry Group, United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5489 or newsdesk@umcom.org.