Attention, runners and walkers! The Fight Child Hunger 5K is scheduled for January 14, 2023, and Hope’s team, “Hope to Finish,” needs participants! The race is a popular local one and will be held at Viera High School beginning at 8 a.m. Hope is a Silver Star      Sponsor for the event, and as such, the entry fees for our first ten team members have been prepaid. Hope will also pay for additional Hope entries in support of this fundraiser for The Children’s Hunger Project and Central Brevard Sharing Center. If you are interested in joining the Hope team, contact Jackie at the church office (321-622-6126) or Nancy Roberts (804-513-5375) for registration information. Please note: We will have a sign up sheet in the narthex, but that will just give us our list of interested participants and is not actually registering for the 5K.

Hands on Hope will be providing dinner on Thursday, December 15, for 50-60 clients and staff of CITA Rescue Mission, 2330 Johnny Ellison Drive, Melbourne. Dinner will be prepared by Beth Hazley through 2chicksandapot.  If you can assist by being a server from 4:45 to 6 p.m., please Indicate that on the narthex sign up sheet. If you can participate in the caroling at the worship service from 6:30-7 p.m. please indicate that as well. If you have questions, please contact Dave Roberts at dlrobertsfl@gmail.com or 804-512-1496.

The Guardian ad Litem angel tree gifts are due at church today and will be picked up this coming week. If you have forgotten your gift or have questions, please see Nancy Roberts or call/text at 804-513-5375. Thanks to everyone who provided gifts for these children in Brevard County whose Christmas will be much brighter because of you!

It’s not too late to start! The Reverse Advent Calendar began this past week and is a way of Advent-giving by adding a different food item for each of the first 24 days in December. Food from the Reverse Advent Calendar will be the collection for our January donations for our Food on the First. Copies of the Calendar are available on the narthex table. If you have questions about the Calendar or would like a copy emailed to you, please contact Nancy Sutter at 321-537-2717.

On Friday, Dec. 2, the pink beading group will meet from 6-7 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. Please consider joining the group for a creative hour of fellowship in making bracelets for cancer patients. All—men and women—are invited to give beading a try! Our beading leader is Janet Duddy, and she is available at 561-339-1279 if you would like more information.

‘Tis the Season…for a cookie exchange! Our Bakers’ Blessings cookies for December will be going to our shut-ins and the staffs at their care centers, plus our cookie bakers will be able to select a variety of cookies for themselves at the cookie exchange. We are asking bakers to bring two dozen cookies to the church fellowship hallway on Dec. 18 by 9:30. There will not be a need to package or label the cookies as one dozen will be set aside for the shut-ins and the other dozen will be set out for the cookie exchange. After the first worship service, we will conduct the exchange so that cookie bakers will be able to select a dozen cookies to take home. Please bring your own container for your cookies. Those who attend the second service may bring in their cookies prior to 9:30 (may be dropped off at church earlier the previous week if in an airtight container) and then make their take-home selections either before or after second service. If you have questions, please contact Nancy Sutter at 321-537-2717.

It’s time for spreading Christmas cheer by caroling! Everyone is invited to be part of the Hope carolers on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 18, as we visit shut-ins from our congregation. (We will also be delivering cookies!) The plan is to meet at church at 1 p.m. and then make several stops throughout the afternoon to visit and sing for our shut-ins at care centers. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex to let us know that you will be participating. For questions or details, please contact our organist, Kathy Burrier, at 321-794-0610.

Loving Stitches is a sewing group that makes projects for people in need. So far, we have focused on those in nursing homes, in hospice or with dementia. Our new project is Veteran’s Blankets for those in hospice care. Some of them will go to Vitas Healthcare and some of them will go to individuals in hospice care that would like to have one.

Sunday, Dec. 4 will be our collection day for Food on the First for December. The Genesis Food Pantry is in need of cereal, Hamburger Helper, and Chef Boyardee, but will gladly receive any food or monetary donations. Plastic bags and dozen egg cartons are also very helpful at the pantry. Your donations truly make a difference in our Melbourne community in helping Genesis Pantry meet increasing needs. Nancy Sutter is our Hope contact person and can be reached at 321-537-2717.

Our October Thrivent purchase of men's shorts was put on hold pending the arrival of the Thrivent card. For the month of November Hope members donated 3 trash bags full of clothes, 59 hygiene items and 9 portals of prayer.  A Thrivent card of $250 was used to purchase 66 small fleece blankets for November.  Due to shopping at the end of November because of sickness I was also able to shop for December's Thrivent card purchases of men's (12 packages of 10 count) and women's (55 packages of 6 count) socks.  I used $140 for men's socks and $110 for women's. The women's socks were clearance at $2 a pack verse the $5.97 which is a wonderful treat as often times the women get overlooked when it comes to basic needs. Please continue to donate your travel soaps and hair care items.  Items will be delivered to daily bread this coming week.

There is always a need for any and all clothing for men and women of all sizes. Please no children's clothing. You can bring items to church or I (Tori Cooper) can arrange a pick up of larger donations.  This is a great way to clean out your closets for the end of the year.  Start fresh and give to those in need.  Any donations are greatly appreciated.  That you for keeping daily bread in your Prayers and continuing to give Hope to those in our community.  

Hope Cares is a program that matches needs of Hope members with the resources that are most helpful. This program is a way to help us bless and serve others with our time and talents. Hope Cares is also there to help in a time of need. Those involved can bring meals, give rides to church or other    places, share greeting cards, or visit those who are in need. If you would like to bless others in this way or you know someone in need of  assistance, contact Deaconess Lois Diebel or talk to Pastor.