For God so Loved the World

It seems that Christmas gets earlier every year, with the Christmas ads already launched, mince pies and Slade in the shops and Christmas decorations going up in towns and houses. It can be a magical time, full of family, joy and laughter like we see in the adverts, but it can also be a lonely time or a struggle to meet up to perceived expectations.

59% of CAP clients have had to borrow money for their regular food shop, and this is without the extras for Christmas, the increased heating bills and the money for presents. 1 in 3 children in the UK face poverty this Christmas. According to AgeUK, almost 1.5 million older people in the UK feel more lonely at Christmas that at any other time of the year. For those who are struggling, the pressure to engage in festive activities can lead to feelings of exclusion and sadness.

Starting to put together our client Christmas hampers this week has also been a good opportunity to review our current clients. Compared to previous years, there are a lot more single clients than couples, with 18 of the 22 hampers this year for singles. Of the four couples, one have children and there are also 4 single parents. These clients are at various stages in the CAP journey, including new clients just starting and some who have recently become debt free.

The Christmas hampers will be filled with Christmas food; mince pies, Christmas cake, biscuits etc. to help give some little treats that may otherwise be unaffordable. There are Christmas activity books for the older children and Christmas story books for the younger as well as a booklet about finding joy at Christmas for all our clients. We hope that these hampers will help bring a little bit of love back into what can be a worrying and lonely time, to show that there is someone who cares and to bring the love of Jesus into their lives, not just for Christmas or the journey out of debt, but as a gift for life.

John 3: 16 - 17 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Please give thanks for the generous support and gifts that make the Christmas Hampers possible and for the team putting them together.

Please pray for all our clients as we approach Christmas, pray for peace from struggle and a time for rest, reflection and enjoyment.