How to Make A Difference to Holy Spirit

January 1 means that many people make new resolutions to become better people during the next year. Often these resolutions fall by the wayside because they are overly ambitious and become burdensome. Here are a few suggestions to help you make a difference without causing you a lot of pain or expense:

1. Buy gift cards to use in Acme, ShopRite, or Shop’N Bag. Yes, you heard correctly. Every Sunday, after each service, members of our fund-raising committee sell gift cards to use in any one of these 3 food stores. Holy Spirit earns a 5% rebate on each card, and you get the full value of the card when you go to the food store. You don’t have any restrictions on when to use them, and you do not need to purchase particular products. You can still receive double coupons or any other promotional offer from the stores. It costs you nothing, so it does not impact your budget. Yet, last year Holy Spirit made over $2,700 to help pay our expenses. Do you spend $200 a month on food? You can donate $10 to Holy Spirit, or another $120 a year, without paying an additional cent. Start now, and start small. Cards are available in denominations of $5, $10, and $25. Just like any other gift card, you don’t need to use the entire card at one time. Unlike other gift cards, there is no penalty for not using it quickly. Buy one to keep in your wallet for times that you stop at the store on your way home from work for milk or bread. But who doesn’t need to buy food? You can always be sure that you have those extra dollars for necessities this way.

2. Host one coffee hour after the Sunday service of your choice. Father Terry calls the fellowship after Holy Communion “the eighth sacrament.” Admit it: you enjoy it too. Why not become a part of the fun? It need not be costly. Just bring milk for the coffee and a snack to share. If you like to bake, you can take this opportunity to show off without needing to keep it all yourself, tempting you to stray from your diet. If you don’t bake, use those gift cards mentioned in #1 to buy coffee cakes or assorted doughnuts at the store. You set up the coffee and tea pots, and stay to clean up afterwards. Let’s see: 52 weeks a year, 2 services, some weeks with special events like the annual meeting, means about 100 coffee hours… yeah, we can all do one week a year.

Look! You made a difference !