Current Justice Opportunities:: Family Promise :: supporting a family in transition
Current Series:: Present Tense
12.12.10
The Christmas Village Toy Store
We’re a community who believes that the best way to celebrate the birth of a King who embodied love and kindness is to allow that same beautiful justice and mercy to be born in us in the present. At the very core of all the celebration, shopping, decorating, overeating, overspending, and traditions of Christmas is an ancient echo beckoning each of us to embrace humility and bring joy to our worlds. The shopping malls are swallowing our souls; take some time out this December to reignite your heart with a meaningful and soul-deepening celebration of the core of Christmas.
News::
The Christmas Village Toy Store is a program that allows families with limited resources to purchase toys for their kids at a reduced cost, while funneling the proceeds back into the community. This year, we’ve set a goal of providing 200 toys that can be sold in the store - if you would like to help, bring a new, unwrapped toy (leave the price tags on) to Transit on December 12th or sign up to help by circling the icon on your Connection Card. If you bring your Christmas Village postcard (the one in your Weekly today) to Target and present it at checkout when buying gifts for the store, they’ll give you a 10% discount as well (but only at the uptown, Pineville, Blakeny, and Rock Hill Target stores)! Visit www.christmasvillagetoystore.com for more info.
Water for Christmas
Water for Christmas is a program that helps people to direct their holiday resources in a rewarding fashion. Rather than spending all of the gift budget on things that friends and family may not need, Water for Christmas allows people to direct those funds toward clean-water projects in other areas of the world. You can get started by visiting www.equitas.cc/christmas to sign your family up for the program and start contributing. Start a group for your family, or join the Watershed group and help us work together to bring clean water to those in need overseas.
The Catapult Project:: supporting a neighborhood school so that it can soar Baptism :: this morning
Baptism is an ancient ritual of identifying yourself with Jesus Christ. It’s not about having things figured out, but about beginning a journey - not about being a perfect person, but rather about being thankful for Jesus and publicly announcing that you are committed to following him. We are excited to have members of the Watershed community affirming their faith this morning by taking part in this time-honored tradition celebrating the new life that they have experienced through Jesus.
Christmas Eve service :: 6:00p
You and your family are invited to join us for our Christmas Eve service this year! Amidst the hustle and holiday rush, take a respite from the pandemonium where you and those you love can take a moment to be reminded of all that lies beneath the veneer of the Christmas sales and gift-giving. Christmas Eve at Watershed is a candlelit, carols-meet-21st century, coffee brewing, casual, ambiance-drenched, reflective, onehour experience for all ages that will begin at 6:00pm. We look forward to having you with us!
Connection Card
Whether this is your first time at Transit or your hundredth, we’re glad you joined us this morning. Transit is only a small part of what makes up Watershed - If you would like to connect more deeply with our community, fill out the Connection Card and circle any Blocs or volunteer opportunities you might be interested in. We’d love the chance to get to know you and help you find the best place to get plugged in.
Girls On The Run :: volunteer oppportunities available
Girls On The Run is a character development program for girls in grade 3-8 that uses running to teach values and a sense of self - the program combines training for a non-competitive 5k with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts and community service. Volunteer spots are open to help meet with and run with the girls after school on Mondays and Wednesdays at Byers from 1:45-3:15 beginning in February - for more info, contact Rachael Shaughnessy (krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640) or circle the icon on your connection card.
No Transit December 26th
There will be no Transit on Sunday, December 26th, the sunday after Christmas - take time to relax and enjoy time with your family and friends. We’ll be back on Sunday, January 2nd to kick off the new year. With so much that has happened over the past 12 months, we are excited about what 2011 holds for our community - we look forward to you being a part of it!
New Watershed shirts
Need a Christmas gift idea? New Watershed kids shirts are here! Our new blue kids shirts are for sale in the cafe area, along with the adult sizes in both blue and cranberry as well. Kids shirts are $8, and all other styles are $10. There are a few travel mugs left as well for $5 (to pay for any shirts, just drop it one of the Transit boxes in the cafe)
Blocs::
Family Promise is helps families in need by providing temporary housing while they are getting back on their feet. We have offered to help get a family set up in their temporary space on Sunday, December 19th. You can help by unloading the truck that will be carrying the family’s beds and belongings, or by helping provide dinner for the family and the volunteers that night. This can be a great way to “get your feet wet” in the area of justice here at Watershed, or a good way to make some new friends and get connected! Contact Scott Miller or circle the icon on your connection card for more information.
(see back for meeting times/contact info)
Blocs :: micro-communities that meet during the week Our community is made up of smaller groups (called “Blocs”) that meet at various times/locations during the week. All the Blocs are listed on the back of the Weekly - if you see a one that sparks your interest, contact one of the Bloc Leaders (see back for contact info), or circle the icon on your connection card and one of the leaders will contact you to fill you in on the details. Most of the Blocs are taking some time off over the holidays, but will launch back up again in Januar; if there’s one you are interested in, contact the leader to join up next month.
GreenHouse ::
We believe that our children are our biggest investment, and our best hope for the future, and so we dedicate much of our time and energy to providing an environment where kids can grow, play, make new friends and develop a spritual foundation for their lives. Our Greenhouse space is just on the other side of the wall, and provides kids with a safe, fun place to spend their morning. To learn more about Greenhouse or to learn how you can get involved, contact Kayla George (kayla@watershedcharlotte.com)
Lunch Buddy
The Lunch Buddy program provides an easy but powerful way to have a lasting impact on a kid’s life through a mentoring friendship. Lunch buddies come to school once a week to talk, play games, read or have lunch with their buddy. Time slots are from 10:30-10:55am, 11:15-11:40am and 11:30-11:55am. Contact: Rachael Shaughnessy - krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640
Reading Tutor
One of the biggest needs at Byers Elementary this year is for reading tutors. Reading tutors come to Byers once a week for roughly 45 minutes, and spend time helping to tutor either one or a group of students in reading. Time slots are available between 8:00am and 1:30pm Contact: Scott Miller - scottm@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.302.4592
Staff Appreciation
A large part of The Catapult Project has been investing in the teachers at Byers, so that they can in turn pour into the students. We periodically have opportunitites to help show appreciation to the staff (bringing snacks for the teacher work room, providing food/drinks for staff meetings, and much more) Contact: Pam Watson - granypam@carolina.rr.com / 704.599.9087
Girls On The Run
Girls On The Run is a character development program for girls in grade 3-8 that uses running to teach values and a sense of self. The program combines training for a non-competitive 5k with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts and community service. Contact: Rachael Shaughnessy - krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640
Right Moves For Youth
Right Moves is a program that helps kids build a sense of belonging and self-esteem, while providing them the encouragement, support and resources they need to build a successful foundation for life. The program meets on Tuesdays from 12:45-1:30pm. Contact: Ryan Grammatico - grammatico1@gmail.com / 803.524.1816
Upcoming Justice Opportunities:: Room In The Inn :: helping neighbors in need (Jan-March)
During the most bitter months this winter, Watershed helps to run Room at the Inn, an interfaith network of winter shelters for our homeless neighbors in Charlotte. Room In The Inn provides some of our neighbors with a warm place to rest for the night, a meal, and some friendly faces. Volunteer opportunities are available for everything from preparing meals and cleaning up to driving neighbors to/from the site and staying overnight.
Freestore Cookout/Clothing Drive (April)
The Freestore on 15th Street is a place where people with limited resources are able to get some of the household items they need at no cost. Twice a year (in Oct and April), we host a cookout and clothing drive to help support the freestore. Members of the community are invited to join us as we grill hotdogs and burgers, and people are invited to bring their gently used items to drop off as a donation to the store (mens’ clothing is always a big need)
Girls On The Run 5k (May)
Through Girls On The Run, young women from Byers train for a non-competitive 5k at the end of the semester. Watershed helps with the race at the end of the Spring semester by providing volunteers to help staff the event, and “running buddies” who run with the girls and encourage them throughout the race. Circle the icon on your connection card if you’d like more info as the event draws near.
West Virginia (July)
PARENTS:
if your child is seated with you in Transit, please sit in one of the back rows so that you can exit if they cry.
In July, a group from Watershed travels to Parkersburg to help work on a home through Habitat for Humanity. The group works on the house during the day, and camps out at night to relax, play games, and enjoy dinner by the campfire. No construction experience necessary - just a desire to work hard in order to benefit a family in need.
Giving :: weekly need: $7,899 last week: $6,869