Alternative Christmas - Family Gateway, A Dallas-based Not-for-Profit Serving the Homeless Families of Dallas

Family homelessness is a hidden epidemic in Dallas and across the country. Today, families from across socio-economic groups are living with relatives, in their cars or on the street due to a lost job, unexpected illness or family tragedy.
Family Gateway’s facilities, programs and community partnerships are specifically designed to serve the needs of these fragile families. By providing children and their parents with a nurturing, family-centered environment coupled with counseling and training, families are strengthened, empowered and able to return to a life of self-sufficiency.
What We Do Family Gateway breaks the generational cycle of homelessness by providing individualized care to homeless families with children; restoring the dignity, stability and self-sufficiency of the family unit.

Recently, Family Gateway joined with Integrity Asset Management to provide Permanent Supportive Housing to 150 otherwise homeless families in Dallas. These families now live in safe housing with supportive services provided by Family Gateway. An additional 18 families also live in Permanent Supportive Housing at other Family Gateway facilities. All told, Family Gateway provides transitional housing, and long term support housing to more than 200 Dallas families who otherwise would not have stable living arrangements.
History Family Gateway evolved from a1985 mayoral task force study of Dallas' growing problem of family homelessness. In 1986, then Mayor Pro-Tem Annette G. Strauss spearheaded the effort to build a refuge for an increasing number of families living on the streets, victims of the collapsed Texas economy.
The vision was a facility where homeless families could stay together as a family unit. A coalition of congregations responded, and Family Gateway Center opened its doors in 1986 to serve 30 families per day, or approximately 100 children and adults. In September 2000, the Center was rededicated as the Annette G. Strauss Family Gateway Center, in honor of Annette’s commitment, time and effort to helping homeless families in Dallas.
Central Congregational Church is one of those congregations and has served on the Family Gateway Board since Family Gateway was founded.
What Services Family Gateway Provides
Family Gateway provides comprehensive services to both children and their parents, including: transitional housing, child care, counseling, job skills training, employment search, job placement assistance and community transition services.
The program restores dignity, stability and self-sufficiency to the family unit in an atmosphere of emotional, social and economic empowerment.
Family Gateway Center offers programs in the following areas:
• Transitional, Supportive and Permanent Supportive Housing
• Adult Programs and Training
• Children’s Programs
• Community Transition Services
How Your Donation Helps
$25 – Provides new bedding and pillows for a child and parent
$50 – Provides one family with transportation to doctor’s appointments, interviews, school, and/or work for one week
$100 – Covers the cost of a month’s supply of children’s medication
$250 – Provides three nutritious meals a day for 30 families

You can make a difference. Visit www.Familygateway.org for more information and opportunities to help break the cycle of homelessness.

Blue Christmas

Friday, December 16, 2011 is our Blue Christmas Service. Named for the line from the song ("I'll have a blue Christmas without you"), this is a special service of worship and healing that acknowledges that for many people Christmas is a time of loneliness, sorrow, alienation, or sadness. This service offers a way for people to accept those feelings, and still feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God.

This is a more quiet, somber service focussing on the comfort of God during the dark times -- seeing Christmas not only as a holiday of light, but a light that shines through a very real darkness.

Everyone will be offered an opportunity to come forward and light a candle in memory of someone, to mark a significant personal event, or simply to acknowledge their need for light in their lives. There will also be an opportunity, those who wish it, to say a few words to share feelings or to remember a loved one who has been lost.

If, as Christmas approaches, you are feeling more blue than merry -- if you are feeling that rejoicing is hard work -- this service is designed for you.

Global Ministries: A UCC Alternative Christmas Charity

Mission Statement: We commit ourselves to a shared life in Christ and to an ecumenical global sharing of resources and prophetic vision of a just and peaceful world order, joining with God’s concern for the poor and oppressed. This commitment will be reflected in common decision-making for mission programs which will visibly witness to the oneness of mission in and through the Church of Jesus Christ.

Guiding Principles:
1. Within covenantal bonds with other partner churches and ecumenical bodies throughout the world, we commit ourselves in Christ to share life, resources and needs.
2. As part of the ecumenical church and its response to particular historical and geographical contexts, we affirm our commitment to share persons in mission.
3. We commit ourselves to discovering and sharing exciting new ways to sing the song of faith ... hearing, telling and participating in the story of God's love in Jesus Christ.
4. Relying upon God's grace, we commit ourselves to share in God's healing of God's continuing creation.
5. Recognizing the freedom of God's Spirit to act in diverse ways, we commit ourselves to engage in dialogue, witness, and common cause with people of other faiths and movements with whom we share a vision of peace, justice, and integrity of creation.

Haystack: On a Saturday afternoon in August 1806, five college students gathered in a field to discuss the spiritual needs of those living in Asian countries. When a thunderstorm arose, they took shelter on the side of a haystack and prayed. This gathering came to be called the Haystack Prayer Meeting, launching the modern American mission movement. Global Ministries traces its mission roots to the Haystack Prayer Meeting.

What is Global Ministries?
The common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ responsible for nurturing relationships with international partners on behalf of Disciples and the UCC.

How is Global Ministries governed?
By the Common Global Ministries Board (CGMB) composed of six international partners, 20 Division of Overseas Ministries (Disciples) board members and 20 Wider Church Ministries (UCC) board members.

Who are Global Ministries international partners?
Autonomous churches historically related to Disciples and UCC, as well as a variety of other denominations, ecumenical organizations, councils of churches, indigenous churches, educational and healthcare institutions, and sustainable development organizations.

How many partners does Global Ministries have?
Over 270 partner churches and organizations in about 70 countries around the world.

Why is Global Ministries unique?
No two denominations in U.S. Christianity have entered into covenantal partnership to engage in global mission together through a common structure.

What is Global Ministries' mission?
To provide a Critical Presence with international partners through various ministries of acompañamiento (walking together side by side).

What is Critical Presence?
The priority Global Ministries follows to timely and appropriately meet God's people and creation at the point of deepest need: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and/or economically.

How does Global Ministries send missionaries?
When international partners request a missionary for a specific need that meets the Critical Presence criteria and finances are available for the appointment, then a person who can fill the role is sought.

Under the Critical Presence criteria, what is the primary focus for missionary appointments?
Global Ministries seeks to appoint mission personnel to places where capacity building (leadership and community social infrastructure development leading to self-sufficiency) and healthcare are a primary focus.

How many missionaries did Global Ministries send in 2010?
A total of 126 missionaries served in 43 countries, which included 56 fully supported missionaries, 8 global mission interns (young adults ages 18-30), 13 long-term volunteers (one year or more) and 49 overseas associates (Disciple and UCC persons in mission appointed and paid by international partners).

Are there other options for short-term service through Global Ministries?
In 2010, 14 individuals served as short-term volunteers (two weeks to 11 months) and 94 group mission trips were recorded through the People-to-People pilgrimage office.

How does Global Ministries help local congregations engage in global mission?
Global Ministries offers the Be a Global Mission Church booklet with a 5-step process for congregations to develop a plan of action and be recognized as a Global Mission congregation.

How is Global Ministries funded?
Through a percentage of Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) and the Easter offering from Disciples and Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM) from the UCC plus money through Week of Compassion (WOC) and One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). Funds are also received from various endowment funds and from special gifts provided by individuals, congregations and judicatories of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.

Bringing an End to World Haunger Through Unimaginable Blessings

Read the full article by clicking here about Heifer International, one of our alternative Christmas charities!

The Humble Family Christmas Card

The Humble family Christmas card is here! I would love to mail one personally to every household in our church, but alas, budgets prohibit that! So here it is, for all of you to enjoy electronically!

Christmas Frame Christmas

Shutterfly has elegant Christmas party invitations for your holiday party.

View the entire collection of cards.