Several weeks ago we started serving meals to the homeless around our church at the corner of 2nd and Di-vision in downtown Spo-kane. During commercial breaks we give away jackets, coats, blankets, sleeping bags, etc., by asking trivia questions about sports and the Bible. The evening has been a huge success.

This led us to offer a meal on Thanksgiving day for these new friends, many of whom have nowhere to go and no family with which to gather on special holidays. This story and newsletter goes out as a thank you to all the peo-ple who supported our out-reach dinner.

We could not have done this without you. Some of you gave money, some of you of-fered supplies, some baked pies, others brought roasted turkeys, and still others came into the kitchen and prepared all kinds of different dishes. Everyone who contributed in each way did so much to make this a tremendous success we cannot thank you enough.

I loved watching members of our church board work side by side in the kitchen with the homeless and members of Life Center Church’s small groups who had come in to help. Most of them did not know who was who, and that was just fine.

The energy, the life and vital-

ity in the kitchen and in the big room was fantastic. Friendships were formed and new relationships began which we trust will go into the future.

Please take this newsletter as our thank you note to you. Thanks to all of you who gave of yourselves for this event.

Pastor Rob Bryceson

Thanksgiving at First Covenant Church

Stories of Life—just a few of the many we could tell

Terry—came early to help set up and make food. After walking around the church picking up beer cans and garbage, he came to me and said ,“you know Pastor Rob, I had a strange feeling today be-cause it was only a year and half ago when I was the guy drinking in those same bushes, leaving my garbage and beer cans for someone else to pick up.” He has been attending church for several weeks and constantly gives of himself in everyway!

Jon—came in on Wednes-day to peel 100 pounds of potatoes. At the time he was so inebriated that I wasn’t able to understand him well. He did an awesome job peeling and I jokingly made him count all his fingers

before he left, making sure still had them all. After the meal, on Thanksgiving he came up to me with a $20 bill and said “Thanks for what you’re doing here for us”. Before the day would end over $200 would be donated by homeless guys.

One young lady came to the church for the very first time in her life. Be-fore the day would end, she would tearfully con-fess she was caught in a life of drugs and prostitu-tion which she desper-ately wanted to leave. After talking with her and praying with her, I was able to connect her with two of our homeless Christian friends. They walked her to the Union Gospel Mission Women’s Crisis Shelter where she could begin a new start on life.

Thank You So Much!

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Volume 1, Issue 1

November 26, 2009

Our Potential New Pre-church, Service Announcement (all of which have happened here)

• Please keep all knives securely folded and put away –(Personal

grooming of finger nails is preferred to be done off site rather

than during church.)

• You don’t have to call out for the pastor to “Kick the demons in

the *ss” during sermons—a hearty “AMEN” will suffice.

• Please no panhandling in the lobby during church.

• Do not ask the pastor for smokes dur-

ing services

• We ask that you not store your beer in

the toilet tanks to keep them cold.

• And silence your cell phones

First Covenant Church 212 South Division ST. Spokane,WA 99202

Phone: 509-747-2818 Www.fccspokane.org

THIS IS NOT YOUR MAMMA’S CHURCH

with coffee and cocoa!

Annie Hudson you ROCK because you helped me think through a lot of logistics on the fly and we would have been in a lot more trouble without you there.

To all of you—I was so proud of how flexible you were and of how we created organization out of all that first time chaos. Thank you for being so patient with my leadership. We have only been at this seven weeks and Thanksgiving was new to all of us.

Those of you who gave up your family Thanksgiving to come and serve our meal—thank you for your love and sacrifice.

Some of you who came to spend time with the homeless and simply eat with them and show them love from Jesus -You will never know how valuable that is to us and to them! I cannot thank all of you with enough words to express my grati-tude and thankfulness for your help!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU . . . .

to all the people who volunteered in the kitchen and to those who sent us items and to those who donated funds to pull off this day! I am espe-cially thankful to Bill Fergason and his team of turkeys preparers— There is no way Thanksgiving could have happened without you! I wish all of you could have seen the carving team in the back working on all that turkey at one time—thanks guys and girls!

“Great Job” to the dishwasher (Jacko), the floor moppers, those who set up tables and chairs, and those who kept us all well filled

A Thanks from Tonia People Accepted! Lives Changed!

Our Warming Center Plans

December, January, February

We plan on opening for the homeless as a warming Center the following days

and hours. Contact us for how to help!

Monday 4:00—8:00 pm with a meal

Tuesday 2:00—4:30 coffee only

Wednesday—closed

Thursday 2:00—7:00 (we’re working with Gonzaga about sponsoring a meal this night at our location)

Friday 3:00—6:00 coffee only