Home for the Holidays
In the snowy Upper Peninsula of Michigan “home” in the winter especially evoked feelings of warmth, safety, and the hope that comes with stripping off your wet clothes and grabbing a warm bowl of soup or cup of cocoa. Different places have a different picture in their heads when they think of home during the holidays, but the feelings of safety, love, and hope are less unique for most. Although it is sad to think about, for some there is no “home” for the holidays or any time.
Our world and country can be a place of danger, uncertainty, and even hopelessness when you don’t have a place to live, family to help or encourage, or if you find yourself in slavery or forced prostitution. This year, as we take time to reflect on our own thoughts and feelings that “Home for the Holidays” inspires, we also will look at what we can do for those who don’t find inspiration in those words. Organizations like A Sense of Home help young adults who age out of the Foster program and find themselves facing life without the safety net of family or home. The International Justice Mission provides help, legal representation and prosecution, and freedom to many children caught up in forced labor and women forced into the sex trade. We will offer the opportunity to help out one of these organizations or one that has a similar mission during our brunch this year.
The Ladies Christmas Brunch will be held on Friday, December 1st and Saturday, December 2nd, 2023. Tables and individual tickets are still available for both Friday and Saturday, but will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Individual tickets are $15 per person or $100 for a table of 8 people. If we are holding a table or tickets for you, an invoice will be sent in early October to make sure you still want the tickets being held.
We have a local treat for you this year, with Tabitha Deller coming in to share with us.
Tabitha is a southern girl from North Carolina but has lived over half her life in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Meredith College with a degree in Mathematics. It was during her college years that her life was radically changed by her discovery of an ongoing, daily walk with Jesus through the ministry of CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). Through that ministry, she met her husband, Steve. Together, they have passionately pursued ministry opportunities throughout their marriage.
They have four sons, Joshua, Caleb, Nathan, and Isaac who not only call Tabitha “mom,” but also, “teacher,” as they are a homeschool family.
Tabitha is passionate about God’s Word and the life changing truths found in it. She loves reading it, writing about it, and challenging others to do the same.
She has written and taught several Bible Studies for women, and loves speaking at women’s and girl’s events. Anytime she can write or talk about God’s Word and His great love for us is such a blessing. She always learns and gleans far more than she teaches or gives.
Her highest calling is to know Him and make Him known. Her heart’s desire is to do that everyday, first in her home, and then wherever He calls her to “go.” She wants her words and the way she lives her life to point others to His Word and the way He lived and died and rose again to bring life everlasting and abundant to all who believe and receive.