Thanks

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Christmas Carols' Association this year. At Unity, we collected $92.37. The Bel Nor area collected $516.05 and $5,338.64 was collected in all of Normandy!

Speaking of collecting, Thanks to all who donated books to Jefferson Barracks. While they are not in need of books right now, we gave them about 5,500 books.

Please continue to collect tab tops to help the Ronald McDonald Houses in St. Louis

An important reminder: Unity has an emergency fund for, well, emergencies in our parish and neighborhood. Please consider a contribution, no matter what the size. Mark your check "Emergency Fund". Sorta like: ‘Pay it Forward’. Thanks.

Give Your Shoes the Boot!

Bring your used and new shoes to UNITY beginning February 5, 2012 and we, along with Shoeman Water Projects will turn your shoes into clean drinking water.

Shoeman Water Projects picks up used and new shoes year round from businesses, churches, schools, and shoe drives. Once collected, The Shoeman gives a second life to the shoes, selling them to exporters. The money from the sale of the shoes is used to purchase well drilling rigs, water purification systems, and other supplies to bring clean, fresh water to those in need. The shoes stay out of landfills and become much needed affordable shoes.

Having collected over 1.5 million pairs of shoes since August 2008, the non-profit Shoeman Water Projects has sent four water drilling rigs to Kenya and water purification system teams to Haiti. Even before the devastating earthquake, a whopping 40% of Haiti’s people did not have access to clean water. Contaminated ground water is the leading cause of infant mortality, and deadly hepatitis, cholera and dysentery take many adult lives. In Kenya’s dry lands girls must often forgo school to instead walk miles and miles each day to collect dirty, unsafe water for their families and live stock. By donating your shoes, you save the landfill and you save lives. It is as simple as that!

To participate, give your shoes the boot by donating your used and new shoes, tied or rubber-banned into pairs into our drop off bin at UNITY beginning February 5th. For more information about the shoe drive contact Jane Reise. To learn more about Shoeman Water Projects, how to be a Shoeper Star, or the over 100 drop-off locations visit www.shoeman.org.

Shoeman Water Projects is a ministry of Eagle Wings Ministries, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 charity, working to alleviate as much human suffering as possible and in the process, maximize fun. The Projects work provides affordable shoes in the developing world, lifegiving, fresh, clean drinking water to those in need and a splashing good time for the kids. For more information, visit www.shoeman.org.

Equal Exchange Coffee & Tea AND---Get your ‘sweet teeth’ ready!

Have you noticed the coffee display in the Fellowship / coffee hour room? This is where you can purchase Equal Exchange Coffee and Tea. Equal Exchange is a democratically organized worker-owned co-operative dedicated to building a new model of trade based on fairness, environmental sustainability and strong relationships between farmers and consumers.

When you purchase some of this delicious coffee or tea not only are you supporting fair trade and stewardship of creation; you will also receive some high quality coffee or tea at the best price in town. In addition, $.20 per pound of your purchase price supports Lutheran World Relief.

Sales have been encouraging and we have added additional varieties of coffee and tea. New items for the Christmas season will include a variety of gourmet chocolates and cocoas. Take a look at the display to see what is available. Envelopes for payment are located in the display case. If you would like to request a variety of coffee or tea that you don’t see, talk with Debbie Neustadt

Emergency Food bags

A few months ago Unity parishioners collected canned foods to fill brown bags for the hungry. We have run out of filled bags so we are requesting again packaged products that require no heating or refrigeration and have a pull top, servings for one person. These are only suggestions as much more might be available at your grocery: Spam canned fruits raisins sardines individual puddings Pop Tarts Vienna sausages individual jellos granolas tuna or chicken in foil containers with crackers bottled water or juices Salmon or Tuna Bites (in salad dressing section) packaged peanut butter or cheese crackers, and anything else to complete a healthy meal.

Immanuel

Janis at Immanuel is planning spring events. One of these will be a summer clothing giveaway planned for sometime in May. You can start delivering summer clothing now to the fellowship room in the education wing. Incidentally, Janis has renamed her community projects as 'Northside Outreach.

St. Jane Center

The St. Jane Center delivers meals to shut-ins. They deliver some of the food items in brown lunch bags. The center has a need for these brown lunch bags and asked Unity for assistance in supplying these bags. As you would put canned goods in the grocery cart, please deposit brown lunch bags there also. Thank you!

Word & Witness: Unity Emergency Fund

An important reminder: Unity has an emergency fund for, well, emergencies in our parish and neighborhood. Please consider a contribution, no matter what the size. Mark your check “Emergency Fund”. Sorta like: ‘Pay it Forward’. Thanks.

Collectors

Thank goodness for collectors --

Boxes on a table in the narthex are available for these labels and canceled stamps.

Food Cart

If you haven't noticed, our grocery cart is EMPTY and always hungry—Catholic Charities empties the cart on a daily basis and is most thankful for recent donations-especially paper products, laundry detergent and other items not eligible on the food stamp program. Buy a little extra when you grocery shop to feed our HUNGRY cart!

Coke Bottle Fund

Coke Bottle still open for your ‘spare coins’: These funds are designated for emergency energy assistance. We receive regular calls from our neighbors who need help with gas or electric bills. Recent contributions to the COKE Bottle continue to grow and now have added enough cash to honor four requests for assistance from our neighbors. The COKE bottle is most often found in the church office.

Sunday Flowers and Bulletins

Signup for Sunday flowers/Worship Folders in NOTEBOOK on usher table; flowers will be ordered only when requested through the signup notebook. If YOU prefer, sign up and bring your own flower arrangement from your garden. The cost of flowers is currently $32.50. (The plastic vases must be returned.)