Donors to match gifts to Salvation Army today

Today marks the third annual Giving Tuesday, a movement to create a national day of giving at the start of the holiday season. This year, the Salvation Army has announced that online gifts to it in Kansas City will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $20,000, on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Several anonymous donors have provided the matching gifts, according to a spokesman.

“Giving Tuesday makes it easy for those who would like to give back to help The Salvation Army serve families and individuals in need in our community,” said Major Evie Diaz, divisional commander for The Salvation Army in Kansas City. “This year, the holiday season is five days shorter which means donations are critical. We encourage everyone to take part tomorrow and double their gift by going to www.salarmymokan.org and click on the Giving Tuesday link.

The Salvation Army’s 2014 Christmas Campaign goal is $11 million. All donations to the organization during the Christmas season support a variety of programs and services year-round, including homeless assistance, feeding programs, veterans services, emergency assistance, disaster services, senior and youth programming and more.

Faith news

To send in items for the Faith News, email information to [email protected].

The Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kan. is sponsoring the fourth annual Nativity Display from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. More than 100 unique nativities will be on display. Come and enjoy a magical experience that reflects the true meaning of Christmas. Admission is free. There will also be a bake sale, fundraiser and refreshments. For additional information, contact Terri at [email protected].

“Scripture Study, Bible Sharing and Reflection, Lectio and Journaling,” a regular weekly series facilitated by pastoral minister, Heather Neds, is offered at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays. This weekly Bible study group is based on the upcoming scripture readings from the Common Lectionary. There will be time for reflection, sharing and journaling. Call 913-906-8990 to register.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, is holding a raggedy doll ministry Christmas project workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, Dec. 2, in Room 128. No sewing experience is necessary to make a doll. For information on materials to bring, contact Open Door, 913-334-7777.

Parkway Baptist Church, 12320 Parallel Parkway, is planning a Community Blood Center blood drive from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 15 in the church’s classroom area. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 816-753-4040 or visit www.savealifenow.org.

Persons of all Christian traditions are invited to participate in Taizé prayer on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in Annunciation Chapel on the campus of the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. Taizé prayer is a meditative, candlelit service that includes simple chants sung repeatedly, silence, and prayers of praise and intercession. These prayer services emerged from an ecumenical community of monks in Taizé, France. For more information, visit www.marillaccenter.org or call 913-680-2342.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., is planning “The Sweet Memories of Christmas Program and Tasting Party” at 6 p.m. Dec. 14. There will be songs, readings, musical numbers or other performances.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., will observe the beginning of the season of Advent at its service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Advent is the anticipation of the coming of Christ.

Hundreds of volunteers providing Thanksgiving meals to needy

Hundreds of persons are volunteering on Thanksgiving morning to assemble hot homemade meals and deliver them with groceries to more than 1,200 people through the United Prayer Movement’s project.

Pleasant Green Baptist Church, 340 David L. Gray Drive, Kansas City, Kan., is the hub for this effort.

Volunteers signed up in advance and will assemble meals for home delivery, and deliver them this morning. Deliveries are made throughout Greater Kansas City.

This program, the effort of many churches and synagogues, also will provide the same meal effort on Christmas.

In 2013, the program provided 2,635 dinners, 391 bags of groceries to 953 families, including 245 seniors, 1753 other adults and 667 children.

There were 543 volunteers and 57 churches and synagogues involved in the effort in 2013.

For more information about this program and how to get involved, visit www.unitedprayermovement.org.