A different kind of Christmas

To the editor: It’s a refrain as familiar as “Silent Night:” Each year, more of us complain how “Christmas is getting to commercial.” Every January, we cringe when our credit card bills arrive. Even worse, in the midst of all this consumerism and excess, we watch the news and see suffering and poverty in places like the Sudan. This year, Vision Community Church is addressing all these problems. The idea behind the “The Advent Revolution” is simple. Vision is inviting their congregation and everyone in the community to take some time to think about how much they will spend on Christmas presents this year. Then, consider pledging to spend only half that much and use the unspent half to write a check for a special offering Vision is receiving for relief efforts in the Sudan. Think about it. This year on Black Friday, we actually watched news coverage of people shopping. People shopping. Consider the revolutionary nature of the Christmas message: All the niceties of Christmas often obscure Jesus’ radical message of justice for everyone in the world. That flies in the face of our consumerist culture. We’re not kidding when we say this is an Advent Revolution. The money will be given to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Since 2005, UMCOR has expanded its humanitarian efforts in the Sudan to include education, agriculture and health projects. The projects have included improved water and sanitation services, child protection and development programs for displaced persons in the region. Working with local partners, UMCOR seeks sustainable recovery and development in all its work. One hundred percent of all funds donated go directly to the projects. In a previous Christmas collection, Vision raised $7,000 for relief efforts in Darfur. This year’s collection will be taken at the Christmas Eve celebration on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. at the Warwick Valley Community Center. To learn more about how to participate, visit the church’s Web site at www.visiblechurch.org or e-mail connect@visiblechurch.org. Don Heatley President, Warwick Valley Ecumenical Council Pastor, Vision Community Church