Christmas Appeal for 2024
Did you know that the word Mission comes from a latin word which means to send. At Christmas as we celebrate God’s mission, the sending of Jesus to bring God’s healing and reconciling love into the world, we make special gifts to three of our mission partners, one local, one national and one International. This year they are: Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, Gracefield Christian Camp and Retreat, and the Marco Depestre foundation. More information on each of these is found below.
Tax receipts will be issued at year-end for gifts of $20 or more. Gifts can be made:
· via electronic transfer from your bank account using Interac e-transfer. Please use the e-mail address donations@standrewsottawa.ca. No password is needed as the funds are automatically deposited into the Church’s bank account and the office is informed of your donation for tax receipt purposes. Please include your envelope number in the message box.
· by mail to St. Andrew’s Church at 82 Kent Street, Ottawa ON K1P5N9. Please do not mail cash.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries
https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/
This is a Christian non-profit organization that was founded in 2012 for the purpose of equipping churches in Canada to support mental health and well being. We have run their program, that they make available free of charge, twice now at St. Andrew’s and our gifts at Christmas this year are part of the appreciation we share for all they do.
Gracefield Christian Camp and Retreat
https://gracefieldcamp.ca/values-beliefs/
A ministry of the Presbyterian Church, located in the beauty of the Gatineau Hills and a ministry of the Presbyterian Church. This is where we host our annual congregational retreat and where many of our children have enjoyed summer camp programs. The Pavillion we added to the property many years ago now needs a new roof and proceeds of the appeal this year will go towards that cost which is $5000.
The Marco Depestre Foundation for relief in Haiti:
https://marcodepestrefoundationofottawa.org/
At St. Andrew’s we have been partnering with the MDFO since 2010, providing support for projects that have provided disaster relief and development work that fosters positive changes in the lives of rural residents of Haiti.