Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Kindness Balloons in New Jersey









The Clinton Presbyterian Church of Clinton, New Jersey, is this week's featured congregation in "Joyful News on Ministry."










This is from LehighValleyLive.com:

CLINTON | The Hartrum family has received the support of friends and community since Luke Hartrum, 8, was critically injured after being struck by a car a year and a half ago.

This weekend, it will also receive gifts courtesy of the three wise men.

Starting Friday and lasting through the weekend, Clinton Presbyterian Church on Center Street will have on display a Nativity scene that the church youth group is making from more than 5,000 balloons, project organizers said.

Following the town's annual Christmas parade at 7 p.m., the church will hold a reception and accept donations from anyone who comes to see the display.

Becci Curtis, an associate pastor, said the money will be split between two causes. Half will help a longtime church family that is now doing mission work in India. The other half will go toward personal medical equipment that will help Luke, whom many at the church met for the first time over the weekend.

Luke was badly hurt in June 2007 when he tried to dart across the 6700 block of Weaversville Road in East Allen Township and was hit by a car. His family had moved to the township from Bethlehem two days earlier.

He spent six weeks in a coma at Lehigh Valley Hospital and was moved to the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, N.J., that July. Luke underwent surgery to relieve swelling on his brain as well as treatment for multiple other injuries. (Read More)

One of the church's youth leaders came up with the idea for the balloon nativity fundraiser. The local school held a fundraiser last month. According to a family member:

"These people have gone above and beyond what we expected," she said. "This has all just snowballed from people being completely generous."
Thanks Clinton Presbyterian for your generosity and creativity!




Know of a congregation that has Jesus dancin'? E-mail me!














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