Inspired to Action

Yesterday, a number of parishioners, including young people, gathered for our second Service Saturday. The volunteers raked a number of lawns near St. Gerard Church to let our neighbors know that our care extends beyond the walls of the church.

As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, a whole host of service opportunities are being planned as we reach out to the community. Our inspiration is the great love God has shown us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. On Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day St. Gerard will host community dinners for the poor and alone in the Lansing area. Hundreds will gather for these meals and scores of parishioners will gather to prepare and serve the meals as well as provide transportation to and from the dinners. Many parishioners will support our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society's holiday outreach to the poor in the community by their participation in the Meijer Simply Give Program and support of the Giving Tree Project. A number of parish groups and individuals will sponsor needy families during the holidays providing food baskets and Christmas gifts. Others will bring the gift of music singing Christmas carols at area nursing homes. All this will augment the many who will continue to do their usual weekly visits to the hospitalized, homebound and poor of our parish and community.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons move most of us to acts of generosity and charity. We have so much to be grateful for, especially the gift of the one whose birthday we will celebrate on December 25. How will you thank God for the gift of His Son through acts of kindness, charity, justice, and generosity during the blessed holiday season that fast approaches?

Fr. John Klein, Pastor