“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” (Luke 1:46–47). Refugee students at the After-School Tutoring Christmas party heard this verse playing over the speakers as they arrived at Epiphany Lutheran Church for the annual event on Tuesday, December 10. About 80 people, including students and volunteers, gathered together to celebrate Christmas.

Several students used the Luke 1:46–47 verse of Mary’s song of praise to decorate the gift bags that students put together, which included diapers and brand-new baby clothes. Those gifts will be distributed to new mothers who come to the South County Pregnancy Health Center for help in the weeks to come.

“We want our kids to experience the opportunity to give to others,” explained Jennifer Janssen, who helped plan the event. “So, with the help of a Thrivent Action Team grant, we were able to purchase baby items for our kids to package, decorate, and give away.”

Students also made other crafts to take home with the help of volunteers who came to share Christmas with them. Sydney Kuergeleis and Charli Major, 6th-grade students who attend Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IL, were first-time volunteers who came to help students with crafts during the event. Stephanie Kohm and Abbie McGue, LHSS students, also led table games and spent focused time with students throughout the evening.“Having extra hands and smiles, always makes a difference,” reported Addie Janssen, who volunteers at tutoring every week.

After an Indian-style dinner provided by Umetulisha, students went to the beautiful sanctuary at Epiphany to meet Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, who was waiting for them in the chapel. Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler told the story of Jesus’ coming from the perspective of Zechariah, in full costume.

“Students were mesmerized by his re-telling of the Christmas story, and when ‘Zechariah’ put on the blue shawl to share Mary’s song of praise, the whole event came full circle for me,” remembered Janssen.

Please join the CFNA After-School Tutoring team in wishing all of our readers a blessed Christmas and New Year!

By Jennifer Janssen Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waterloo, IL

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