Christmas giving opportunities

Poinsettias for Keystone: Buy a live poinsettia for our chancel garden to honor or remember a loved one, and/or purchase a silk blossom for our Gathering Room tree, for $15 each. A small portion of the live poinsettia cost and all of the silk flower proceeds go to Keystone Community Services, which operates food shelves and other services for the poor. Deadline to buy live blooms is Monday, Dec. 12. More info in the Sunday bulletin and Connections, or call the church office.

Socks and Mitten Tree: Look for the Christmas tree in the lobby where we’ll collect socks and mittens for children, youth and adults. These will be distributed by the Department of Indian Work at Interfaith Action in St. Paul. Bring donations by Monday, Dec. 19.

Elders at Lyngblomsten: The staff at Lyngblomsten Care Center is collecting money and gift cards to buy gifts for senior without family or friends to remember them at Christmas. Purchase Target, JCPenney, Walmart, Kohls or Macy’s cards at our Scrip table at Sunday coffee hour, or place checks payable to Lyngblomsten Foundation in the designated box in the lobby no later than Dec. 11.

Annual Christmas Fund giving: We will receive this annual offering to help support retired United Church of Christ clergy who are in need. Envelopes will be provided in the bulletins on December 18, and you can also send checks to the church office with “Christmas Fund” in the memo line, by December 27.