Presence. People. Peace.
“God never pretended that the arrival of Jesus was a quick fix for humanity’s woes. From day one, Jesus was swaddled in suffering.” – Brian Morykon, 2023.
These words landed in my inbox on the first day of December. A great thought to sit in when reading news headlines about what is going on in the world, or perhaps also contemplating all that is going on in our personal lives. There just aren’t any quick fixes, are there!
How do we celebrate a season of hope when there is so much that can seem hopeless? How do we laugh and sing and eat to beyond full, knowing that just outside our doors and around the world, the very opposite is happening for too many people?
These can be heavy thoughts for a season that is all about life and hopefulness and good news! Yet isn’t that exactly the point? Isn’t it BECAUSE all that is going on around us, and in us, is beyond our ability to fix? We need a Presence that sees us, hears us, knows us, and has been one of us!
Jesus didn’t come and be present because life was great for everyone. He came because it wasn’t, and he was the only one that could do something about it. Not all at once. But his Presence, among People, paved the way for Peace to be possible. That is worth celebrating and taking time each Christmas season to renew our hope! Then, we can take that hope into the rest of the year. We can live it out in tangible ways until the time comes when nothing needs fixing.
Every day at COMPASS, we are present, to people, and they begin to taste peace again. It doesn’t fix everything for them. But it gives them a reason to celebrate, to hope again, and to believe that good news could be coming for them. And it does come, for many of them. There are 199 people whose Christmas season will be different this year. They are safe at last, their refugee claims approved in 2023. Many families are together again for the first time in years.
This is what each person who makes a donation to COMPASS can claim as their impact: Presence. People. Peace. Safety at last. Families reunited.
MAKING IT EASIER TO BE GENEROUS WITH DIRECT IMPACT!
We have just launched in time for Christmas an exciting new way for you to be more connected to your impact. Our “Give a Gift” e-commerce catalogue provides several ways for you to support services, programs, and real needs for people. You can’t fix the world’s problems. But you CAN fix some of the problems the world has created for people by choosing something to contribute toward in “Give a Gift”. That is worth celebrating!
GIVE A GIFT NOW AT OUR NEW E-COMMERCE CATALOGUE
There is one more way that you can make a BIG difference.
COMPASS relies on the generosity of people like you who want things to be different for people needing refuge. If you are not already a monthly donor, one of the best Christmas gifts you can give this year is to start GIVING MONTHLY to COMPASS.
There have been many times over the past two years, when we wondered if we were going to be able to keep the doors open. Monthly support helps to ensure cash flow in between the big giving times. It also means we can plan better, and we can be responsive to rapidly changing events. It means we know the money is going to be there when we need it.
When you donate online this Christmas, our new donation platform will give you an opportunity to become a monthly donor. By giving smaller amounts each month, It is easier for your cashflow! And, you may even be able to give more over the year which means more lives impacted!
Finally, if you are employed, our new donation platform will help you discover if your employer will match your donation. Hundreds of companies are listed in our new Double the Donation feature. Our platform will help you get started with that. If you need help getting set up with your employer, we are here to help and make it as easy as we can for you!
What a great way to double your impact!!
Presence. People. Peace.
Three simple words that bring much needed hope to us all.
Thank you for supporting COMPASS!
On behalf of everyone at COMPASS, including the people whose lives are changed because of your generosity, I wish you a Merry Christmas!
Shelley Campagnola
Executive Director
COMPASS Refugee Centre
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