Christmas Newsletter 2017
Many of you will be sending out family Christmas letters at this time of the year, and we at Capital City Mission wanted to do the same! Passersby’s at the Drop-In on Rideau Street, might simply see it from the outside, as a ministry to the poor or a place to come for a free sandwich and coffee. But by coming inside, it doesn’t take long to find out that the Drop-In is not only a place to find friendship, but to find family. It is a privilege to be a part of this family, and we want to write to you about it in this year’s Christmas letter.
The most exciting part of the year has been watching our community grow relationally. We’ve noticed more people meeting together outside of Drop-In hours and we’ve watched unlikely pairings of strangers turn into family for each other. We’ve watched a quiet young man slowly light up and become quite chatty because of the encouragement from his friendship with a woman in her late sixties. We have watched others grow in their concern for one another, asking us to check in on friends whom we have not seen for a few days.
The Drop-In’s sense of family shone brightly during the celebrations we shared over the past year. As always, we celebrate monthly birthdays with cupcakes and holidays with special food. We enjoyed turkey with all the fixings in October, and we also celebrated Hallowe’en, made complete when Keltie dressed up as a lumber jack! We’re also all very into “puzzling” together, celebrating our group efforts every few weeks when another puzzle is completed. And, yet another cause for celebration, was the occasion this summer of having the Drop-In painted in new beautiful colours and adding new plants to our front garden.
In addition to these joys, we’ve also shared each other’s sorrows. In 2017, we learned of several new medical diagnoses for members of the Drop-In family. We also were saddened by the deaths of several friends. Just a few days ago we held a memorial service for one very dear friend whom we have known since 2000. We were honoured to hold this service at the Drop-In and share stories of the joy he brought us. We’ll miss him deeply as part of our family. As friends at the Drop-In age, we see more medical issues and our need for chaplaincy care continues to grow. This year we saw an increase in the number of hospital visits Timothy and Keltie have made. Our newest tradition is a monthly Tim Hortons date with a lovely friend who is no longer mobile enough to visit the Drop-In regularly.
This year also brought with it a new partnership. In February 2017, we joined with Jericho Road Ministries in Coldest Night of the Year, a nation-wide walk-a-thon, where we raised $79,000 for our two organizations! This year we have set a goal of $90,000 and we would love to have you and a group of friends join us in achieving this goal. For more information about the walk give Keltie a call at the Drop-In (613-241-2407) or learn more online at
https://capitalcitymission.com/cnoy/.
Like many of you, in this season leading up to Christmas, we wait in anticipation of the coming of Jesus. We meditate on the God who came down to earth to be with us, to be one of us. Christmas is not always an easy time of year for those who may be distanced physically or emotionally from biological families, or from the material trappings many people associate with the holiday season. Yet, reflecting on that first Christmas – where Jesus was born not in a comfortable setting, but a stable, and not surrounded by many family members, but by joyful shepherd strangers – we know that the true tidings of comfort and joy that Christmas brings can be found in the home of our Capital City Mission family. Thank you for being extended members of our family, helping us bring that comfort and joy to Lowertown. Without your support we would not be able to keep our doors open, and in this season of giving, we are truly humbled by your generosity.
A very Merry Christmas to you and your family,
From all of us at Capital City Mission
