In the run up to Christmas, Bank Top helped the Bolton Urban Outreach Christmas hamper project.
There’s more detail on their website here but in summary…
“In total 1200 hampers blessed 1907 adults & 1720 children, with 1271 chickens, 4800 clementines & 30,000 Brussel Sprouts! Thank you to the hundreds of people who helped make it happen, and brought some joy into the lives of people who were struggling at Christmas.”
Our contribution was to donate 100 jars of cranberry sauce which was well represented by our soon to be trademarked “Cranberryometer.”
We’re grateful to everyone in Sunday School who helped co-ordinate the appeal and help us reach the target.
In response to Urban Outreach’s Dave Bagley, Christine Catherall wrote the poem below to celebrate the challenge.
CRANBERRIES AT CHRISTMAS
At Bank Top we have a thermometer
We call the Cranberryometer
It’s a kind of a barometer
That tells us where we’re at
On each Sunday morning
Just as the day is dawning
We bring in jars of Cranberries
Small and round and fat
These little jars of blessing
Used as a turkey dressing
Go into Christmas hampers
For Jim or Bill or Pat
At Winterwatch and Outreach
They do not try to preach
But put God’s love in action
Delivering food to house and flat
At this special time of year
It’s good to bring some cheer
To lots of lonely people
Wherever they are at
So let’s thank the Lord above
For showing us his love this Christmas time
May the gift of his dear Son touch the hearts of everyone
This is my prayer for you this Christmas time
Christine Catherall
