Shalom House Christmas party is
multi-church, ecumenical effort
By Dori Hudson Maplewood UMC said that they would cover
Shalom House Chaplain the drinks, New Journey Baptist Church prom-
ised to bring cheese, fruit, and veggie platters,
Long after Christmas was past and spring The Village Church of St. Louis and Christ
was in the air, the residents of Shalom House, Community UMC brought chips and dips, and
a United Methodist ministry formerly known Central Baptist Church sent sandwiches and
as Metro Ministries, were still glad to be using fried chicken. It was all delicious!
their Christmas gifts of hats and gloves, bath- No Christmas party is complete without
robes and slippers, and many other items which music and gifts. The Good News Quartet from
they received as part of the annual Shalom Manchester UMC brought a wonderful offer-
House Christmas Party. Last year’s Christmas ing of songs and sing-alongs. The women
Party was particularly special because it turned then returned to Shalom House to open their
into a wonderful multi-church and ecumenical gifts, which were given by United Methodist
collaboration. congregations through the white gift program.
It had become obvious that the party had The churches who participated this year in
outgrown the space available at Shalom House. the white gift program with Shalom House as
The party not only includes all 37 current one of the receiving agencies are Living Word,
residents, but also the increasing number of St. Mark’s, Webster Hills, Union Memorial
former residents who are now in permanent (Theresa Hoover Group), Kirkwood, North
housing. So the staff at Shalom began to won- Hills, and Manchester United Methodist
der about other possible sites. When asked, The Churches. It was an amazing time of excite-
Gathering UMC Church readily agreed to host ment and joy to see the Shalom women open
the party in their fellowship hall, providing their gifts.
space and greeters. Everyone agreed that it was the best
Then came the question of how to get the Christmas Party that Shalom House had ever
residents to the party site. Kirkwood UMC had and that it could not have happened with-
(who hosted a separate Christmas party to out the willingness of so many churches to
Shalom residents) and Central Baptist Church participate. The women and the staff of Shalom
each agreed to send their big church vans. House want to thank each of our faith-based
Next came the question of food. One of the partners, and we all hope that next year’s party
Shalom staff said “Last year we ran out of food, will again bring together so many churches to
and that wasn’t good.” However, a few calls participate. The Gathering UMC has already
resulted in a menu of abun- offered to host the party
dance from a whole group of again!
churches. New Hope UMC, For more information
who provides monthly meals about the Shalom House,
to Shalom House, offered to e-mail dori@metrohome-
bring homemade cookies. lesscenter.org.
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