The Neighborhood Church

 

At The Neighborhood Church our harvest time outreach is called “Light the Night.”  We are taking our fall festival to a neighborhood in the heart of Bellevue.  We are going to need lots of volunteers, donations and prayers!  Please sign up to volunteer on the clipboard attached to the “Light the Night” barrel in the foyer.  Mark your calendars for October 31, and be praying for an amazing time of outreach and connection to our community! Donations of the following can be placed in the “Light the Night” barrel in the foyer:

· Bags of individually wrapped candy (no gum please )

· Small toys for “fishing wall”

 Light the Night - 2005 "We met so many people from our neighborhood," said Wendy Woods.  Her husband Royal interjected, "We even met the family who lives right across the street.  We hadn't had the chance to meet them since we moved in." Making connections and having fun were the objectives of this year's Light the Night event.

Over 100 children and their parents stopped by the Woods' house on the drizzly October evening.  Guests played games, used wood markers to paint handcrafted wooden animal toys to take home, ate free hotdogs, and bounced in The Neighborhood Church inflatable the kids call TK.  The dolphin on the top of the inflatable is named after the initials of the church children's ministry, Treasure Kids.

 

"We are happy that we were able to provide a safe and fun environment for the kids to play and enjoy Halloween," remarked Children Pastor, Brad.  "We really wanted the neighborhood to know that we care about them.  We wanted families to know that when life is hard and difficulty is overtaking them that there is a church close by that will serve them and journey through life with them."

 

The Neighborhood Church congregation was generous in donating the resources to make the event possible.  Members of the church donated the finances to pay for the huge Nite-Lite that lit up the front yard and the yard signs that littered the surrounding streets.  Many also brought in the prizes and candy that were given to the children and parents at the event.

Not all the pledges have come in yet, but once all the promised donations are given the event will be paid for without a dramtatic impact on the church budget. I am grateful that so many individuals contributed to the event's success.  From those who could not be there but gave financially, to those who staffed the games, craft and food booths, and even the courageous ones who stood on the corner with signs bringing in visitors; everyone had a part to play, comments Pastor Brad.  We could not have reached out so effectively without the congregation's support and prayers.

 

At the end of the night the Woods were anxious to have the event at their house again next year and one other local family asked to have a Light the Night in their neighborhood too.

A picture gallery is available (click here).