The Serving Commission is seeking your input as we plan for the Advent Season Alternative Gift Fair. An Alternative Gift Fair offers a meaningful way to avoid the stress of holiday shopping and accumulating unnecessary “stuff.” Instead, you can honor friends and relatives by donating to causes that reflect their values. Additionally, the Alternative Gift Fair provides vital support for ministries central to our church’s outreach and mission—locally, nationally, and globally. Over the next two weeks, we invite you to suggest a mission opportunity for inclusion in the 2026 Alternative Gift Fair. Please fill out the form below. The form will also be available in the Narthex and the weekly newsletter as well. On the form, include: the name of the mission, where to find more information (such as a website), and a brief note about why this mission is meaningful to you. On the same form we have provided a list of the missions that have been featured in the past 20 years. You may choose from that list as well. Place your suggestion in the Alternative Gift Fair box in the narthex by September 13. The Serving Commission will review all submissions and introduce the final list of Alternative Gift Fair missions during worship on November 8. Giving alternative gifts simplifies Christmas with gifts that give hope in our community and throughout the world. Your friends or family members who may already have most of everything they need can be honored through a gift in their name. Your gifts will demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas, and you will not need to worry whether you have the correct size or color, and wrapping is not required. You simply make a monetary donation to the charity of your choice in the name of a relative or friend. You will receive a card to present to each friend or family member telling of the gift given in their honor. The Alternative Gift Fair will be available in the narthex highlighting the work of the organizations throughout the Advent Season.
Alternative Gift Fair Mission/Charity History 2005-2025
*Number in ( ) designates how many times that mission was chosen.