Fair Trade Coffee, Tea & Cocoa
Fair Trade purchases at Christ Church can make a world of difference in the lives of farmers in Third World countries!

Fair Trade is a direct link to hard-working poor men and women in Third World countries. By buying direct, paying a fair price and providing advance credit, Fair Trade organizations like Equal Exchange, help small farmers in the developing world build a sustainable future for themselves and their families.

FAIR TRADE coffees, teas, cocoas and a variety of chocolates will be available for purchase on Sunday, May 4, in the coffee hour room at the church.

Check out the many different varieties of coffee and tea, organic and otherwise. And taste test the new cocoa and chocolate drinks. Also, pay attention to the prices. Christ Church charges only what we pay for these products. Compare our prices with prices in the commercial market!

Red Cross Blood Drive!

Monday, May 5
2 to 7:45 p.m.

Please sign up during coffee hours, phone 410-752-7179 or e-mail Karen (adkins@christinnerharbor.org) to share the gift of life with others. Newer research appears to indicate that blood donors will benefit from this gift with a decreased probability of cardiac incidents.
NEXT HABITAT PROJECT

Thrivent is supporting the building of two new houses in Baltimore City. In order to meet the requirements, they need Lutherans and Thrivent members to help work on the house.

Please let me know if you are interested in working on this project and we will set work dates. Email Karen at adkins@christinnerharbor.org or call 410-752-7179.

CELEBRATE TEACHER APPRECIATION SUNDAY
SUNDAY, MAY 18TH!

Teachers from Federal Hill Preparatory School and Thomas Johnson Elementary School will join us on May 18th to celebrate our Seventh Annual Teacher Appreciation Day!

NEEDED: 75 people who are willing to bake a special treat (cookies, brownies, cake) and include a note with your appreciation for the teacher’s hard work with the children in our community. Teacher’s names will be available for pickup during the coffee hours beginning May 4th. Please return your baked goods and notes of appreciation on May 18th. Let’s deliver an outpouring of love and appreciation in our community; a message that we appreciate the dedication and hard work of teachers within our congregation and our community.

Baltimore Outreach Services
Has Their Own Website!

Take a look and see the brand new website for Baltimore Outreach Services. You can view the history, programs, Board of Directors, volunteer opportunities, and more. www.baltimoreoutreach.org
Pastors and Staff
Learn more about those people who daily make Christ Church such a welcoming place.
Wednesdays Alive!
Wednesday evening offers a worship setting entirely different from any other currently at Christ Church.
Health Ministries
Make time for your spiritual and physical well-being in your daily walk with God.
Christian Education
Learning about the faith begins at age 2 and never truly ends. We have variety of opportunities for people of all ages.
Our Youth
Catch the excitement of youth in 6th to 12th grades as they grow in faith through learning and fellowship.
Baltimore City Shelter Crisis
Newspapers have recently featured the overwhelming need for emergency shelter. Women and children make up 42% of the homeless in Baltimore City. What has not been publicized is the fact that these families often stay in the shelter for six to fifteen months because there are not enough vacancies in transitional housing.

Baltimore Outreach Services (BOS) has a plan to purchase five units of transitional housing over the next five years. This means BOS needs to expand their donor base and fundraising. Your help is needed to make this plan a reality!

CHRIST LUTHERAN PLACE

Deputy Director:
Eileen Forman

Developer Director:
Lisa Ghinger

Lead Shelter Manager:
Carla Richardson

Caseworker:
Gretchen Bell

Shelter Phone Number:
410-752-1285

Shelter Dinners
We need people to prepare and to serve dinner in the shelter every Sunday evening. This is a great family activity and also provides service learning credit for school children. To volunteer sign up on the Social Ministry bulletin board, call 410-752-7179 or email Lisa Ghinger (ghinger@christinnerharbor.org).

As this article is being written I am surrounded by silent auction donations and working on the Gala Program book. Today we received the news that we have $36,000 in corporate donations – a new record for the Gala. I just want to express my gratitude to the members of Christ Church. So many of you have bought tickets for the Gala and helped with silent auction donations.

With two emergency shelters for women and children closing this past year, it is clear to me that the commitment we enjoy from the people of Christ Church gives us a financial stability that other programs do not have. We are so grateful to our event chair – Connie Crabtree, who coordinates our event and prepares an incredible dinner in addition.

This year we were blessed to have Lisa Ghinger, our Development Director, connect many new donors to Baltimore Outreach Services. A wonderful Gala Committee worked hard for many months. We are so successful because our benefactors donate most of the costs of the Gala.

Thanks to Mary and Harold Graul for providing wine and great desserts, Connie Crabtree and Woody Burritt for donating the food and providing their catering services. Thanks to Bill Shupe, Lori Baskette, Jim Wilmer, and Carl Reavis for bartending.

We are incredibly grateful to all our volunteers who donated items for the silent auction, sold tickets, greeted guests, packaged auction items, created a beautiful space and cleaned up afterwards. The community was exceedingly supportive and many restaurants, shops and local attractions provided items for our silent auction.

We would not be able to serve homeless women and children in such a comprehensive way without the efforts of so many people working together. May God bless you as you bless the lives of others.

~Karen Adkins
Pastor's Weekly Letter >>
Daily Bible Readings >>
701 South Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21230
Church Office: 410-752-7179
Fax: 410-752-7881