Christmas Treat for 130 Poor Students from St Ann’s B Ed/M Ed
Christmas Treat for 130 Poor Students of St Ann’s High school-Mangalore from St Anne’s B Ed and M Ed thereby showing the spirit of Sharing and Giving during Christmas Season- Luke 6:38 : Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Acts 20:35 : In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Mangaluru: According to Romans 13:8 : “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” -and Christmas is the perfect time to show love towards each other. Yes, the Christmas season is upon us again. The stores are all ready for the shoppers trying to find the perfect gift. Christmas music is heard everywhere you go, and carolers have been visiting homes to raise money for charity. It’s an exciting, yet somewhat stressful time for many families. For those with loved ones or friends that they are able to share the holidays with, it is a happy time. It offers an opportunity to get together under joyful circumstances and enjoy each other’s company. Most of us love to be able to have all or near all our loved ones around us for a short time again.
Sadly, there are many others that look at the holidays as a time that emphasizes their financial drawbacks and poorness. We usually don’t have to look far to find someone that doesn’t have family or close friends to share the holidays with, or those who are less fortunate. Why not reach out to someone this Christmas season? There are so many great ways to reach out…perhaps give the needy some financial help or give them food and other necessities, help your Church with their community reach out projects, purchase gifts for struggling families,etc etc There is no end to ways that you can be a blessing to others during this time of year.
Even though times may be tighter for some of us right now, we still have so much to give. If you can’t afford to give financially, why not offer your time? For too long many of us have made Christmas a time of meeting our own needs. Though there is nothing wrong with sharing and giving to those we love, the opportunity to give to others outside our inner circle provides us with a blessing greater than anything we will feel or receive from any gift under the tree.
The Bible has many verses on giving…why not take this Christmas season to live them out? Like in Proverbs 11:24,25: it says, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed”. In Luke 6:38, it is said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Truly, some of the happiest people I know are the most giving people. Stinginess does not bring happiness. It may thicken a wallet or bank account but it does not bring real joy. Giving does!
So, as part of the community service and with joy of giving, sharing and reaching out to the under privileged children of St Ann’s High School- Mangaluru, the students and staff of St Ann’s College of Education (B Ed and M Ed)-Mangaluru organized a Christmas project with a splash of dance, drama, songs and music, on 6 December at the B Ed Hall. Prior to the formal programme, various games /sports were conducted for nearly 130 students of St Ann’s High School. Following the sports activity, a cultural programme was arranged by the B Ed and M Ed students marking the significance of Christmas.
The programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a welcome prayer dance, followed by welcome address by Sr Florita, a B Ed student. Fr Joseph Varghese, a M Ed student briefed the gathering about the significance of Christmas, which was followed a skit depicting the Birth of Jesus Christ, well enacted by the B Ed and M Ed students, which received a loud applaud from the audience. The narrator of the skit were Asha D’Souza and Anna Crasta, both B Ed students. The cultural programme also included some group songs of Christmas.
The chief guest for he occasion was Sr Edna Furtado AC-Joint Secretary, St Ann’s Institutions, joined by other dignitaries on he dais namely- Dr Sr Claire AC- Principal, St Ann’s College of Education; Sr Elena AC- Headmistress, St Ann’s High School; also joined by staff, teaching and non-teaching of St Ann’s College of Education; and St Ann’s High School. In her speech, Sr Edna Furtado AC quoting John 3: 16 said, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God loves you so much that he sent Jesus on a mission of love with a message of love. Christmas is a yearly reminder that God loves you. The Bible says God is love. It doesn’t say God has love; it says God is love. Love is his nature; God is love.”
Sr Edna further said, ” God created the entire universe. He created this planet; he created the human race; then, he created you because he loves you. It could be said the reason you’re alive is because God created you as an object of his love. God made you so he could love you and so that you could love him. God’s love for you is the reason your heart is beating right now; it’s the reason you’re breathing. God’s good news is that he loves you on your good days as much as he loves you on your bad days. He loves you when you can feel his love, and he loves you when you can’t seem to feel his love. He loves you regardless of whether or not you think you deserve his love. And Christmas is a very good time to show our love to each other, and also love God”
Sr Claire AC also addressing the audience said, ” Children you should remember that your elders, namely the B Ed and M Ed who teach, have come forward by showing their love towards through this programme, and they have offered you gifts. It’s a great way of love from teachers to students. There is nothing you can do that will make God stop loving you. You could try, but you simply can’t do it – because his love for you is based upon his character and not on anything you do or say or feel. When the baby Jesus grows into a man, he will stretch his arms out as wide as the cross, saying, “I love you this much! I love you so much it hurts. I love you so much I’ll die for you so that I won’t have to live without you.”
During the occasion the children were given gifts and winners in the sports meet were handed over prizes. The surprise for the children was the guest appearance of Santa Claus, who treated the children with sweets and gifts. Santa did put miles of smiles o the faces of these less fortunate children, and made a difference in their lives. Sr Prashanthi Monis, a B Ed sudent proposed the vote of thanks, and the entire programme was professionally compered by Preethi Martha D’souza and Disha D’souza.
While concluding, so this Christmas season remember Ephesians 2:10, ” For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Go out and be a blessing to others and do good works! Wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year well in advance.