We are already getting in to the “giving season” – Christmas music is play, Christmas-themed commercials are on TV and the radio. In the Christian community, we give at Christmas out of gratitude for the gift of God’s son, Jesus. We give to show our love and appreciation for people who touch our lives: family, friends, co-workers, teachers.

Quite often, the people who receive our gifts already have enough – enough food, clothing, shelter, medicine. #GivingTuesday is a way to give to the many in our communities and our world who don’t have enough.

#GivingTuesday is not a new giving platform, but a call to action to celebrate giving and encourage more, better and smarter giving during the Holiday Season. It’s an organizing principle to encourage the creativity and energy of people all over the world to work together for good.

GivingTuesday 2012 highlights:

• GivingTuesday was a new national day of giving added to the calendar on November 27, 2012, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
• Families and individuals were encouraged to be generous in whatever ways mattered to them, whether that meant volunteering at a local charity or donating to a favorite cause.
• Over 2,500 charities, volunteer organizations, corporations and foundations came together in all 50 U.S. states with one common purpose — to help others and incentivize ways to give more, give smarter, and celebrate the great American spirit of contribution.

How you can participate…

• Bethel is participating as part of our Stewardship ministry (using our time, talent and treasure in the here, near and far). Since we already have partnerships with organizations in Manassas and around the world, we encourage you to work either directly or through the church with these.
  • See our website (www.BethelManassas.org) for more information and links to the SERVE food pantry and homeless shelter, Friends of Namibian Children, Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response.
  • Follow Bethel on Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtag #GivingTuesday. We’ll post comments, questions and suggestions periodically.
  • Take pictures of ways you serve and post on Instagram using hashtag #GivingTuesday
• For congregations and organizations interested in taking part, go to givingtuesday.org.