What was the Clothing Connection? The Clothing Connection was a one-day clothing give-away – from the people of Trinity to the surrounding community (more information here). The following verse is excerpted from a beautifully written prayer given by Trinity member, and co-Lay Leader, Gail Stewart:
Each gift of clothing, people so generously made to Trinity, was made in love and sacrificially. Someone loved these clothes at one time. They were worn by their family, their babies, their children, themselves. They worked hard for the money to buy these things; some were given to them by loved ones and have special meaning. They took really good care of them; then they took the time to offer them- in humility to the Clothing Connection team, not concerning themselves with whether or not they would be judged as worthy enough offerings, but just offering them. Some were inspired by Beverly, out of her comfort zone standing before them in a red hat – all three services, asking for their help- others gave for other reasons, but all seemed to give. The team worked tirelessly, sorting, stacking, boxing, transporting, unboxing, sizing, stacking again, resorting, restacking, hanging, resorting, caring for, and producing a beautiful display to offer to who ever God brought to receive these gifts.
The invitation to share, and the love expressed through each piece offered, seemed to make the recipients humble, and they joyfully found lovely gifts freely given, not withheld, and blessed by You, God from the beginning to the end of the process.
For God. We all have within us a creative jewel- a piece of the Holy Creator, who made us and all of everything- and in our lonely quiet moments before the day begins, we sometimes have a stirring, a little vision, a tiny spark, a dream. And if we are brave, we share it! With a friend perhaps and sometimes it ignites and receives a little fuel to begin to grow and soon the little idea becomes something viable- like a seed receiving enough light, nutrition, water and energy to sprout and grow- thus The Clothing Connection.
May every person who helped in this endeavor be richly blessed. The visionary, the support team, the benevolent ones who gave and made it possible, the by- standers, the recipients, the saints in Heaven who have gone before and the ones who will come after – even the doubters – may extravagant generosity be glorified! May God bless all of this and may everyone who accepts and wears one of these offerings be wrapped in love and joy and God’s immense and amazing grace. May all those who offered their precious time, limited energy and many various resources receive doubly back and know that they, in fact, made a wise and a good choice.
