Cornerstone UMC in Jonesboro will be hosting its Glorious Giving Market on Saturday, November 15th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The purpose of the market is to provide opportunities for donations and gifts to be given to missions in honor, or in memory, of loved ones this Christmas. In addition, it is to be a special time of fellowship for church family, friends, and other United Methodists with whom we hope to work together to further God’s Kingdom.
Patricia Harlan, chair of the Glorious Giving Market Committee, said “it is impossible to help all the wonderful missions, our Glorious Giving Market Committee decided to choose six that were dear to our hearts. Jesus said to go into all the world, so we wanted to include some international missions, some local, and some that helped both in other countries and at home.”
The six featured missions include UMCOR, Heifer International, Methodist Family Health of Arkansas, a mission in Nepal, Helping Neighbors Food Pantry, and Hope House. The featured missions have varied some over the years, but the goal has remained the same.
Of course, the most important reason for having the Glorious Giving Market is to help those in need and to help make Christmas more of a celebration of Christ’s birth and perhaps a bit less materialistic. “While we don’t want to take away the excitement of children and others as they open packages at Christmas time, concern for those in need can and should be added to the significance of Christmas,” Harlan said.
“One thing I love about Cornerstone’s Glorious Giving Market is that it broadens our view of our Great Commission calling and invites others to be a part of it,” said Cornerstone UMC Pastor Jonathan Griesse. “Sharing the love of Jesus, ‘in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ doesn’t happen unless we’re intentional. And we can only be intentional if we’re aware of what God’s doing in those places.”
Other features of the market will include a bakery filled with goodies, entertainment by the Turnip Greens as well as church children, youth and individuals, a mission Christmas tree where an ornament will be added each time a mission gift is given, and Mission Café where a delicious lunch may be purchased. The profits from the Café and bakery benefit this year’s featured missions.
Rev. Griesse shared that the homemade spaghetti and meatballs are the feature dish on this year’s menu. “I’m just as excited about the food in the Mission Café as the ministry booths! The Belvedresi family’s made-from-scratch Italian meatballs are famous in Northwest Arkansas, and now my friend John Belvedresi is coming over to share his culinary talents with Northeast Arkansas too.”
Cornerstone’s first Glorious Giving Market was held in 2006. “The title for our mission fair was chosen because we wanted our efforts, to help those in need, to be for the Glory of God. Our church continued to have the Glorious Giving Market each year through 2018,” said Harlan. Though they’ve been unable to have the Market over the last six years, they’re excited for what this year will bring.
The Glorious Giving Market also provides a wonderful time for fellowship as the Cornerstone family works together the day of the market and while preparing for the market.
“It takes a lot of hard work and planning by a lot of people, but it will be a huge blessing! It’s the generosity of our people that will make this a success,” Rev. Griesse said. Sunday School classes and groups sponsor mission booths. People volunteer to greet, cook, and serve food in the mission cafe, prepare goods for the bakery, participate in the entertainment, help with decorating as well as the set up and take down.
So save the date to attend this special Market!
Where: Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 1910 Disciple Drive, Jonesboro, AR. (Between Ace Hardware and NEA Clinic on Highway 49 North)
More information about this year’s six missions that will benefit from the Glorious Giving Market:
- Heifer International A nonprofit mission that works to end world hunger by giving income-producing livestock or other helpful means to impoverished families.
- UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Provides immediate relief when disaster from any cause strikes anywhere in the world.
- Arkansas Methodist Family Health Provides comprehensive behavioral health care to Arkansas Children and Families each day.
- Helping Neighbors Food Pantry Operates an inter-faith food pantry which provides limited emergency services to Craighead County Residents who are in need.
- Nepal A mission to support pastors and lay people who are working to spread the gospel in their country.
- Hope House Provides free and confidential services for homeless and low income men, women, children and families regardless of religion, race or age.
