Winter-Spring 2005
From the very first time John and Becky Jackson came to visit our Friday Night
Fellowship, they have been a big part of the group. John and Becky started
attending with their son, Lowell, early in 2004, and have been back nearly
every Friday since -- often bringing refreshments and/or a book, a tape, or a
scripture to share. John is an Adult Education graduate student at Cornell and
they attend church at Christ Chapel on Graham Road. They have made their
home in the Philipines before coming to Ithaca.
The Jacksons are full of the love of God and clearly much of their inspiration flows from their love of scripture. Our
Friday Night group has decided to read through the New Testament in 2005 and John has offered to lead a brief Bible
study once each month on topics such as "Christian Life" and "God's Grace."
On Fridays, John quietly talks and listens to the various members of the fellowship, always extending a warm hand
of friendship. He is also known to stop by a place of work to encourage someone, or just to say "hello." He goes out of
his way to help folks who need a ride or a helping hand when the need is really there. He often embraces inconvenience
with a willing spirit.
Becky loves to give of herself and is a "cheerful giver." She makes special dishes for any meal we plan, or just to
bring on Friday night. She makes time during the week to visit others and baby-sits in times of need. Many weeks she
and John have invited individuals and families from our Friday Fellowship over to their home for dinner.
The Jacksons really embody the Biblical challenge to "love your neighbor as yourself." They are both "mercy
givers" who excercise wisdom and grace. John and Becky are a wonderful example of service within our Partnership.
Thank you John, Becky, and Lowell!
Volunteer Spotlight: The Jacksons
Back in the mid-19th century, there were religious and benevolent organiza-
tions (generally formed by church women) called "Cent societies" which
obtained one-cent-a-week pledges from congregation members. Reflecting
on that a just bit, although a penny was worth a lot more back then, 1ยข must
have been an affordable amount for most people -- which grew into useful
funding when people joined themselves together in sufficient numbers.
The Community Faith Partnership would like to explore how powerful a
similar strategy might be on the scale of $1 per week. Without asking for
pledges, we are asking for friends of the Faith Partnership to consider setting
aside $1/week for supporting the work of this outreach ministry.
Please consider what $1/week will fund:
One Seed Partner =
$1/week x 52 weeks will fund 52 Holistic Hardware Bibles for our jail
Two Seed Partners =
$1/week x 104 weeks will fund a full year of our new Website's hosting
Four Hundred Seed Partners =
$1/week x 20,800 weeks will fund CFP's Office Staff support for a full year
Can You be a Seed Partner?
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard
seed, which a man took and planted in
his field. Though it is the smallest of all
your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the
largest of garden plants and becomes a
tree, so that the birds of the air come
and perch in its branches."
(Matthew 13:31-32)