This week, we remember Bob Carlson, whose birthday is March 25, and we give thanks for the legacy of compassion he left among us. After Bob’s passing, a special fund was created through memorial gifts, and today it continues because of your generosity. If you feel called, I invite you to join in this ministry, whether with a one-time gift or ongoing support. You can use this LINK to give. If you prefer a check or cash, please include a note to direct it to the Bob Carlson Compassion Fund. Checks or cash may be dropped off at the office.

I want to share just two glimpses of what that compassion looks like in real life.

Not too long ago, a woman and her teenage son reached out. They had been evicted, and everything they owned was in storage, about to be auctioned off. They asked for just enough help to buy a little more time. Because of this fund, we were able to pay it down to zero and give them breathing room to begin again.

Another family, with a young child, had been displaced by a medical crisis. They were staying in a hotel and needed just one more week before moving into a new home and starting a new job. Without help, they would have been sleeping in their car during that last snowstorm. Because of this fund, they didn’t have to.

This is what Bob’s compassion looks like, alive and moving among us.

My husband and I have made the decision to give to this fund on a recurring basis, in addition to our regular offering, because I see firsthand the profound relief and gratitude it brings to our neighbors in moments of real crisis.

Thank you for being a part of Bob’s vision and caring for God’s beloved ones. ~ Pastor Desirée