December 27th 2024.
On a chilly autumn day, Rev. Shawana McGee was reminded of the importance of caring for others when she encountered some children at La Grange's First Baptist Church without socks on their feet. Despite the impending winter weather, these children were left without the basic necessity of warm socks. In response, Rev. Shawana and her team quickly took action by heading to Walgreen's and purchasing two packages of socks. As she asked, who would want to be out in the snow with no socks on their feet, it became clear to her that this mission of caring and helping others was one that needed to continue.
And so, on Christmas day, the Caring Place Foundation held its 22nd Annual Christmas Greatest Gift celebration and dinner at First Baptist Church. This event, founded by Rev. Shawana, aimed to provide refuge for at-risk youth and make a positive impact on every child's life. The dinner drew in about 75 people, all coming together to celebrate the birth of Christ and enjoy a warm and hearty meal.
Rev. Shawana, who is also a La Grange trustee, explained that the idea for the Greatest Gift dinner came from her desire to give something special to those who may feel alone or unworthy during the holidays. She wanted to make a difference in someone's life and show them that they are loved. Along with providing meals, the team also took the time to talk to each person and find out if there were any other needs they could help with.
One attendee, Paul Nowicki from La Grange, shared how grateful he was to have a place to celebrate Christmas after losing his wife just a few months prior. He was invited to the event by the former owners of his retirement community and has found comfort and a sense of connection through attending. Rev. Maurice McGee, co-pastor with Shawana, opened the service with a prayer, followed by a beautiful rendition of "Angels We Have Heard On High" led by soprano Kathy Doyle.
The church's children's choir also performed, and Rev. Craig Wells from Sign of the Cross Ministries in La Grange delivered a message of hope. Rev. Maurice spoke about how the commercialization of Christmas can often overshadow the true meaning of the holiday. He reminded everyone that the reason for all the festivities is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and that is something worth celebrating.
Despite the slightly lower attendance this year, Rev. Shawana and her team were confident that they had spread the word and done their best to reach out to the community. Many volunteers also showed up to help make the dinner and service run smoothly. One volunteer, a woman from nearby Brookfield who preferred to be known as Karlen, shared that Christmas is all about giving back to the community and she felt blessed to be a part of it.
For Rev. Maurice, this event was just an extension of his larger calling to spread love, hope, and faith through the teachings of Jesus. As he reminded the congregation, without Jesus, where would they be? He encouraged everyone to continue praising and thanking Him for all the good things in their lives. As the service ended and everyone left with full bellies and hearts, it was clear that the true spirit of Christmas was alive and well at First Baptist Church.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
