FUMC Baskets of Hope

As many of you know, Joe took his journey Home December 2004. During the hours my family and I spent in the ICU waiting room, we prayed. We prayed for Joe's healing, but we also prayed that God's will would be done and that He would give us the strength to accept His will.

We also prayed that whatever the outcome, that some good would come from his illness; regardless of the outcome. Because Joe was good. He started each day by reading Titus 3:1 . . . be ready to do whatever is good. And that was his goal for the day, to be ready to do whatever was good.

As one long day in the ICU waiting room passed into another long day some friends brought a basket of goodies to us. It had bottled water, non-perishable snacks, tylonal, lip balm and a comforting card, letting us know that they were praying for Joe. Many families shared this basket with us. And so an idea began to form.

What if we took a basket each week to the ICU waiting room? And we prayed, Lord, what do you think? And Titus 3:1 would come to mind, “be ready to do whatever is good…”

So after much prayer, I thought this is a good thing. People come to the waiting room at all hours of the day and night, not knowing how long they will be there. Not knowing when they will be able to even leave the waiting room; because if you leave, you risk the chance that you may miss the doctor. And besides the brief visits with your loved one, this is the most important part of your day in the ICU waiting room.

But, I also thought, this could be a great ministry. It could be a family project, a project even the little ones could get involved with.

As the seeds of the idea became a flower, I prayed “Lord, what should we call this ministry?” And again, the Lord came through, as He always does. I thought of our own miracle child. Hope Irlbeck. Baskets of Hope. Everyone needs hope, hope your loved one will be ok. Hope that if God chooses to take your loved one home that He will carry you through the darkest valley of your life. And the hope that you will see the mountain top again . . . even though, you know the mountain top will never look the same again. With Jesus, you have hope.

So, today we would like to launch this new ministry, Baskets of Hope. We would like to take one basket each week to the ICU waiting room. We only need 52 families to sign up to put together a basket to provide a weekly basket for an entire year.

Tags will be provided. One side will read “Baskets of Hope” provided and prayed for by “ your family name ; the other side would read: “ If you would like additional prayers for you and your loved one, please call the First United Methodist Church, Canyon 655-2851.”

After the basket is put together, and before delivering the basket to the hospital, please gather your family around the basket and pray that the families who will be partaking of the contents will feel the love of Jesus wrapped warmly around them and no matter the outcome, Jesus will be there each step of the way; because He has a plan for each of us. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us this “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”

Please pray about this new ministry. Let the Lord lead you and guide you. If you feel the tug in your heart that this is something your family would like to participate in, call the church office 655-2851or me, Pam, at 655-7903.