Christmas at grace cafe

For five dates this December, FIBC has the opportunity to partner with our friends at Grace Cafe. Grace Cafe is a ministry supported by the Danish Blue Cross that serves one of the most overlooked and underserved populations in Denmark: homeless and undocumented migrants. Most of these men and women are from Africa and Eastern Europe and have come to Copenhagen for numerous reasons: many live rough on the streets - collecting bottles for the pant money and working odd jobs, but all have left their families and friends back home. 

For the past 3 years, FIBC has partnered with Grace Cafe to help provide basic services to these men and women - preparing meals, buying groceries, and sharing our time and prayers with them. This Christmas, we are proud to once again partner with Grace Cafe to help show God's love and grace to those in need. 

There are three ways that YOU CAN HELP 'Give Compassion' this holiday season:

1. Volunteer at the Grace Cafe's dinner & shelter on one or more of the following dates: Dec 2, Dec 7, Dec 17, and Dec 19. The basic plan for those evenings is to arrive at Kristuskirken at 19:00 for dinner with the other volunteers, then at 19:30 the doors of the shelter open and we will help serve the homeless men and women a warm dinner and spend time fellowshipping together with them. Volunteers for these evenings will also be asked to help with washing up, taking the trash out, and being available for any little tasks that may arise. For each date, 5 - 10 volunteers are needed from 19:00 - 23:00 (if you have kids and you need to leave earlier than 23:00, that is, of course, okay).

*Note: Anyone who would like to help even further, can also volunteer to stay the night at the church (from 23:00 - 07:00) as part of the city's safety protocol requirements. This is a serious need for the Grace Cafe team, so let Austin know if you are available or if you have questions.

2. Come and join / support / volunteer at the annual Grace Cafe Christmas celebration on December 24. The details for this event are still being finalized, but this is an opportunity to give our homeless friends a proper Christmas meal and a time of celebration. More details to come (I believe this event happens around midday, early afternoon).

3. If you can't participate in one of the above hands on volunteer opportunities, you can still provide gifts for the Grace Cafe Christmas party. Practical items that the homeless need everyday: water bottles, warm socks, gloves, hats, tooth brushes, disposal pocket warmers, vitamins, tissues, etc. This gifts will be collected during Sunday services at FIBC starting on December 1. 

If you would like to participate in any (or all) of these Christmas volunteer / service opportunities - please email me today (austin@fibc.dk). 

FIBC + Grace Cafe Volunteers, from Christmastime 2013.

FIBC + Grace Cafe Volunteers from 2014.

FIBC + Grace Cafe Volunteers from 2014.

FIBC DAY 2015

Well, the string of gorgeous sunshine-filled FIBC Days may have been broken this year, but that didn't do anything to dampen the spirit of this year's event. International potluck foods, meat off the grill, testimonies, and games made for a wonderful and memorable day. As you will see in the photos below, it takes a lot more than temperamental weather to ruin an FIBC event. 

Thanks to all who participated in FIBC Day, can't wait for next year!

A great big thank you to Rochelle Coote for the extraordinary photos. 

FIBC SUMMER BAZAAR

On Saturday, August 22 FIBC organized our first ever Church Bazaar in the courtyard of Kristuskirken. By all accounts, the Bazaar was a great success - a day full of sunshine, fellowship, face painting, delicious food, and bargains, bargains, bargains.

Over the past few months, as the event took shape, different people in the church stepped forward as volunteers to manage tables selling gently used items, make delicious food to sell, and run fun activities as well as do the ever important set up and break down. Many others who could not attend donated items to sell and lifted up prayers for a successful event... and no rain!

The loppemarked (Danish for 'flea market') side was organized into departments featuring adult clothing, children's clothing, books, toys, music, electronics, household goods/miscellaneous. The food table overflowed with asian noodles, egg rolls, cookies, carrot cakes, pinwheel rolls, pizza rolls, pakoras, brittle, soda, juice, coffee, and tea. Cheery jazz music wafted through the air as faces were painted, cupcakes were decorated, temporary tattoos were applied, golf putts found their hole, and a haircut was given.

In looking back at our first church bazaar, we can count it as a success in many ways. First of all, all who participated had a great time. Secondly, we raised an impressive 15,000 kroner while reaching out to the community to let them know that we are a vibrant congregation made up of people who both love the Lord and each other. We also built relationships among ourselves by working side by side enjoying a fun day of fellowship in perfect weather. Of course, there were some things that worked better than others, and we will try to learn from those observations when we hold the next bazaar. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day special - each contribution was a blessing. If you have ideas on how to make the next Bazaar even better, or if you would like to help organize the next event, please talk to Cyndi at church or email council@fibc.dk.

Text Contributed by Cyndi.