Merry Christmas!

Philip Hayden Reunion Planning January 25th!

June 19 - 21 Salem will host families who have adopted children fostered by The Philip Hayden Foundation, a Salem Outreach Partner. Tim Baker, founder of PHF, will be traveling from Tianjin, China for this special time of fellowship, as well. We have a place for you to serve on this team...hospitality, host homes, picnic, fun & games and much more!! We hope to see you at the planning meeting January 25th! Contact Heather Bench at hbench@woh.rr.com for more information.

Adoption/Foster Family Community Group Calendar

Our community group is open to families touched by adoption and/or foster care. We're also open to grandparents, aunts & uncles who would like to support our families. Our group plans fun events for all ages!! We hope you will join us the second Friday of the month from 6:00 - 8:00 in the Fellowship Hall.

January 9 - So, How Was Your Holiday? Tonight we will spend time visiting, playing and planning for our next group event, Shoes for Orphan Souls to take place in February.

February 13 - The Men's Ministry is hosting a Valentine Dinner. Purchase your ticket and sit at our table for food, fun and adult time! Childcare provided by the Men's Ministry. Be sure to see the Happenings for ticket details or contact Craig DeNise at c.denise@salemchurch.org.

March 13 - March into spring as we fellowship and learn about the ten children we sponsor from Children of Promise. We will be writing letters, making cards and creating artwork to send to these special children.

God's Embroidery to Collect Shoes for Orphan Souls

Since 1999, Buckner has sent more than 1.5 million pairs of new shoes to at-risk children in the United States and around the Globe.

"We have seen the smiles that a new pair of shoes brings to these children, and we want to extend that same joy to others like them," said Rachel Garton, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls. "Because of God's Embroidery's commitment to this program, we can continue to increase the number of kids who will benefit."

"Millions of children reside in orphanages throughout our world," said Rachel Garton, "and those orphanages are not receiving enough money to care for the children's most basic needs."
Among those basic needs, Garton said, is somethingmost of us take for granted. "I've been in orphanages where I've seen children wearing shoes several sizes too small or falling off their feet."

Donated items should be for children and teens and due to customs regulations, shoes and socks need to be brand new. Especially needed are boys athletic shoes sizes 1-12 and all sizes of winter boots. Place the donated shoes in the big "shoe box" located in the lobby and join us on Saturday, February 28, 2009 for packing of all the donated shoes. For more information, contact Heather Bench at hbench@woh.rr.com.