Students embrace the spirit of Christmas

From sending gifts to other children around the world, to sponsoring families in need, to entertaining older adults, students of The Lutheran Schools spread the spirit of Christmas in many ways in 2011.Here are just a few examples.One of the most ambitious projects took place at Central Lutheran School in New Haven, where students packed more than 400 shoeboxes with gifts for less fortunate children all over the globe. Central’s effort was part of Operation Christmas Child, a program of Samaritan’s Purse, an international nondenominational evangelical Christian organization. Students at Emmanuel–St. Michael Lutheran School also participated in Operation Christmas Child, filling more than 100 shoeboxes with gifts.Students from several schools entertained older adults. In fact, students from St. John Lutheran School in Kendallville presented a condensed version of their Christmas musical program to residents at a local retirement community. Sponsoring children and families in need was also part of spreading Christmas cheer. For example, students at Concordia Lutheran High School sponsored 39 families through the Christmas Bureau, and Bethlehem Lutheran School in Ossian “adopted” 43 area children from families in need during Emmanuel Project 2011.“Parents, teachers, administrators—everyone associated with our schools—can take great pride in the way our students give of their time, talent, and treasure to help others, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year,” says Mark Muehl, director of the The Lutheran Schools Partnership.“But it comes as no surprise,” Muehl adds. “Serving others, being good citizens, making good decisions—these are qualities The Lutheran Schools strive to instill in all their students because of Jesus’ impact in our lives.”