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Imagine. You are given a gift dressed in silver and tied round with ribbons and bows. You are excited and eager to  open your present to discover what treasure might be inside. This tradition will be experienced and enjoyed in many homes in the UK this Christmas. Each year the Open Door Charity serving refugees and asylum seekers on Teesside prepares a surprise box for them. Inside will be placed various donated items including toiletries, sweets, stationery, hats and gloves. Each one will be hand delivered and gratefully received.  Over the years the Open Door Charity has hosted a number of events which have brought joy and God’s light into the hearts of the people they serve. Preparing Christmas dinner and showing a short sketch of the nativity has been a popular event. The highlight of the year is our Christmas concert hosted by Jubilee Church Teesside. Here the combination of Christmas songs and popular remixes along with light-hearted humour are served up to a full house! Families and friends enjoy an action- packed evening knowing their donations will be given to support the work of Open Door. The show is always sponsored by various local businesses who give generously to the charity. With many of our refugees and asylum seekers separated from loved ones and family, Christmas can be a lonely and difficult time. Therefore families at Jubilee Church often share hospitality with those in need by eating, talking and playing games together. We have so much to learn from others. Making and giving things to others has always been enjoyed by our refugee and asylum seeker church community. One year four of our asylum seekers at church painted scenes which we used on the front of Christmas cards which were sold to raise money for Open Door. Many have enjoyed the warmth of being together round a Christmas tree singing carols and praying to Jesus and we are looking forward to more of the same this year! By Gill Sweeney |
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