Asbury UMC Angel Tree. Courtesy Asbury Facebook.

We are familiar with the Salvation Army Angel Tree program that helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. People pick a gift tag from the tree, purchase the item on the tag, and bring the gifts back to the same location. Asbury UMC’s Angel Trees provide a similar experience but also offer an opportunity to participate in giving online.  

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota congregation has three worshipping communities– a traditional worship experience, a contemporary worship experience, and a digital campus. Asbury United Methodist Church has an online campus that started during the pandemic and has emerged into a ministry connecting with people who are members of Asbury UMC and others who are new to the church.

Each year the Sioux Falls, South Dakota congregation sets up two trees with tags bearing gift requests for Cayman Court and Laura  Wilder  Elementary School. Members at Asbury can purchase the items and bring them to the church or purchase them online and have them delivered. The online option attracted people who are part of the Asbury Digital Campus to give.

“We use Sign-up Genius for our online people,” describes Rev. Kip Roozen, the lead pastor at Asbury UMC. “One couple, who worships with us from another state, purchased the gifts and had them shipped.”

Cayman Court, located in Northwest Sioux Falls, is an assisted-living facility for people with severe mental illness. 

Christmas gifts ready for delivery.

“The residents create their wish lists. The requests are for things like a stick of deodorant, a 12-pack of Coke, and a Walmart gift card. People pick a tag with one of the wishes and bring it back. Everything is wrapped and delivered to Cayman Court by our mission team,” describes Pastor Kip. “It is a simple way to bring the joy of Christmas to people.”

The second Asbury Angel Tree has tags with items requested by teachers at Laura Wilder  Elementary School. Asbury UMC is located across the street and has formed a partnership with the school.

“Laura Wilder is a signature ministry for us,” said Roozen. “We have adopted the 22 classrooms. Members of our congregation sign up to help in the classroom, provide items needed throughout the school year, send notes of encouragement, and bring treats or meals to the teachers. Each Christmas, we take requests from classroom teachers for the Angel Tree. This year we had 19 requests.”

Items requested from the teachers are reading books, games, puzzles, or school supplies. Roozen shares that congregation members are ready to respond to whatever is needed throughout the year.

“We recently had a request for snow pants for a little boy, with a size 45-inch waist. The boy’s mother is struggling after the death of his father. One of our members purchased adult-sized snow pants, hemmed them up, and delivered them to the school,” said Pastor Kip. “She was happy to serve. People have responded well.”

When it snows, teachers and staff from the school will park in Asbury’s parking lot until snow removal on the streets surrounding the school is completed. “The school knows, if there is a need, they can turn to the church,” Roozen said.

Asbury Digital Campus continues to grow connections. Recently, a couple from a church in Iowa joined the digital campus after their local church disaffiliated from The United Methodist Church.

Pastor Kip said, “They have been faithful participants and givers. They recently stopped by to visit in person and look at Laura B. Anderson. It is a chance for us to reach people we never thought we would reach.”