I “met” a nice person through Etsy last week- Maria was one of my new shop’s first customers. She purchased a set of six white vintage custard cups.
In the course of our conversation back and forth I learned that Maria had purchased the cups to use at a ladies mission’s tea at her church last Sunday afternoon. The seven tables at the tea were all decorated with a Christmas theme. Among the items on the “menu” of events for the tea was Christmas music, as well as a presentation from a missionary about the work they are doing.
The holiday tea was a fundraiser for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. As I didn’t know of Lottie Moon, I did a little research to learn more. Southern Baptist churches collect the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. Every penny of the offering goes to the International Mission Board’s overseas budget, to support the missionaries and their work.
I further learned that Lottie Moon had been a missionary for 39 years, mostly in China’s Shantung province. She taught in a girls’ school and often made trips into China’s interior to share the good news with women and girls. In 1918, Woman’s Missionary Union named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it. Lottie Moon died in 1912, but her legacy is alive and well, thanks to efforts like those in Maria’s church in South Carolina. To read more, check out this website: http://www.tlogical.net/biolmoon.htm
Maria was kind enough to send a photo of the table setting where she used the custard cups she had purchased. It’s lovely! The table has an inviting elegant feeling … beautifully appointed. I applaud their efforts. What a nice way to start the holiday season…
Thanks for sharing, Maria!
