Many people think of giving gifts like clothes or jewelry to their loved ones, but what about the gift of life?
Members of Oxford United Methodist Church decided this year to take part in the National Donor Sabbath on Sunday, Nov. 12 to learn more about saving lives and how to spread the word.
National Donor Sabbath (NDS) is when members of faith communities focus on the life-affirming gifts of hope passed together by organ, tissue, marrow and blood donors.
As of April 2006, more than 92,000 people were on the organ transplant waiting list, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Many churches will participate in NDS services and programs to increase awareness of donation and transplantation and the critical need for both.
At OUMC, Marianne McMunn, wife of pastor Doug McMunn, will be speaking on her experiences on both sides of the organ donation process.
McMunn’s brother, Marvin, was suffering from congestive heart failure at the age of 39 and was on the heart transplant waiting list for four years before receiving one in 2004.
Her sermon titled ‘My Brother’s Miracle? will be presented at the church’s 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. service on Sunday.
McMunn will also be sharing about an emotional time when a family friend was dying in the hospital and gave his organs to help save someone else’s life.
‘In essence, that’s really what organ donations do,? she said. ‘It could give someone their wife, daughter or husband back.?
After McMunn’s sermon, church members will pass out donor cards and will have more information about organ and tissue donations.
‘Hopefully, we can encourage more people to sign up to be donors,? McMunn said.
For more information on the National Donor Sabbath, visit www.organdonor.gov.