The Gift of Promise
January 2025
Happy New Year!
What a joy & a wonder it is to ponder the possibilities of a new season. While the sorrows & struggles of this past year may still linger on into the days ahead, a marvelous opportunity exists for us to gather our courage & dare to dream again. As we make plans, set new goals, & declare our resolutions, let us move forward with confidence & determination, trusting that the One who has led us this far will continue to carry us & pick us up in our moments of weakness.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Look straight ahead, & fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
– Proverbs 4:23, 25-27
We are resolved to live into God’s very best for our lives, even if it does not come naturally—especially when it’s tough! Let’s press in, ask God what He would have us surrender to Him in 2025, & then do it with the knowledge that He is a good Father with great plans for His children!
The Greatest Gift Exchange
There is no better way to celebrate the end of a great program year than to throw a big party, & there’s no better time to party than Christmastime! The Greatest Gift Exchange Christmas party has become one of our favorite NoCo traditions because of the immense joy it brings to our students & the amazing donors who send them Christmas presents.
Our small team hosted the evening festivities at Home of the Nomad, NoCo’s artist residence. Lights & decorations filled each room, & all the gifts sat neatly wrapped under our Christmas tree. With blazing hearths, simmering hot chocolate, & several gingerbread houses under construction, the air was saturated with holiday fragrances. A Muppet Christmas Carol played in the entertainment room for anyone who needed a place to sit & relax away from the noise. The whole house was filled with that warm, cozy feeling everyone longs for during Christmas, which set the mood just right for our students.
Before we got around to opening presents, we had our students sit in our living room & read the Christmas story together. We read from Luke, chapter 2, & had a brief discussion about what the birth of Christ means for us. The beautiful moment of still reverence passed all too quickly, but we were thankful for the chance to talk about the meaning of Christmas & our hope of salvation before we ended our year with them.
After the message, we exchanged some hilarious “White Elephant” gifts, which had the whole room in an uproar of laughter. Some of the highlights included a GoKart for ages 2-7, a bag full of plush octopus toys, & an outrageous wig made from real hair! Then the real gifts came. We loved watching the expressions on our students’ faces when they opened up their presents to find just what they wanted, but we were even happier to see them show their friends & celebrate each others’ joy.
If you are enjoying the pictures, please tap on the link below to see the FULL GALLERY of photos from our party!! Follow us on social media for even more content.
We would like to thank all the volunteers who helped host the party, including the incredible staff from The Shepherd’s Door & our illustrious photographer Dave Hochendoner. We would also like to thank our extremely generous donors who gave above & beyond this year! Finally, thank you, our NoCo Family, for supporting our ministry & covering us in prayer. We believe we are making an impact in the city of Pittsburgh that will last generations, & we are doing it together.
Upcoming Events
Open Studios
The Novelty Collective is relaunching Open Studios at The COVE Art Center on February 22, 2025, from 11:00am - 5:00pm! If you have the creative itch but can’t seem to find the right time or space to make art, this event is for you. Work on a project you have been putting off, start something new, or come & connect with other artists in the community. You can drop in at any time & leave when you want. All of our studio spaces, tools, & art supplies are at your disposal for free! Learn more about Open Studios on our website & use our event calendar widget to easily save the date to your prefered digital calendar. Don’t forget to invite a friend!
You can expect the first Open Studios of the year to be more relaxed & free-flowing, but we will occasionally host classes & workshops throughout the year. If you are interested in sharing your skills with others at an Open Studios event, we would love to hear from you (we pay)! Please send us a message to start the conversation.
Make sure to follow us on social media & bookmark The Novelty Collective website to stay updated on our Open Studios schedule! Open Studios will occur once a month, usually on the fourth Saturday.
Mother’s Day Art Market
While making the time to create is a difficult task on its own, finding the right avenue to share or sell one’s artwork is an even greater challenge that will stop many an artist in her tracks—especially if that artist is a full-time mom. Last year, we established a new annual event in support of the mothers in our creative community. The Mother’s Day Art Market is an all-day festival showcasing a colorful array of artwork in a variety of mediums made by moms. We hold the event just before Mother’s Day to encourage our Pittsburgh patrons to purchase special these handmade wares for their own mothers! In addition to art vendors, we also held several introductory art classes throughout the day, including jewelry-making & floral design. The classes are free for moms!
Our first Mother’s Day Art Market was a huge success, & we are hoping it expands to include even more vendors this year. If you are a mother or know a mother who might be interested in vending or teaching a class at the event, please message us! Applications open in March, but we would love to start the conversation ahead of time!
The Mother’s Day Art Market will be held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, from 10:00am - 5:00pm.
Just Around the Ohio River Bend…
The NoCo Team is taking January to plan & prepare for the next twelve months of ministry. We have several more program updates & event announcements to bring your way, so keep your eyes open for the next newsletter! In the meantime, we would be thrilled to hear from you. Ask us about our organization, send us a prayer request, or just say hello! We love having you in our community.
Blessings,
The NoCo Team
Article written by Jordan A. King
