On Sunday, Dec. 18, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Great Bend, celebrated its 11th annual “White Sunday.” Each year, St. Mark selects a charity and throughout Advent parishioners collect items needed by that organization. The items are wrapped in white paper and placed on the St. Mark White Tree.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the “white gifts” are blessed and presented to the organization. This year’s recipient was The Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City in memory of Dade Cannon.

At St. Mark, the joy of Christmas is giving to others as God has given to us. St. Mark is led by The Rev. Adam Wutka and is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The church is located at 2101 Jackson St.