Outreach and Service

Education, Justice, and Action

Our church is deeply committed to reaching out to all people in God's love on local, national, and international fronts.

• Angels' Attic is our local thrift shop that provides a source of quality used goods and provides funding for local outreach.
• The Outreach and Service Commission guides our involvement in local, national, and international mission.

And we are involved, as you can see in our Missions work in Biloxi, MS, our use of and sales of Fair Trade products, and locally at places like The Living Room and Family Support Center.

Looking Beyond Our Doors: An Exciting New Focus

Our church has traditionally had two groups coordinating our efforts to be aware of injustices, basic human needs, serving others, and social concerns here in Santa Rosa and in the larger world. These two groups have been: Church & Society (with a local emphasis) and Missions (with a global emphasis).

Now, in order to sharpen our focus, these two groups have decided to consolidate their efforts. At a meeting on February 23, the members of these two dynamic teams chose to merge into one new group. The new group will be known as the Outreach & Service Commission. This new group will oversee all of our interactions with local, national, and international caring agencies, our volunteer in mission work, our fair trade coffee project, and classes, speakers, and forums related to justice ministries.

The idea of forming one group came from the realization that each of our groups had similar purposes, which were being expressed in different locations and in ministries with others - both down the street and around the world. We also realized that there was nothing from the larger church which told us to differentiate ministries nearby from those far away. Our United Methodist Book of Discipline says: “The outreach ministries of the church shall give attention to local and larger community ministries of compassion, justice, and advocacy.” Under this guideline we felt that all of the current work being done by both of our groups could fall under the title: Outreach & Service.

The new commission will have all of the members (12 to 14) previously associated with the predecessor groups. It will be chaired by Diane Jackson. The members of the new Outreach & Service Commission believe that three words help to describe their work: education, justice, and action. The following current ministries will now be coordinated by the Outreach & Service Commission, and will include any work related to:

• the FISH food collection center
• the Living Room
• the fair trade coffee project
• the Heifer Project
• The Children’s Village of Sonoma County
• emergency/ disaster preparedness
• Habitat for Humanity
• our support of missionary Paul Jeffrey
• Blanket Sunday drives
• health and school kit collections
• Rebuilding Together
• the InterFaith Shelter Network Housing Program
• and oversight of the working group which plans volunteer in mission trips such as our upcoming trip to Iowa for repair of flood damaged homes.

The old Jim Strathdee song reminds us that: “we are the hands and feet of Christ, serving by grace each other’s needs.” We look forward to the leadership and guidance of the Outreach & Service Commission, which will help us to do just that.

Mission Survey Indicates Substantial Interest
 
During the month of February, 2009, our VIM Steering Committee (Volunteers in Mission) took a survey to find out what type of mission projects the congregation was most interested in. They received the following responses:

Seventeen people indicated an interest in Rebuilding Together. (Rebuilding Together is looking for corporate sponsors and will let us know if they need additional people to work.)
 

Twenty-eight people indicated an interest in participating in a Habitat for Humanity Workday scheduled for April 18. We can use a team of 10 people for this workday. Please contact Diane Jackson.
 

Eight people indicated an interest in helping at the UMCOR Warehouse at Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA. There is a waiting list of 2 years for groups; individuals may contact them directly at 337-923-2027.
 

Thirteen people indicated an interest in traveling to Iowa in September (details below) with UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) to help repair flood-damaged homes. You can pick up a brochure at the Fair Trade Coffee Table or in the church office.
 

Eight people indicated an interest in a mission trip to Galveston. However, it’s been decided that we will not be traveling to Galveston and will instead focus on the Iowa trip.
 

Sixteen people indicated an interest in participating in a combination family campout and mission trip. Pastor Greg is looking for leadership for this event.

Sincere thanks to all who responded to the survey.