I am writing on behalf of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s UMCOR West Office and Depot which has been in operation since June 1, of 2009. We are a ministry that gathers, assembles, and sends disaster relief kits all round the world to the most vulnerable of populations. Along with UMCOR Sager Brown, UMCOR West is the second disaster relief depot. Except for Alaska and Hawaii, every western state has sent a work teams to UMCOR West to participate in our important ministry. You can find out more about our mission by going to UMCOR.org.
This last week has been particularly difficult for all of the UMCOR staff as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. As you may know, the Rev. Sam Dixon who was the head of UMCOR, along with the Rev. Clinton Rabb, head of mission volunteers, were killed in the earthquake. Your prayers for the UMCOR staff, the families of Rev. Dixon and Rev. Rabb, and for the people of Haiti are coveted during this grieving process.
On a more positive note, the people of Utah have responded powerfully to the call to help the people of Haiti. We have been working with hundreds of volunteers to assemble and send aid to the people of Haiti. Our first shipment of around 23,000 health kits will be sent from our warehouse in a few days!
As a result of this tremendous volunteer response, we are now running critically low on our disaster relief materials and we call on you to help. If you would like to help restock our warehouse in preparation for more supplies being sent to Haiti and other destinations you can:
1. Give financially through the Advance (gbgm-umc.org/Advance/ ) which is a powerful giving program in United Methodist Church. One hundred percent of the money donated goes toward the project you pick. Each mission project is assigned a number. The Advance number for both UMCOR West and UMCOR Sager Brown – our two UMCOR Depots – is #901440.
2. Consider putting together disaster relief kits at your home church. All of the information to assemble kits can be found at www.umcor.org. If you choose to make kits at your home church we ask that you please focus on two kits, the Health Kit and Layette Kit. They can be sent to UMCOR West, 1479S 700W, Salt Lake City, UT, 84104. .
Thank you so much for your support and faithfulness! It is the work of United Methodists like you that makes a difference in the lives of people around the globe.
Sincerely,
Rev. Brian Diggs, Director UMCOR West Office and Depot
]]>
]]>Reported by Dave Beckett
As I travel around our state leading charge conferences I want to share with you some of the great ministry ideas I see. These ideas should be easily reproducible in most of our churches.
First Samoan – This thriving church has perhaps the largest choir in our conference. They have increased their giving to their mortgage by simply placing a basket with a sign on a table. One of their members is there at every church event to receive the gifts.
First, Fairbanks – For All Saints Day their 4th-6th graders interviewed members whose loved ones have died. Then they create a banner with the name of the saint, birthdate, and symbols of their lives. These banners grace the sanctuary and are marched down the aisle during the first hymn.
Each Sunday Bible verse memory cards are in the bulletin related to the sermon scripture. On the back are action steps for the next week.
New Hope, North Pole – In each worship service children are not excused to a classroom but to the back of the sanctuary where a teach has developed a craft which relates to the pastor’s sermon. Mostly they are quiet but the congregation has learned to appreciate the noise of children in worship. Then during the offering the kids come forward, share their gifts with the congregation, and offer them to God.
Palmer – Two things were striking about Palmer’s worship space: a beautifully decorated worship table and the excellent music group. I have to say that the addition of a soprano saxophone added tremendously to the music environment.
Christ First, Wasilla – For children’s time they have a separate carpet in front for the kids to sit on. It gives them their special space and keeps them in one location for the message. Not everyone can reproduce this idea but their remodeled worship space drastically changes the worship experience for the better. Chairs instead of pews give them a flexibility for all kinds of ministries.
Willow – I can’t say for certain but at this point I would say that Willow has the largest collection of handmade stoles and banners in our conference. BJ Eldred has put in countless hours handstitching these worship aids. I suspect there are people in every church who could be gathered together and given the task of creating new banners or stoles. A simple bulletin announcement may unearth some hidden talents in your church.
Nome – I would have to highlight Nome’s new Tuesday School for children in the neighborhood. Last week there were 30 children! Many of these kids have not had basic Christian education. Leaders are asking for curriculum that is designed for such children. I encouraged them to talk with Unalaska UMC about their similar program which is 5 years old.
St. John – I will highlight St. John’s practice of registering attendance in worship. They have a yellow insert with the basic information on one side. The other side is a listing of many of their ministries where people can sign up to attend. This may include their Wednesday supper which now has over 100, Disciple Bible Study, baking cookies, serving on a ministry team, or helping out with Love, Inc. Each Monday these sheets are compiled into one report which is distributed to lay and professional staff for follow up.
Chugiak – This church has many creative ministry ideas that could be reproduced in your church. During their prayer time people offer their prayers. Then Pastor Carlo repeats it in summary form and says, “God, to your love…” The people then respond, “We trust this prayer.” I confess to using this response at St. John many years ago and it is a part of their Sunday prayers. They also give bread and lattes to new visitors.
Soldotna –
Seward – Seward recently installed a video camera in the back of their sanctuary connected to a large screen TV in a classroom. This is now their new video cry room! In addition to the video cry room, they have a cookie ministry, where plates of homemade cookies are delivered to over thirty local offices and charities, thanking the people there for their service to the community (schools, government offices, senior center, health clinics, chamber, etc.). The cards clearly indicate that the cookies are a gift from the Seward Memorial UMC. They have had a very positive response from many.
Moose Pass – This small but vibrant church sponsors an annual joint community worship service, inviting the entire town to worship together in one location on Solstice Sunday. This is easy to do in Moose Pass, where there are only two churches!
Kenai –
Homer – Small Group Fellowship gatherings as a way to strengthen fellowship throughout the church and increase our being oriented to small group gatherings. They have a sign up for several kinds of groups (for instance: Movie Discussion, Pot Luck Meals, Eat Out, Knitting; others can also be dreamed up). The groups meet in homes (mostly) for a few months or a bit longer. They limit the size to 6 to 8 people so most houses have enough room. This has been a great way to get to know each other more, provide a place to which we can quickly invite a new-comer (those who host the gatherings sometimes add someone to the one meeting at their home), etc.
St. Peter the Fisherman – # One: Cards, the size of a business care, are handed out with the bulletin to each person, They write their names on it. Then the ushers take them up in a basket. At the beginning of prayer time each person take a card from the basket and that person whom they receive is to be prayed for until they receive another card.
# Two: We made a large replica of a Seining Boat with a net dropping from it. When a prayer request comes in we write it on a fish which goes into the net. When that prayer is answered we move it into the boat. It is an amazing leap of faith to see the boat fill up.
Northstar – Chocolate served at every Disciple Bible Study! This also helps with attract their youth to Disciple!
Turnagain – This church started a new Wednesday night supper that is NOT a potluck. It is a free supper for all. They had 87 at their last one including one neighborhood family!
Girdwood – This vibrant church periodically holds a day of service for their community. They set aside a Sunday to put their prayers into action. People gather for a brief devotional moment and then they disperse to do good works throughout the community. They also deliver cookies to the ski lifties! They are making a difference and transforming their world with love.
Aldersgate – No Dinner Dinner. To raise funds for apportionments Aldersgate invited people not to go out to dinner and give the money they would have spent eating out. This event was held recently and enabled them to increase their giving to apportionments.
Ketchikan – They have a neat custom of donating one dollar for every year of your age on your birthday. This goes towards apportionments. When I was there recently Roland Stanton gave $78. They have a nice bucket and celebrate those birthdays with great laughter and joy.
]]>