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UMCM E-News has new title and look!
Welcome to our new monthly E-News from United Methodist Cooperative Ministries (UMCM) GOD COLORS. Be blessed by what you read and be inspired to be the GOD COLORS in your community in 2009. Your comments, suggestions and submissions of news happening in your church and community are always welcome. Please send such to Nancy Currens, Director of PR at UMCM at nancyc.umcm@verizon.net. |
 PASADENA ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) PROGRAM SHINES! On Feb. 1 Pasadena Community Church (PCC) in St. Petersburg honored their volunteers with a breakfast and a display of volunteer projects sponsored by the chruch. PCC's ESOL Program, a joint project of UMCM and PCC, shown bright among some 75 volunteer opportunities displayed. Cris Wolfe, (above right) our Volunteer Coordinator, beams as she talks about her students. Over the past several years the program has brought English to individuals from over 19 different language and cultural groups in the St. Petersburg area. Cris credits the growth and success of the program to the dedication of her volunteer tutors and the loving and accepting community they have created for all who seek their help.
If you are interested in helping to make a difference in someone else's life as a UMCM Volunteer ESOL Tutor, visit our web page at umcm.info to learn more or email Pam Qualls-Coordinator of Church Relations, Volunteers and Special Projects at pam.umcm@verizon.net |
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PACK-A-SACK 4 KIDS Tackles childhood hunger in Florida.
Current estimates:
. 622,423 kids at risk of hunger.
· 770,946 children live in poverty.
· 864,273 eligible children in Florida do not receive free or reduced-price school breakfast.
· An estimated 1 million kids eligible for free and reduced-price school meals are not served by a federal summer nutrition program.
· $441.66 is the average weekly income of a family of four living at the federal poverty line.
· $3.30 is the average food stamp benefit in Florida per person, per day.
Childhood hunger is devastating and children who do not get enough healthy food on a regular basis pay a big price with:
. Poor health and weak immune systems; more stomach aches, headaches, colds, infections and fatigue.
. Behavioral difficulties
. Impaired performance in school
PACK-A-SACK 4 KIDS is a pilot program of UMCM to help address hunger insecurity among children in Title I Schools who are on free or reduced breakfast and lunch meals but receive insufficient nutrition on weekends and holidays when school is not in session and families have to make hard choices on whether to use their limited resources to buy food or pay the rent or utilities in order to avoid homelessness.
PACK-A-SACK 4 KIDS matches an UM Church with a Title I School in their community where over 50% of children served are on free or reduced school breakfast and lunch. The partnering school identifies students that show increased food insecurity and enrolls them and siblings in the program.
Each week the church PACK-A-SACK 4 KIDS team buys and packs nutritious snacks for the child to take home for the weekend or holiday time to help supplement what is provided at home.
According to Donna Ratzlaff, Executive Director of UMCM, "While the program is piloted first in Pinellas County among our churches and schools, it is a program that can easily be duplicated by any church in any community. The program was introduced conference-wide at a recent Bishops Conference Table on Hunger and will be launched in April in Pinellas County. Our vision is to help end childhood hunger and ensure that our children have access to the food they need wherever they live." |
PASS+ News
Our first- through fifth-graders in the PASS+ After-School Tutorial Program took a break from their homework on Thursday, Feb. 7 to welcome Megan Kempshall from the Pinellas County Humane Society. Megan (right) spoke about the efforts to ensure the humane treatment of our domestic pets and wild animals. "We learned not to touch a stray dog or cat," said Pedro, (below) a second grader. "We  learned that animals have feelings and we should not pull their tails," said Gilberto, a first grader.
"I learned that Ms. Kempshall has two flying squirrels, a boa constrictor and a dog for pets," said third grader, Liz. |
ESOL Success Story ...from Jan Setzekorn, Director of Literacy Services Perhaps you may remember Ivana, from the Czech Republic. She has continued to study English after her return to the Czech Republic and communicates with me via email frequently. Her conversational English has also improved greatly. What she has told me is amazing. She owns and operates a drivers-ed school in the CR. She skis frequently in the winter. Her son is now taking dance lessons, then comes home and teaches her. She learned the cha-cha and the samba last week. Her husband (the son of a major communist) jumped into capitalism early and has been very successful.
From where she was when she started working with you to the communicate I receive from her now is a huge leap. Many thanks to you for your time and effort in this remarkable transformation.
The lives you change extend far beyond Clearwater. |
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February and March - UMCM Months in Local Churches!
Our UMCM Board, in our Gulf Central District, has designated February and March as UMCM Months! It is a time when we ask each local church to select a Sunday or MISSIONS FAIR to highlight UMCM as your District Outreach Ministry and show others more about UMCM, your district mission ministry.
Our thanks to the following churches for highlighting  their work with UMCM during February Mission Fairs: Tarpon Springs UMC, Spring Hill UMC, Pasadena and Aldersgate UMC.
UMCM has a new brochure that can be used as a bulletin insert, a brand new 4-min. DVD for use in worship or with groups, and great opportunities on our web site at umcm.info.
UMCM is here to serve at the local church, and help you make a real difference in the lives of "hurting individuals" in your community. Each year, UMCM touches the lives of over 13,000 individuals employing the talents and hearts of over 1,300 volunteers from Crystal River to Bradenton. Call Pam Qualls (above) for the free 4-min DVD at 727-442-6881. |
 UMCM Board and Staff Chart Five Year Course
On Feb. 7, the UMCM Board (Rev John Ekers at left and Rev John Powell below) and UMCM staff took a day for visioning and strategic planning for the next five years in light of our mission "to make Christ's love visible and tangible through Service, Education and Advocacy" to those facing adversity in life!
As a multi-service mission agency of the Gulf Central District,  UMCM faces daunting challenges in 2009 in its efforts to bring hope to the least of these in communities across our five county area. Some of the critical issues included:
· Board recruitment and development
· Dealing with uncertain economic times and impact on our neighbors and how we can and need to respond to elevate suffering.
· Executive leadership
· Budget cuts |
 Great Chili Cook-Off A Success!
Eighteen pots of chili greeted the pallets of guests at the Clearview UMC on Feb. 22. Judges were hard-put to select the top three best pots of chili. Once again, a top winner was Clearview's very own Rev. Chris McNeill. As one judge exclaimed, "Not only is he a really good pastor but he makes a really mean pot of chili!" UMCM expresses their thanks to Marion and Alex Lucciola, the Koinonia Sunday School Class and the members of Clearview UMC, St. Petersburg for hosting the annual fund raising event to benefit the work of UMCM. Over $400 was raised to benefit UMCM's Family Support Services Program, which assists individuals with rent and utility payments. |
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 Announcing... "Food for A Day" New ministry begun by the Friendship UMC in Clearwater, in response to so many folks needing help. We always refer them to RCS for the longer term, but felt we wanted to do something right away. So we are making "Food for A Day" bags. Contents include a box of cereal, breakfast snack bars, 2 small boxes of raisins, a pop-top can of soup or stew, a pop-top can of fruit or apple sauce, a juice box and a packet of utensils. They are placed in a gallon zip-lock bag with a welcome note from the church and possibly a devotional. It's a small thing but a sort of 'hand-up.' Contact Doris Campbell at Deecampbell6@msn.com, for more information.
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Executive Director Search
for United Methodist Cooperative Ministries/Suncoast Inc. (UMCM), a dynamic urban-outreach ministry of the Florida Annual Conference serving five counties on the Gulf Coast with administrative office in Clearwater, Florida. EOE. Click for Job Description.
Candidate Criteria:
- A Christian
- A working knowledge of the United Methodist Church
- Advanced experience in non-profit human service management, fund raising, financial management, program, staff development and supervision
- Strong speaking and writing skills
- Proven background in missions and social outreach
- Committed to cultural and social diversity
- Must be willing to relocate
- Position open June 2009
- Applications will close March 15, 2009
- For more information on our agency visit our web site at umcm.info
- Send cover letter and resume to: Search Committee, c/o United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, 1625 Union Street, Clearwater, Florida 33755.
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Dear friends,
You may donate to UMCM either via mail to United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, 1625 Union Street, Clearwater, FL 33755 or via Network for Good or our web page. Your financial and in-kind gifts are deeply appreciated at this very difficult economic time for individuals and families.
Grace and Peace,
Donna Ratzlaff |
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Will you be a partner with PACK-A-SACK
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Want to learn more about how your church in the Gulf Central District might partner with UMCM in
Donna Ratzlaff at UMCM
call UMCM at
727-442-6881
Program Coordinator at
For more information on
The Florida Partnership to End Childhood Hunger
(of which the UM Church
is a participant)
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March 16 to April 17, 2009
Students in St. Petersburg will begin using the new interactive computer lessons written by former UMCM Director of Literacy, Martha Lane (Marti, to many of you).
If you have a student who is interested in learning more about computers, UMCM tutors Tom Valler and Kurt Skrede, will be working with students at Hope Lutheran and Wesley UMC.
Call Emily at 822-5939 for more information. |
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Lenten Ideas!
1. Each day during Lent, put aside coins in a jar as a reminder of God's blessings.
2. Give a coin for every pair of shoes that you own. Count the shoes you own, and think about the many children who have to go barefoot.
3. Another day, give some money for each meal you have eaten that day, as a reminder that many go hungry and die of starvation.
Remember, Jesus had nowhere to lay his head (see Matt. 8:20), so
4. Another day, count the number of beds in your home and give an amount for each one.
Little becomes much when you place it in the Master's Hands!
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Donate to UMCM |
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Great Chili Cook-Off |
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Thank You
Clearview UMC
and
Marion and Alex Lucciola
and
the Koinonia Sunday School Class
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Thank You Jake! |
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UMCM wishes to sincerely thank Mr. Jake Voreis for editing our newsletter.
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