Mission Matters

2PC Mission Team News 

Hearing God's Call? 

New Volunteer Opportunities   

 Matthew 25:35     

For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me drink.  I was a stranger and you invited me into your home.       

Crop Hunger Walk Needs 2PC Liaison  

by Joy Haning 

The McLean County (Bloomington-Normal) Crop Hunger Walk 2012 will be Sunday, October 7, at Tipton Park in Bloomington. 2PC is in need of a liaison to work with other churches in the area to complete planning and keep our members informed.

For information or to volunteer, email Joy Haning .

2PC Mission Group Sale | April 21

Mark your calendars and start gathering your treasures for the annual 2PC Mission Group Sale on Saturday, April 21, at the Interstate Center. Bookmark  2PCgroupsale.com to stay current on ways to assist. If you have questions, contact Bret or Linda Reinthaler at 473-2396.     

New Opportunity to Assist

During the week preceding the Group Sale, dozens of volunteers set up, unload cars and sort/price merchandise to ensure a successful sale.  Additional volunteers are needed to provide a meal, snacks or drinks for those workers. Suggestions include doughnuts, baked goods (homemade or store bought), salty snacks, fresh fruit, beverages and casseroles for 50 people. Please see Sue Hughes at the Group Sale tables in the south entry, email her or call 585-0729 to volunteer.

Home Sweet Home Ministries (HSHM) Mission Mart by Mary Ann Pullin, Executive Director

Spring is here, time for spring cleaning and garage sales. Home Sweet Home Ministries can take your cast-offs and put them to good use through its Mission Mart thrift stores and recycling activities. Bring your used items to the back of the Bloomington Mission Mart at 301 E. Oakland Avenue in Bloomington.

Accepted items include: clothing, shoes, accessories, books, toys, household goods, furniture, electronics and linens. Good, usable items will be sold in the Mission Marts in Bloomington and Lincoln. Other items will be recycled if at all possible. Home Sweet Home can pick up leftover items from large group sales. Home Sweet Home accepts and recycles electronics; these can no longer be placed in the trash.  

Benefits of donating your items to HSHM: 

• Low-cost and free items are provided to individuals and families in need through the Mart.
• Recycling keeps unwanted items from landfills.
• Net proceeds from the Mission Marts and recycling help support Home Sweet Home.
• You clean out unwanted items and help others in the process!

We rely on the public to donate items to supply our stores. 100% of the merchandise in all Mission Mart stores is donated. Here are some further ways you can support Mission Mart:

• Donate money to support the store.
• Shop at Mission Mart
• Volunteer at Mission Mart   

For more information, go to their website or call 309.828.7356.  

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT  

HOME SWEET HOME

by Bob Beerup

Fresh Market now offers daily food donations to Home Sweet Home Ministries!  However, volunteers are needed to make daily pickups between 11am and 3pm.  The pickup and delivery to HSHM on E. Oakland Ave in Bl0omington will probably require a pickup truck, van or SUV.  If needed, Home Sweet Home can provide the vehicle but the driver would need to get to Home Sweet Home to pick up the vehicle.  Some lifting, loading and unloading will be involved.  There is a need for volunteers who can commit to a regular schedule (daily, once a week, once a month, etc) as well as volunteers who can serve as back-up.  This would be an excellent activity for a small group. Anyone interested in helping out should contact Home Sweet Home's Volunteer Coordinator Linda Smith by email or phone at 309.828.7356.     

 
 Continuing Volunteer Opportunities   

Matthew 9:37

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Immanuel Health Center Seeks Your Prayers

The Immanuel Health Center (IHC) is a new medical clinic at 502 S. Morris Avenue in Bloomington which upon opening this summer will be staffed almost entirely by volunteers.  Its vision is to provide healthcare and spiritual support under one roof for residents-in-need. The Center, using sliding-scale fees, is intended to focus on primary care for children and adults who are on Medicaid; medicare and private-pay patients who are up to 300% of the federal poverty line will also be accepted.

An Email From Mary Jeckel, Volunteer Construction Coordinator

The building is almost ready...punch list items and final inspections left. Dr. Scott announced that they will not open until the summer as they are still organizing staff, fund raising, policy and procedure, etc. Thanks for your note and prayers.  [Pray that] the board of IHC and Dr. Scott will receive what they need to get the doors open. You should see the building . . . it is beautiful.

Immanuel Health Center has immediate and will have ongoing needs for monetary donations and for many one-time and on-going volunteers to staff the clinic: doctors, nurses and other medical professionals; social workers; prayer partners; behavioral health, pastoral and other counselors; administrative help; and building maintenance help. To donate, for information, or to volunteer, go to our website.   

Service on Saturday (SOS) | Desperately  

Seeking Coordinator(s) 

The 2PC Local Mission Team believes that the SOS ministry is an important one.  The quarterly opportunities for service have provided our members and friends the opportunity to visit and work at local mission sites where they learned about those particular ministries, provided needed service, and also enjoyed fellowship with other 2PC members and friends.

The new coordinators will have the option to plan as many SOS events as they choose.  We ask that you prayerfully consider this opportunity to serve God, the congregation of 2PC, and those we serve during our SOS days. For more information or to volunteer, contact Dr. Don Crittenden at 828-6297 or Gretchen Cetin at 662-5441.  

Midwest Food Bank Distribution Weeks 

April 2 -6 | May 7 - 11

Our hope is to help bridge the gap between prosperity and poverty in our community.

As a faith-based nondenominational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, it is the mission of Midwest Food Bank (MFB) to alleviate hunger and poverty by gathering and distributing food donations to not-for-profits and disaster sites without cost to the recipients. Their support is based upon the merits of their work, the commitment of dedicated volunteers and the generous in-kind donations from corporations. The warehouse is located at 1703 S. Veterans Parkway.  MFB began in 2003 by serving about 10 food pantries in McLean County, Illinois. Today they serve approximately 625 organizations across the Midwest. The food given out each month now reaches over 250,000 people. MFB makes it possible for food pantries and soup kitchens in the Bloomington-Normal area to meet their critical needs. During each Distribution Week, MFB distributes to 220 agencies.   

Volunteers for Distribution Week work 8:15am until about 2:30pm Monday through Thursday and 8:15am until about noon on Friday. It is not necessary to work every day or even for an entire day. You may work when you are available. There is something for people of all levels of strength and ability to do. No reservations are required for individuals; you may just show up.  Groups should contact MFB for volunteering;. this is a good opportunity for small or large groups or a family with upper elementary-aged youth and teens to serve together in His name. Call MFB at 663-5350 or visit the website  with questions or to volunteer as a group.  

Home Sweet Home Ministries Continuing Needs from Bob Beerup     

Serving the homeless and hungry  

with Christ's love since 1917

Are you looking for a first-time volunteer opportunity, and want to be sure you are connected with a ministry that appreciates and relies on volunteers? Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity for one person, a family or a small group?  If you answered "yes" to any of the above, then Home Sweet Home just might be a great match for you.  For a list of volunteer opportunities and information about how to get connected go to the Home Sweet Home website. 

Current urgent volunteer needs include groups to purchase food, prepare a meal and clean up afterward; child care for parents attending classes, counseling or case management sessions; help of various kinds in the clothing warehouse; and various kitchen help.  Numerous other ongoing volunteer needs abound. Go here for a list of current non-food needs and a link to needed food items. For more information or a volunteer application form, click here or phone 828-7356.

In concert with your donations of money and food to HSHM, check out another opportunity for the agency:      

Take the Feinstein Challenge!

All food and monetary donations to HSHM between March 1 and April 30 qualify for the Feinstein Challenge!  The Feinstein Foundation will distribute $1 million nationwide to hunger fighting agencies.  Be sure to designate your gift to HSHM during March and April when a percentage of all monetary and food donations will be calculated and returned to Home Sweet Home Ministries. You need to do nothing at all - except give!  Thank you.  

WACC "Feed the Hungry"  

Ministry at 2PC 

Partnering within our diverse community to open doors of hope and love through our faith in Jesus Christ

 

  

Have you noticed the grocery cart in the south entry on Sunday mornings?  You can fill a vital need by making a habit of either buying a few extra food items or looking in your own pantry for items and dropping them in the cart each Sunday morning.  A volunteer from WACC collects the contributions each week for the WACC Violet Espy Food Pantry. You can look for the cart during the week in the small lounge across from the east entry office.

 

There's a special need for healthy snacks for the children and teens who attend after-school and evening programs at WACC. As you know, buying healthy snacks can be more expensive. So if you can add some of these to your grocery list, it would be especially appreciated.  Also needed are copy paper, printer ink cartridges ( HP 92, 95, 74, 75, 57 or 58) and gas cards for transportation for the youth coming to and from the LINC site for recreation and for Senior Citizens' field trips.

  

Visit their website for an ongoing list of opportunities. Also, consider another opportunity for WACC consistent with your donations of money and food.

Little Children of the Philippines (LCP)

Dumaguete City, Philippines

by Janice Lewis     

Maybe you can't save the world... But you can change at least one child's life forever.

Dumaguete City, the home of Little Children of the Philippines (LCP), is located on the southern end of Negroes Oriental Island, a two hour flight south of Manila. LCP is a Christian ministry which serves the poorest of the poor through an umbrella of programs called HELPS. HELPS includes ministries for Health & Housing, Education, Livelihood, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Shelters & Sponsorship and serves over 5,000 people.  Because this a "hand-up" ministry, the participants give back by doing 10 hours of monthly service  through  Service With A Purpose (SWAP).    

SCHEDULED MISSION TRIPS

 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,  

and he will reward him for what he has done. 
Proverbs 19: 17

Why me? Why go? 

by Gretchen Cetin

I went on my first mission trip in October, 2010, to New Orleans where we painted, cleared several rooms for renovation, cleaned and did carpentry work. That was followed in June, 2011, by a week-long medical mission trip to Chiapas, Mexico and the Clinica Tzeltal Los Manos de Cristo--in spite of my lack of medical skills and Spanish. I believed that I had been called to serve in both of those places. But as each trip date grew closer, especially the one to Mexico, I worried that I had garbled God's message and doubted not only the message but my sanity. What was I thinking!

Both trips were successful, productive and Christ-led. I didn't embarrass myself and knew that God was using me to do his work, and the weeks were well-spent and fulfilling. I had expected most of that. What I did not expect was the sabbatical from "life" that God provided in both New Orleans and Mexico. Daily devotions, fellowship with my partners and the wonderful people we served and served with, seclusion from the daily details, demands and rush of life in IL, time to take in the culture and appreciate the beauty in each of those locales (the peace of the bayou in LA, the sunrises and sunsets in Ocosingo), and a singularly uncomplicated existence with minimal frills for each of those weeks-all were a gift. Indeed, I had not garbled God's message but instead actually listened to him and answered his call. And in return, he offered me the opportunity to deepen my faith, reflect on my life choices, and appreciate the blessings he continually bestows on all of us whether in New Orleans in the 9th Ward or in a concrete-block dorm with cold-water showers in Mexico.

Please, consider joining one of the mission trips this summer, pray for discernment and follow his will if it leads to Mexico or the Philippines. In so doing, I believe, you will find yourself on both a journey and an adventure that will enrich your life in untold and marvelous ways.

Little Children of the Philippines 

Dumaguete City, Negroes Oriental Island, Philippines

July 11-25, 2012

Join us on our 2PC mission trip to Little Children of the Philippines where the mission team will become familiar with all the programs in the LCP ministry as they interact with the people, participate in the daily lives and help all we can.   

Activities will include sharing the weekly Bible studies in all 14 communities, Sunday worship with over 1600 people, visiting and engaging with the staff and children in the 7 preschools; making home visits, visiting with the Handclasp children, taking all the dorm (5 dorms) children out to eat, touring the piggery and the new chorizo (sausage-making) building, serving in the soup kitchens, and sightseeing if time allows.  Come with us to meet these wonderful people who feel honored to have visitors who care enough about them to travel from the other side of the world; our very presence is God's Word alive to them.

COST:  Approximately $2500, opportunity to raise funds to reduce

                cost  

DEADLINE FOR DECISION:  April 9, 2012

CONTACT:  Leader, Janice Lewis, 452-4228, 

Clinica Tzeltal Los Manos de Cristo (Hands of Christ Clinic) Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico

June 16-24, 2012

Planning continues for the medical trip to the new Manos de Cristo medical clinic in Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico. While our Priority partner this year is in the Philippines, our missionaries in Chiapas remain mission partners as well.  

The Hands of Christ Medical Clinic that received the 2PC 2011 Lenten offering was dedicated on March 2, 2012, and as soon as a physician and nurse are hired, will be open daily. They will continue to need volunteer help, however, for larger clinic weeks.

We will be fitting reading glasses, doing basic lab tests, and diagnosing & treating patients, and prescribing medicine. We need non-skilled team members as well for administrative tasks.  

We are grateful for the 12 travelers with a variety of backgrounds and skills who have committed to the trip. We continue to have a desperate need for Spanish speakers willing to translate, and we welcome anyone else who feels called to serve these kind and gentle people. Enrollment deadline is TODAY.  

Cost:  Approximately $1500; opportunity to raise funds to reduce cost

Application Deadline :   March 30, 2012

Contact: Deann Worth, Leader: 824-6742, 452-04055, or by email   

Local Missions   

Introducing Habitat for Humanity  

Habitat for Humanity... Building Homes, Building Hope

Prayers have been answered as Michael Kline has taken on the role of liaison between 2PC and Habitat for Humanity of McLean County. He has also joined the Local Mission Team. We are grateful for his service. HfH welcomes volunteers from all faiths who are committed to Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing. Homes are sold with no profit made. Homeowners contribute "Sweat Equity," and house payments are recycled to build additional homes.  Find out more about Habitat for Humanity at their website.  Watch for information about work dates and opportunities to volunteer; for information or to volunteer, contact Michael Kline by email or 880-6448.

HsH also maintains a 10,000 square-foot ReStore shop located at 1402 W. Washington Street in Bloomington which accepts donations of good-quality new and used building and household materials.  They they sell a huge selection of all kinds of building, plumbing, electrical, furniture, appliances and miscellaneous items at great prices to raise funds to support their Habitat homebuilding program with families in need.  Learn more about ReStore here.  

Service on Saturday (SOS) at Immanuel Health Center

by Gretchen Cetin

Seventeen volunteers met at 2PC on Saturday, February 25, for a light breakfast followed by devotions by Dr. Don Crittenden before heading to Immanuel Health Center (IHC). IHC, a new medical clinic, was preparing to open after major renovation work; most of which had been supplied by volunteers, donations and led by 2PC member Gayle Thomas.

We took our pails, cleaning products and tools as Mary Jeckel, the Volunteer Coordinator for Building Construction, had carefully itemized our duties; 0ur task was to do "deep cleaning" of floors, windows, tile, countertops, bathrooms and anything else that needed it. As we assessed the situation, it seemed almost insurmountable that we could accomplish anything in the three hours allotted to SOS. However, clean we did, and we were all amazed at what teamwork can accomplish. Mary reminded us that 17 people times 3.5 hours equals 59.5 hours of cleaning. When God assigns a task and the people to manage it, all things are indeed possible!

Our team also had of 17 had a wonderful morning of fellowship with old and new friends and acquaintances. Please consider joining us in our next SOS opportunity-your three hours multiplied by the number of people who join you is a powerful witness to the power of God within us.

SOS at Western Avenue Community Center Scheduled for April 28, 2012! Watch for information in the Pulse and e-Pulse.  

Habitat for Humanity |Love Thy Neighbor Concert

Habitat for Humanity... Building Homes, Building Hope

On May 6, 2012, the 16th annual Love Thy Neighbor Choir Concert will be held to benefit Habitat for Humanity of McLean County. The concert will be held at St. Patrick's of Merna Church, Bloomington, from 3:30 -5 pm.   Members of 2PC's choir will be joining the performance. Look for ticket information in future issues of the Pulse.

Sportscaster Joe Buck Headlines at American Red Cross Fundraiser      

During the very first March proclaimed as Red Cross Month, America was embattled in war abroad and fighting its way out of economic turmoil at home. It was 1943 and many were struggling. Still, with mounting adversity, America came together in support of the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross. President Obama proclaimed the month of March as Red Cross Month as a reminder that this support continues today. The Heartland Chapter of the ARC continues that work in our communities in central Illinois.

The Heartland Chapter of ARC is holding Evening of Stars, its major fundraiser of the year and encourages everyone join them recognizing and celebrating the work of the ARC in central IL. ARC invites you to enjoy a dynamic evening with Jack Buck, wonderful food, and good friends to support the work they do.

DATE: 7pm, Thursday, April 26  
LOCATION: Marriott Hotel, Uptown Normal

TICKETS: $150 each and on sale here or call the American Red Cross of the Heartland at 662-0500 to purchase by phone.

Midwest Food Band 2nd Annual Gala Dinner and Auction

Our hope is to help bridge the gap between prosperity and poverty in our community.

Midwest Food Bank - Bloomington's second annual Gala Dinner and Auction will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012.   

The schedule for the day is as follows:

        4:30pm  Appetizers & Silent Auction                 6pm         Dinner                                          
        7:15pm  Live Auction

For ticket information contact MFB at 663-5350 . 

News from the Frontier   

Dan McNerney, Associate Director, PFF  

In Dan's February, 2012, News from the Frontier he tells us that the ashes of Lent remind us of what is to come-that we are called from a former life into a new one with Christ, and he shares with us the news of transformation which is taking place in the Arab world as well.   

From Dan:  

In Between Lands

Next week marks the beginning of Lent when many of us will have palm ashes put on our foreheads. Ashes remind us that we have only so much time to enjoy the beautiful life God has given us on this earth. From ashes we come and to ashes we return. In other words, we are now living in between lands. From heaven we came, and through our faith to heaven we return. Where we dwell now is not our permanent home. We are on a pilgrimage called life. If we trust our life to God's care, we are being transformed from an old life to a new life. Lent is a perfect time to remember these things as the earth is being transformed, too, from one season to another.  

From Dan:  

Broken Bones and Hearts

How much pain can you take? Most of us curse our pain, wanting it to go away. But, there is an alternative, which is to embrace our pain with faith and resolve, not knowing where it and the grace of God may lead us. Pain is usually confusing; most often, we do not know where it came from - or how long it will stay. Embracing pain with faith is not easy; it can be as difficult as loving our enemies. Yet, Jesus asks us to do both - teachings we would often rather avoid or forget.

Click here to read all of Dan's newsletter. 

We are now in the month of love and friendship, and it is with lots of love we remember all of you and pray this letter finds you well. January is the month of yearly Presbytery meetings, so Pablo was busy writing reports, attending meetings and filling his calendar for this new year. In between he has been working on the last details in the completion of the clinic like getting the water lines hooked up to the city water, building a septic tank, and working on the dropped ceiling. The synod will meet the weekend of the 17th and the final plans will be made for the dedication on the 2nd of March. It is hard to believe that after 6 years it is almost done.  We are still praying about the staff for the clinic, the most important part. The search is slow, but as Pablo has reminded me, it is God who knows the right people and in HIS timing. We ask for your prayers that all these things will come together and we can rejoice as we see God's answers.  

[Notice the photo of one of the ceiling tiles from the 2011 Give It Up for Chiapas campaign firmly in place in the ceiling of the completed Hands of Christ Medical Clinic!]

Click here to read the rest of Jan's letter.

To support Jan & Pablo, make checks payable to Hebron USA with a memo "Feliciano support" on the Memo line. Mail to Hebron USA, 6080 Old Brickstore Rd, Greensboro, NC, 27455