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One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr. ~
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In your church
Have a Summer Food Drive
School's out for summer! For some of us this means summer vacations, but for others it means a serious strain on the family budget because children typically receive two of their daily meals at school. Now that kids are home from school, families are relying on food pantries more than ever. We have consistently heard from pantries who run out of food every July. Please take a couple of weeks in your church this summer to hold a food drive. Call your local pantry to find out what they need. You might consider a peanut butter and jelly drive, a juice box drive, or a drive for other healthy, kid-friendly non-perishables. Also, it's not too early to schedule your church food drive for May/June 2011!
Register Kids for Summer Camp
It's not too late! There may only be one month left in the summer camping season, but there's still room and time to register for camp for all ages, preschool through high school! An adult must register with all kids ages preschool through second grade (2009-2010 school year grades). Please help publicize and promote our camps in your churches and to your friends. While the camps love to have registrations in advance, kids can even register the day of camp if their parents are there to sign the health form. Click here to view the 2010 Summer Camp guide.
Did you know there's a Conference scholarship fund to assist with the cost of camp? These scholarships will help cover up to one third the cost of camp if needed. Ask your local pastor for details!
Click here to visit the Camping page on the Conference website, which has a link to each camp's website.
Also, mark your calendars and plan to attend this year's annual barbeques. Camp Fontanelle's is Sunday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Comeca's and Norwesca's are both on Sunday, Sept. 26.
Give to Flood Relief
Since early May storms and flooding have affected many areas of Nebraska. Your gift to US Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670 will help Nebraskans and neighbors around the country face the aftermath of violent weather and begin to rebuild their homes, places of worship and lives.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online by clicking on any of the "Give Now" links. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
Take Up a Collection for Together, Inc.'s Back to School Drive
Do you remember your first day of school? Do you remember the thrill of lacing up those brand new sneakers and showing them off to all of your friends?
Unfortunately, when money is tight, new shoes are not a possibility for thousands of school children in Omaha. Each summer, Together, Inc.'s Back to School program makes sure that every child has the chance to feel special on the first day of school by providing families in need with gift cards towards the purchase of a new pair of shoes.
Just $10 provides a pair of shoes to a child in need. Please mail or drop off your donation by July 21.
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In Your District
Summer Mission Experience
The summer's halfway over, and we still have several mission teams coming to Omaha for their mission experiences. Some are youth groups, some are adults, and we even have one family reunion coming! UMM is an accredited VIM site, and we arrange your volunteer work through our partner agencies, lodging through local churches, and we provide justice education throughout your experience. Call Lisa or Jaimee at 402.898.9862 to reserve your group's place on next year's calendar!
Rev. Jim Wallasky with his youth VIM team from Waverly, June 2010.
Author Rev. Dr. William K. McElvaney to Preach at FUMC Omaha
Go to FUMC Omaha Sunday, 25 July, 2010 to hear Bill McElvaney, author of Becoming a Justice Seeking Congregation: Responding to God's Justice Initiative. He will lead the education hour at 9:35 and will preach at the 8:30 and 10:50am services.
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Globally
Help victims of the earthquake in Haiti
Give to the disaster relief advance #901440
Continue to collect items for earthquake relief in Haiti. You might even consider hosting a "kit-making party" in your home or church. Birthing and layette kits are especially needed at this time. Kits of all kinds will be collected at the 2010 Annual Conference Session at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, June 9-12. Click here for a listing of kit materials.
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Items to Collect
For Pearl Pantry or your local pantry
- toiletries: toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, razors, etc.
- laundry soap
- cereal
- peanut butter
- fruit roll-ups
For the Blue Flamingo- children & infant clothing and toys to be distributed at Neighborhood Night Out
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To Do Action Items
Visit Project Interfaith in Omaha to see upcoming speakers, events, internship opportunities and so much more!
Mark your calendar for the Stand Up Against Poverty day of service, October 17th! Is your group coming?
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Suggested Reading
American Creed: A Biography of the Declaration of Independence by Forrest Church
The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be by Michael Lux
Becoming a Justice Seeking Congregation: Responding to God's Justice Initiative by William K. McElvaney
Creating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community by Thich Nhat Hanh
Non-violent Communication: Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Jesus and Non-violence by Walter Wink
Books Available at Soul Desires (402) 898-7600
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Please don't hesitate to call Lisa or Jaimee at 402.898.9862 with any questions about ways that your church can participate in these or other mission activities.
Sincerely,
Jaimee Trobough
United Methodist Ministries
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