FUMC Mission Memo - Winter 2024


	View in browser

Mission Memo

Spotlighting Our Local, National & International Outreach

Winter 2024

During this time of year, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, there are plenty of opportunities to put into practice his teachings of love and service to others. Whether it's ringing the bell for The Salvation Army at our local Sam's Club or helping out at the annual Pozole Dinner fundraiser for Truscott, you can make a difference. What better time to give of yourself for the good of our community?

To find opportunities, be sure to visit the new Volunteer Hub in Lobby Court. It is the brainchild of Pastor Lee. She is looking to encourage and foster volunteerism in our church. Another of her initiatives is monthly group volunteer events in the community. Most recently, she scheduled a Saturday morning at the Food Bank for Larimer County, and before that, a day at Heart and Sol. Read on to find out more about these initiatives.

Volunteer Hub

Have you seen the “Volunteer Hub” at the church? You can find the colorful display in Lobby Court. This is a central location to see the various service opportunities at FUMC. You will find a list of ways to be of service to fellow members of the congregation and visitors, and a list of community partners that FUMC supports through volunteering and financial giving. The Volunteer Hub is also where you can sign up for upcoming service events. Have questions? Contact Pastor Lee at lee@fumcloveland.com or (970) 667-0876.

Sharing Some Heart and Soul

On a Saturday morning in October, a few FUMC folks joined people at All Saints Lutheran Church to assemble sugar skull kits. These kits were distributed to families at the Dia de los Muertos celebration held at the Loveland Museum on November 2. We enjoyed getting to know other people of faith in the community and learning more about the upcoming celebration. This annual celebration is hosted by Heart & Sol of Loveland, a nonprofit organization that “strives to create safe spaces where we celebrate and learn about the various cultures and groups represented within our community” (from www.heartandsolco.org). Heart & Sol hosts events such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, Juneteenth Celebration and the Asian American Pacific Islander Desi Heritage Celebration, and is often looking for volunteers to help with these events. One of the ways we can put faith and love into action is to be of service to efforts like these to build bridges and make connections with people who have a different racial and cultural experience than we do. So, while packaging sugar skull kits may on the surface seem like it's not that important, it was a way to be of service to a greater cause. Look for future volunteer opportunities with Heart & Sol, as well as information about their community events; an even more enjoyable way to put faith into action is to attend these events yourself!

Christmas Offering 2024

This year's picks follow the long standing tradition of dividing the offering between a local, national and international recipient. We picked Community Kitchen as the local recipient, UMCOR Disaster Relief as the national recipient, and Noor El-Salam as the international recipient.

Community Kitchen has been serving meals in Loveland since 1996. Nutritious meals are served 7 days a week to anyone experiencing food insecurity. Our church volunteers in the kitchen on the third Thursday and Friday of each month. We have seen first hand the increased demand for meals and the resulting belt tightening measures Community Kitchen has had to implement to keep up with the demand. Therefore, the Missions Committee has chosen to support Community Kitchen as the local recipient for this year's Christmas Offering.

In September of this year, Hurricane Helene left an 800 mile path of destruction through the southeastern United States. No doubt, most everyone has seen pictures of the aftermath, such as the one of Asheville, NC found in this article, on the news or in the papers. UMCOR is an arm of the United Methodist Church addressing disaster response and recovery. One hundred percent of donations go to the disaster relief. UMCOR is the national recipient for this year's Christmas Offering.

Noor El-Salam, operating a school in Lebanon to provide education for Syrian refugee children, was founded by Amine Tarhini, an acquaintance of Pastor Lee. Reverend Lee had received communication during the bombing of Lebanon that there was a need for humanitarian aide for the students as they were forced to return home in the face of aerial attacks. Since then, many of the students have returned to school and classes have resumed, so the humanitarian crisis has abated. It's a nonprofit school so the need for funds remain with all donations going directly to educating their students, so the Missions Committee has chosen Noor El-Salam as the international recipient of this year's Christmas Offering.

Christmas Baskets

For the past several years we have been distributing Christmas baskets to many residents of Harvest Pointe, an income based subsidized housing community for seniors aged 62 & above. The current Missions Committee had questioned the origin of this tradition with no satisfactory explanation, so this year the committee decided to go in a different direction.

Committee members were familiar with the St Valentine's Apartments, a Catholic Charities Housing project, that provides housing for people who are exiting homelessness. The Salvation Army has a relationship with the residents there, supplying them with small furnishings for their apartments. On contacting Olga at The Salvation Army, she shared that she had a list of more than two hundred unhoused people that would be very grateful for a gift of $25. Based on stipulations on the funds raised through the supermarket rewards programs, it was decided to distribute $40 gift cards from Safeway and King Soopers for a total of between 175 and 200 cards depending on donations made to the Christmas Baskets fund. The "baskets" are being assembled with a choice of either tea or coffee along with other goodies. These are certain to bring a smile to many faces this Christmas. Thank you for your donations.

Angel Tree

This year's Angel Tree program is well in hand. Our members have already selected the names of children with an incarcerated parent who would love to find a gift with their name on it under the Christmas tree this year. Each year, Terry and Pam reach out to each household to verify contact information. Fortunately the list arrived early this year, but as usual, due to contact problems, duplication and moves, the list of 53 names was whittled down to 43. Gifts have already been returned to the church because they will be delivered soon on December 7th. Again, thanks to everyone who participated in this worthy program.

Salvation Army

Question: What is missing from this picture?

Answer: You!

How do you sign up? Check out the new Volunteer Hub or contact Kay Neckel. You may have seen her out in Lobby Court ringing her bell to call attention to this volunteer opportunity. Hour and a half shifts are scheduled on Saturdays from Thanksgiving until just before Christmas. Most of the slots have been filled, but you may find one that fits your schedule.

Truscott Pozole Dinner

Mark your calendars! December 12th from 5pm to 6:30pm, FUMC will host the annual Truscott Pozole Dinner. Mothers of students at Truscott Elementary will be preparing the traditional Pozole soup or stew the day before in the kitchen in Coy Hall. The soups will be available, along with drinks and churros, the evening of the 12th for a small donation. In addition, there will be a dance performance and silent auction. So come out in fellowship with Truscott families and others in our community for this worthy cause supporting Truscott Elementary.

If you could help out as a greeter or on cleanup crew,

please visit the new Volunteer Hub

or sign up here.

Virtual Positions are Open

Once again, you can join the Pura Vida mission trip to Guatemala virtually. Signing up at the Pura Vida trip website with a tax deductible donation of $250 will add you to the team. Virtual team members will receive exclusive photo and video access during the construction process. Your name will also appear on the trip webpage if you choose. Your donation helps cover construction costs on the home being built in Guatemala. This year, the cost for our half of the home will be $3750. If you can't join as a virtual team member, consider making a donation towards construction costs. Any amount is appreciated.

To Join Virtually or Donate

visit

https://www.puravida.org/virtual-trip.html?trip_id=112

If you'd rather, you can make an offering through FUMC by including

"2025 Pura Vida Work Trip"

in the memo section on your check

Faith Build

Thanks to everyone who made a donation to the Habitat for Humanity Faith Build. We have raised $910 dollars which will be sent to Loveland Habitat for Humanity by year's end.

First United Methodist Church

Loveland, CO

You received this email because you signed up on our website.

Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe