HOME Inhouse Programs
Prayer Focus
Each month the outreach team chooses an area or issue for our monthly prayer focus. Examples have been Iraq, Middle East, hunger, the elderly, and Lakota. The congregation receives a bookmark with prayer suggestions on one side and possible actions on the other.
Back 2 School Backpacks
Each August the Outreach Committee provides children's school backpacks for members to fill. These backpacks are for underprivileged and homeless children. The backpacks are filled with all the supplies a child needs to return to school: paper, pencils, ruler, glue, crayons, etc., all much needed items, but if you are homeless with no money, it is difficult to obtain these without the support of a loving community.
Rummage Sales
One person's " trash" is another person's "treasure."
The Outreach Committee sponsors two rummage sales a year. Members of the church and the neighboring community bring the fruits of their spring and fall housecleaning to the Fellowship Hall, then sort and price the donated electronic equipment, sporting gear, furniture, clothing, toys, books and housewares for quick sales. A separate boutique offers new clothing, hand-crafted and antique items for slightly higher prices. All unsold items are given to agencies such as Value Village immediately afterward. Each sale usually nets several thousand dollars which undergirds the church's ongoing mission projects.
The next Rummage sale is planned for October 10 2009 from 8 am till 1 pm.
Christmas Stockings
The Salvation Army supplies the church with empty Christmas Stockings which members fill for homeless children in our neighboring community.
The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree is an end-of-the-year giving opportunity to share our abundance with children in need. Members trim a tree with designated ornaments which match their choice of gifts through organizations such as FACETS, Heifer Project, and Doctors without Borders. Wrapped gifts and checks and gift certificates are placed under the tree ready for distribution to very happy recipients. The idea of alternative giving is encouraged. Everyone knows people they buy for who really need nothing. Giving a gift to an organization in honor of them is a great way to show your love.
Auctions
Popular fund raisers for ongoing church mission efforts are Live and Silent Auctions. Donations of goods and services are as diverse as members' initiative and creativity: jewelry, elaborate desserts, hand-crafted works of art, catered dinners, weekend retreats, business consultations and services. Whether live or silent, these events, usually combined with dinner, are lively and fun.
The auction is held every other year with a talent show and spaghetti dinner.
Easter Baskets
The Easter Baskets project is just one project that involves our congregation in ministries of compassion to the underprivileged children of our community.
Our members fill Easter Baskets for children served by Neighborhood Networks. These baskets are filled with goodies to eat as well as books to read about the Easter Story.
