WORLD
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
TO
OUR COMMUNITY
At the Federated Church we have a strong sense of mission to
people of Norfolk and beyond, meeting human needs with love, seeking wholeness
through Jesus Christ and finding freedom in God's service. We participate in
the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the Norfolk Council on Aging, Attleboro
Area Council of Churches Soup Kitchen, Norfolk Together, American Baptist Camps
at Grotonwood and Oceanwood, United Church of Christ Camp at Craigville, One
Great Hour of Sharing offering, Blankets and Health Kits for the Needy, and
others. Our Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month. All are welcome
to attend.
We have a special relationship with Honduras and have sent
three mission teams there to help provide housing for the poorest of the poor.
We continue to support the missionary efforts of our denominations in Honduras
to help provide for the needs of the people they serve. In February 2007 and
again in February 2008 a team from the Federated Church spent a week in New
Orleans working with a UCC Church there to help with the recovery from
Hurricane Katrina. In June 2007, we were blessed to have the Arndts from the
UCC Church in Metairie, LA (where our mission teams have stayed) as our guests
at a special dinner. They shared how much they appreciated the work of the
teams that have come to their area.
NOVEMBER
MISSIONS UPDATE
I
am happy to say we had a wonderful "Missions Weekend" with a Soup
Kitchen on October 18th and on October 19 we celebrated Missions Sunday and our
Youth Group participated in CROP Walk. It was good to have the
opportunity to visit with representatives of some of the organizations we
support and hear about what they are doing. Here is a little bit about two of
the organizations you support:
According
to Jo Luc, President and CEO, "Heifer International is working with
families and communities in the United States and places all around the globe
to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth."
"Heifer
provides long-term solutions to hunger and poverty. Since 1944, Heifer
International has helped 9.2 million families or the equivalent of 45 million
women, men, boys and girls in more than 125 countries move toward greater
self-reliance through the gift of livestock and training in environmentally
sound agriculture. The impact of each initial gift is multiplied as
recipients agree to 'pass on the gift' by giving one or more of their animal's
offspring, or the equivalent, to another in need."
If
you would like to learn more about Heifer International you can visit their
website at www.heifer.org or make a visit to
Overlook Farm in Rutland, MA. On December 13 and 14 between the hours of 1 and
5:30 PM Overlook Farm will host their annual Living Nativity. Sleigh or
hay rides (depending on weather) will be available and the gift shop will be
open. There is no charge, but donations are gratefully accepted.
The
Haven of Grace is in Woonsocket, RI, and is "a long-term residential
program for individuals who want an opportunity to change their lives.
The Haven also offers outreach programs to people in the community."
"The
Haven's mission is to 'empower women and men to overcome poverty of body, mind
and spirit.' Residents and community outreach clients are encouraged to
continue their education and become involved in the community through volunteer
experience." Clients are offered counseling, GED and literacy
classes, CPR and first aid training and debt reduction counseling. The
Haven has also added "Homework Club" for local young people so they
can get help with schoolwork and have a safe and fun place to be after
school. The Haven of Grace is totally volunteer staffed, and is supported
by donations from private foundations, civic groups and churches like ours.
Volunteers are always needed for transporting clients, office work and teaching
classes (crafts, arts, aerobics, cooking, etc.).
Looking Ahead …
Our
next mission activity is our annual Christmas Giving Tree. We provide gifts for
the families with children enrolled in the Norfolk County HEADSTART program and
the clients of the Haven of Grace. The Giving Tree will be available on
Sunday, November 16th during coffee hour. Your gifts will be due back to
the church no later that Sunday, December 14th, we will be distributing the
gifts during the following week.
The
next Missions Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12th at 11
AM. This is one week later than our regular schedule. Please join
us if you are able, we'd be happy to see you.
There
has been an increase in the number of families participating in the Norfolk
Food Pantry, so therefore, your food donations are needed more than ever. Please leave them in the basket in the
vestry.
Saturday,
December 20 will be our next Soup Kitchen - mark your calendar and sign up to
help!
Stories of Service …
Many
of the members of our church family participate in a variety of short-term and
ongoing service projects above and beyond those that we sponsor through our
various ministries. We would like
to highlight those efforts. If you
have a mission service story, please share it with Barbara Murphy or Pastor
Scott. We will continue to feature
these stories in future editions of the newsletter.
Dear
Members and Visitors of The Federated Church of Norfolk,
I
go to Annie Sullivan Middle School in Franklin and I am a member of the
Communiteen Club. We are a club
that was formed to do community service projects. Our first project is to help with a coat drive being done by
Jordan’s Furniture and Anton’s Cleaners.
The coat drive is to donate coats to all the babies, kids, teens, and
adults who have to go through the winter without warm coats. The coats that are collected will
benefit Big Brother, Big Sister of Massbay, Cradles to Crayons, Community
Giving Tree, The Salvation Army, and many more. We will accept warm winter jackets that are gently used and
in good condition. Please make
sure the coats have no holes, rips, tears, broken zippers, or large permanent
stains. Also please no
sweatshirts, vests, or spring weight coats. You can drop coats off in the box located downstairs in the
church vestry until Friday, November 14th or you can come to the
Annie Sullivan Middle School at 500 Lincoln Street, Franklin on Saturday,
November 15th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM to donate coats and join us
for refreshments. All coats
donated are greatly appreciated.
Thank
you for supporting me and my school in this community service project.
Christina Ditmore