Missions
A portion of the money that each United Methodist congregation collects is combined with money from other United Methodist congregations to fund mission and ministry beyond that congregation. Our congregation is committed to fulfilling our apportionment obligations, directly from our church budget, to our Northern Illinois Conference and for our denomination's Church wide Benevolences. Apportionment funds support the needs of the Conference in developing new churches and church leaders, especially among racial and ethnic minorities; strengthening connections among churches; serving missions within the Conference; and administrative functions that serve all churches in the Conference. Beyond our Conference, our "first mile" of mission giving includes the World Service Fund, which supports thousands of national and international ministries.
FAMILY MISSION TRIP
October 2, 2010
To Feed My Starving Children, packing depot in Aurora; bagging food staples from 2pm to 4pm. Children as young as five, when accompanied by parent, are welcome. More details coming.
Feed My Starving Children
Rainbow Covenant
In addition to the part of apportionments that go to mission outreach, we as a church go the "second mile" of giving by choosing to support specific projects and missionaries from among the hundreds of ministries supported by the United Methodist Church. As recommended by our Conference, these projects fall into categories from international to local.The Missions Commission highlights a different mission each month, but Mission offering envelopes may be used at any time to make a donation to any of the Rainbow Covenant projects described in this brochure (please specify on the envelope.
PADS - Public Action to Deliver Shelter
Monday (October–May), 7 p.m.–7 a.m., provides meals and shelter for up to 30 homeless people. Volunteers provide food, work at the shelter (3 shifts) and morning clean-up. www.padstohope.org
Faith Community Homes
Faith Community Homes is an attainable housing initiative supported by the churches of Arlington Heights. Eligible families receive financial assistance, education and supportive services designed to move them to financial independence in the northwest suburbs. First United Methodist Church actively supports Faith Community Homes by providing both volunteers and monetary gifts.
Volunteers in Mission (VIM)
A hands-on ministry to persons in need anywhere in the world is available through our United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. Often this involves travel to another part of the country or world (e.g., Senegal Africa, Chile, North Dakota Indian reservation). Although volunteers are usually adults, older youth may join in some of these teams. Work assignments often involve light home repair, support for medical workers or teaching of children. Exploration of VIM opportunities can be with any pastor, or any member of our Missions Commission.
ASP - Appalachia Service Project
Interested in going on a transforming trip? We’ll take you along to Appalachia. In one week you’ll work harder than you ever have before, but the results will change your life forever. For 30 years we have been sending teams of high school age youth and adults to Appalachia to repair the homes of families that live throughout the mountain region. http://www.asphome.org
United Methodist Women
A membership organization within the United Methodist Church, purposes to be a community of women. It offers any woman, whether or not