Oklahoma Tornado Response
The Missouri Conference is in touch with our brothers and sisters in the Oklahoma Conference to assess the ways we can help. Things you can do RIGHT NOW to assist are; pray for everyone affected/involved/responding, and donate to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Remember 100% of your donation through UMCOR goes directly to this disaster response. And finally keep informed via the Missouri Conference Disaster Response newsletter "The Responder". To subscribe to "The Responder" contact Dan Steska at steska@umocm.com. Information on how to volunteer with your presence will be shared in the coming days/weeks. Please remember to be patient as search, rescue, and emergency responders do their work. Our prayer in the Missouri Conference is that we will be able to assist as needed in the future and that our volunteers will do no harm.
New Mission Intern
Meet our new Creative Ministries Mission Intern, Cameron Ward. Cameron will serve with us through the first week of August 2013 developing poverty simulation experiences around the conference. Poverty simulations provide the experience of living in poverty and understanding in a tangible way the struggles and barriers that individuals living in poverty face on a day to day basis. For more information on poverty simulations and how to schedule one in your area contact Cameron at ward@umocm.com.
Strengthening bonds with Mozambique
Right now there is a team of Missouri Conference leadership in Mozambique visiting with local church leadership to discuss future plans for the Mozambique Initiative (MI) partnership. While there, the leadership group with have meetings for the purpose of strengthening our conference to conference partnership, and visit some of the MI sustainability projects. For more information on how you and your congregation can partner with our brothers and sisters in Mozambique contact the MI coordinator, Sarah Bollinger, at sbollinger@moumethodist.org.
Missouri Interfaith Power & Light
Missouri Inter-faith Power and Light (MO-IPL) had it’s official launch on March 7th in St. Louis. Inter-Faith Power & Light is a national committee to address climate change by activating faith communities to advocate for reduced energy consumption and renewable alternatives of energy resources. Learn more about MO-IPL at MOIPL.org. Pictured are steering committee members (left to right) Susan Mlynarczyk, Rev. Kristen Koch, Caroline Kory, Tracey Howe-Koch Sabine McDowell, Front Carla Kline Jeanne Clauson & Polly Rutherford. The Mo-IPL Steering Committee members not able to attend are Sr. Barbara Jennings, Kathleen Engel and Terri Williams. For more information contact Terri Williams at williams@umocm.com.
Mozambique Flood Relief
The flooding of the Limpopo River in southern Mozambique continues to affect hundreds of families. The Mozambique Initiative has reached out to communities separated from necessary resources to provide for those needs. February 7th Mozambique Initiative staff provided rice, instant porridge, corn flour, and cooking oil to 50 displaced families. Food was provided through the Missouri Conference/Mozambique Initiative pledge to raise $15,000 to provide food, clean water and other supplies to those surviving this disaster. For more information on how you can help visit http://www.mzinitiative.com/FLOOD_RELIEF__.php.
Flooding in Mozambique
Photo Credit: Anna Wallenlind Nuvunga/IRIN News (www.irinnews.org)
Last week the Limpopo River in southern Mozambique flooded displacing 150,000 people who fled their homes for camps at higher ground. Aid organizations are working to meet the overwhelming needs of these displaced Mozambicans. The Missouri Conference through the Mozambique Initiative plans to raise $15,000 to provide food, clean water and other supplies to at least 600 people. For more information on how you can help visit www.mzinitiative.com/FLOOD_RELIEF__.html.
Christmas in Mozambique
Christmas was alive at the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Mozambique on Christmas Morning. These wonderful children were given the opportunity to feel a little of the Christmas Spirit through gifts and a meal provided by the Mozambique Orphanage Fund on Christmas Day. Planning and preparing starts in August and packages are sent in September to ensure they arrive in plenty of time for Christmas Morning. If you are interested in shipping a gift to a child in 2013 or donating to Christmas presents you can contact Chris Sams at csams@arkbild.com or 816.806.7758.
Conference Staff Serve in Joplin
This week some Creative Ministries staff took part in building a shelter for the Cedar Ridge Park in Joplin, Missouri. Cedar Ridge Park is a new city park that is part of the Joplin Recovery plan. For more information on how you can continue to support the rebuilding and recovery of Joplin, Missouri contact Missouri Disaster Response staff Dan Steska.
Mozambique Ambassadors
Sarah Bollinger with the Mozambique Initiative recently led a group of ambassadors to Mozambique. While there they worked on strengthening relationships with the local Conference and ministries, and had the opportunity to see a well recently installed through the safe water project. For a video message from Sarah sharing what you can do to support the Mozambique Initiative, click on the above photo.
Joplin Home Dedication
Pam Brannan Celebrates the completion of her Habitat for Humanity home. United Methodist Volunteers assisted with the building of this and several other Habitat Homes following the May 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri.
Hurricane Sandy
Photo Credit: ABC News (abcnews.go.com & MartinMMC/Twitter)
Rev. Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR Assistant General Secretary for US Disaster Response shares this information regarding United Methodist Response to Hurricane Sandy: "There will be a lot of needs as a result of this storm," which meteorologists have referred to as "near historic" in size. "There are many ways you can help, but the most important right now is by giving to UMCOR US Disaster Response, Advance #901670, which will also cover needs in the Caribbean region," he said. Be sure to choose "Hurricanes 2012" from the drop-down menu. For up-to-date Hurricane response information check the Creative Ministries site at www.umocm.com/disaster or contact our Disaster Response staff person, Dan Steska.
Backpacks of Love
The Festival of Sharing this past weekend was a wonderful experience with people coming from all over Missouri and a variety of faith and denominational backgrounds to give of their time and resources to alleviate hunger and poverty. In the photo above Dora Thackery of Creative Ministries explains the importance of "Backpacks of Love" to a group of serving youth. For more information regarding the Festival of Sharing contact the coordinator, Terri Williams, at festival@socket.net.
Festival: Work of Our Hands
The Festival of Sharing, which seeks to alleviate hunger and poverty, is hosting it's annual ingathering this Saturday October 20th in Sedalia, Missouri. The photo above shows a hand painted door which is just one of the many items that will be for sale at the "Work of our Hands" booth. Proceeds go to the Festival of Sharing "where needed most". For more information contact the Festival coordinator, Terri Williams, at festival@socket.net.
Welcome Dan Steska!
Creative Ministries welcomes a new Disaster Response Coordinator, Dan Steska. Dan will coordinate Disaster Response efforts for the Missouri Conference so for more information on his ministry and how you can help please contact steska@umocm.com.
UBL Housing
In August of 2012 the first of several teams traveled to the Latin American Biblical Seminary in San Jose, Costa Rica to assist with the construction of new student family housing. The Missouri Conference will provide hands and funds for one student family housing unit. For more information on how you can help visit http://www.umocm.com/vim/ubl.html or contact Audrey Phelps at phelps@umocm.com.
Rembering 9-11-01
Today, as we remember the tragedy of 9-11-01, we pray. We pray for the families who lost loved ones. We pray and give thanks for the bravery of those who responded. We pray and give thanks for the United States and the resilience of the people of our country. And we pray for the continued healing of hearts as we remember this tragic event.
Piggy Kisses
The children at Wilkes Boulevard UMC in Columbia, MO raised $150 to make Pastor Meg Hegemann live up to her promise to kiss a pig! Funds will help send a Pig to Haiti through the Heifer International project “Pigs for Hope and Health in Haiti” for Festival of Sharing 2012. For more information on this project visit www.umocm.com/heifer or contact the Festival of Sharing Coordinator, Terri Williams, at williams@umocm.com.
Igesia Metodista de Cuba
Prior to Sunday morning services in Boca de Camarioca, Cuba, local Cuban Pastor Jose and VIM Pastor Mark Martin practice what they preach by spreading the word, works, and Spirit of Christ. Since 1994, VIM teams to Cuba have been an important part of rebuilding the infrastructure and hope of the Iglesia Metodista in Cuba. Now the third largest denomination on the island, Methodism is growing faster than ever and doing so just as in the beginning; one life, one soul at a time. You are invited to join a team April 7-19, 2013. For more information contact Missouri Conference Team Leader, Joe Himes, at boazjoe@gmail.com.
Festival Family Food Boxes
On July 26th a group of 29 volunteers helped to unload Family Food Boxes into storage in Sedalia, Missouri for the Festival of Sharing. It took about 30 minutes to move the 1,200+ kits into the storage units that Convoy of Hope generously stored in their warehouse for six weeks. The family food box in one of the most needed packs for use in Missouri, and these kits represents only about 10% of the Family Food Boxes that will be requested for pick up at the Festival of Sharing on October 20th. For more information about Festival contact Terri Williams at festival@socket.net.
Youth Prepare for SERVE2012
The St. Francisville UMC youth get prepared for SERVE2012 during their summer Vacation Bible School program. August 1st is the final day to order SERVE2012 event t-shirts!!! Shirts are $6 each and sizes available include Youth Extra Small-Extra Large and Adult Small-4 Extra Large. To order register your event or contact Audrey Phelps at phelps@umocm.com or 573-474-7155.
SERVE2012 Toddler T's
SERVE2012 Youth Extra Small t-shirts are now available! Little helping hands want to feel included too so order this size and more when you register a project at SERVE2012.org.