Haitian and Chilean Relief The people of Haiti desperately need our prayers and assistance. United Methodists are well positioned to provide direct aid efficiently as the United Methodist Church has a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti. The strong ties between the Methodist Church of Haiti and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) helped in facilitating the opening of the UMCOR Haiti field office in 2005.
You can provide direct help by giving to the UMCOR Advance 418325, Haiti Emergency. Members should address checks to St. Paul's UMC and our treasurer will write one check to the emergency fund.
Remember, one hundred percent of your donation will be used to assist those who are in greatest need. Not all aid organizations can promise that. This is the safest way to ensure your donation will assist those in need. Further, UMCOR will remain in Haiti for a long time to come, well after other organizations have left.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is also responding to the needs of people affected by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile early on Saturday, February 27. Financial support can be made to Chile Emergency Advance #3021178.
To learn more about what the United Methodist Church is doing to respond to our neighbors in great need, visit www.umc.org. You may also visit www.umcor.org.
Mission Trip 2010 We are going to Tree of Life Ministry at Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, June 27th-July 3rd, 2010. Your prayers are much appreciated.
Fair Trade Peace Coffee and Equal Exchange tea, cocoa, and chocolate bars are available for purchase at St. Paul's on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month and during the week by contacting the office. Fair trade products link our congregation with small-scale farmers and their families. All profits go to St. Paul's mission outreach. Prices are:
1 lb. Coffee, light or dark roast, whole beans or ground, regular or decaf: $10.00
1 box of 25 tea bags: $3.00
1 box cocoa mix: $3.00
1 bar light or dark chocolate: $3.00
The United Methodist Men (UMM) meet quarterly for fellowship, food, and service. Meetings for 2010 are:
- January 15, 2010
- April 16, 2010
- July 16, 2010
- October 15, 2010
United Methodist Women (UMW) is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to participate in creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand mission through the global ministries of the church.
Membership in the UMW is open to any woman with a desire to belong to and participate in the global mission of the church. No matter who you are or where in your life you are at this moment - plant, bloom, and grow with other women who have been responding to this purpose for over 135 years.
General gatherings are open to all women and may feature activities, a speaker and refreshments. A yearly highlight is the June picnic. Call the church office for the current schedule. Information on individual circles is also available.
Rummage and Bake Sales are held at the church twice yearly, on a Saturday in April and September. Plan your spring and fall cleaning around the sale, and bring your good rummage to the church during the week preceding the sale; call the office for the dates. Always a favorite neighborhood event, the proceeds benefit UMW mission work.
Turkey Dinner has been held annually for over 80 years, usually on the last Wednesday of October. Get your tickets early for this sellout event! And plan to arrive a bit early to enjoy St. Paul's Holiday Boutique, where you may browse and purchase unique handmade items and gifts from our kitchens. Proceeds benefit local missions.
At Feed My Starving Children we volunteer monthly to pack nutritious meals made up of rice, soy, vitamins, and dehydrated vegetables, distributed to starving children worldwide. www.fmsc.org
Food Shelf - Neighbors, Inc. is our local food shelf, serving families in need in Inver Grove Heights, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul, and West St. Paul. St. Paul's supports this effort through Minnesota Foodshare, an interfaith collaboration. Our food and funds drives are held in March and November. www.neighborsmn.org
Emma Norton Services, a National Mission of the United Methodist Church located in St. Paul, provides both permanent and temporary affordable housing and services to homeless women and their families. St. Paul's United Methodist Women provide ongoing support for this mission through direct contributions and participation in the Emma Norton Annual Dinner. We are proud to say that two members of St. Paul's and the UMW have served on the Emma Norton Board of Directors. www.emmanorton.org
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) responds to emergencies and disasters around the world, helping people with their immediate needs and in getting back on their feet. Every dollar donated goes directly to the work of UMCOR. St. Paul's has participated in relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina, the south Asian tsunami, and the Pakistani earthquake. We have assembled layette kits for expectant mothers, sewing kits, and school bag kits, and even responded to a last-minute appeal for toothpaste to restock UMCOR warehouse supplies. new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor