Compassionate Assistance Fund
This gives the opportunity for each of us to take ownership of a method to provide needed funding that can be used at the discretion of the pastor in helping the needy in our community. Quarterly throughout the year, you will find a small envelope inserted in your Sunday Bulletin for your gift.
Hardly a week goes by that our Pastor is not approached by folks in need. Your prayerful gifts are deeply appreciated.
Faith on Eighth
The Church of the Good Shepherd prepares an evening meal the second Thursday of each month for the men at Faith Mission. Because there is no kitchen at Faith on Eighth, we prepare meals and take them to the mission. You can help by preparing food, providing supplies or money for supplies and serving. If you would like to be involved, contact Sue Crawford who is the chairperson for this project.
Near Northside Emergency Material Assistance Program
NNEMAP has been operating for the past 40 years, and is served by our church and many others. They serve the needy in their immediate zip code area, including the elderly and the youth. One of our many projects related to this agency is our collection of food. People bring food to the church and place it in a receptacle in the narthex and it is then taken weekly. Our program expands during the summer and fall with the addition of fruits and vegetables from our garden and trees.
Paper Recycling at Good Shepherd
The green and yellow receptacle in front of the church garage is the center of our paper recycling effort and embodys the spirit of our committee. Members of Good Shepherd and the community deposit their recyclable paper 24/7. We have kept many tons of paper out of the landfills, and saved much water, energy and many trees. Keep up the good work!
Touching Little Lives
As of May 1, the Kroger Company has dedicated $5,000,000 to support community efforts where its associates live and work. You can go online and sign up with your Kroger Plus card number and specify “Touching Little Lives” as your charity. The address for this secure web site is http://www.krogercommunityrewards.com. If you do not have internet access, you can ask a friend to help you. Then all you have to do is use your Kroger Plus card and “Touching Little Lives” will benefit. To find out more about “Touching Little Lives” check out their website.
Again, thanks to all of you who regularly make baby hats, receiving blankets, quilts, afghans, etc. Be sure all of been laundered before you give them to Helen Miller.
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
The mission of the United Methodist Community Ministries (UMCM) is to assist churches in doing ministry in the community where God has called them. UMCM serves Church of the Good Shepherd, as well as churches and United Methodist organizations in nine Central Ohio counties. They encourage, enable and educate congregations about risk-taking service following the example of Jesus Christ in reaching out to the least, the last and the lost. Their goal is that every congregation becomes involved in life-changing, risk-taking service for the transformation of the world, starting with our own local communities. To that end they offer training, hand-on opportunities, and Local Outreach Grants and Partnership facilitation.
Training (Register at www.umcommin.org or call Beth Weisbrod at 877-228-0521.)
“Connecting with the Soul: Faith Sharing Training for Outreach Ministries”: Saturday, February 25, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at First UMC, in Marysville. The focus of this training is how to create a safe space in outreach ministries to enable listening and sharing faith with the people we serve. You will learn how to recognize God at work in another and become more at ease sharing your own story. The workshop will be led by a Community Ministries training team.
A Presence in the Schools Roundtable: March 21, 12 to 1:30 p.m., at the district office—sharing stories of how small and large churches are connecting with schools in their community. ). Pastor Kathi Herrington and others will share their experience of working with the schools: tutoring, meals, after-school ministry, events etc.
Bridges out of Poverty Training: Tuesday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at William Street UMC, 28 W. William Street, Delaware, OH. Cost is $10 for workbook. Based on Dr. Ruby Payne’s A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Bridges reaches out to those who touch the lives of those living in poverty. Rev. Lou Seipel, a certified trainer and UM pastor, will facilitate the training.
Bridges out of Poverty II: Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Richwood First UMC, 18 Fulton Street, Richwood, OH. $10 for lunch—for persons who have attended Bridges I and want to learn how to apply Bridges concepts in outreach ministry.
UM Community Ministries Grants: May 5 and 19, 10 a.m. to noon, locations TBA.
Joanne Paul
COGS Community Relations Liaison
