Mission Outreach
Serving God's people in our community and around the world is a vital part of the Christian journey for members of First Christian Church. We try to provide ways for each person to be involved in direct ministry to our neighbors in need.
NEWS AND UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
Week of Compassion
Thanks to everyone who brought in complete hygiene kits for Church World Service. For our Week of Compassion observance in February, we are planning to assemble 24 more. Please sign up for the items you want to donate and bring them in by Feb. 14th when we will put the kits together.
We will observe Week of Compassion on Feb. 21st with a special "Compassionate Communion" service and on Feb. 28th with a guest preacher, Chaplain Jonathan Fisher.
Food Drive
Watch for info about a Food Drive in March, date tba.
REGULAR GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
"Pass the Salt" Offering
The "Pass the Salt" offering is received on the first Sunday of each month at First Christian Church. These gifts are a way for us to help directly with the ministry of local agencies. The funds go to a different organization each month, in a six-month rotation. The recipients include Interfaith Ministries, Daybreak Crisis Recovery Center, Sister Mary's Center of Concern, Habitat for Humanity, Community Enabler-Developer and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"For Our Neighbors in Need" Food Cart
About once a quarter, the Mission Coordinating Team sponsors a special food drive, but supplies are needed all the time, so we invite you to bring in non-perishable food items any time. These donations are taken alternately each month to Community Enabler and All Saints Interfaith Center of Concern. More and more people are in need of the services of our local food pantries.
Items that are helpful include canned goods, pasta, macaroni and cheese, canned meats, corn meal, flour, and cereal. Personal hygiene items are also needed.
Week of Compassion
Week of Compassion is the disaster relief fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Gifts are always welcome, because the ministry of Week of Compassion is ongoing. We place a special focus on supporting this ministry each year, usually in February. Designated gifts following specific disasters are also a common way of supporting this vital ministry. Through the work of Week of Compassion, you can reach around the world with a helping hand to those who need a message of hope.
DISCIPLES WOMEN SERVICE PROJECTS
The Disciples Women at First Christian Church partners with the Mission Coordinating Team to lead the congregation in service projects every quarter. Examples of these projects include collecting school supplies, supporting the Christmas Clearing House, collecting supplies for women's shelters, and purchasing blankets through Church World Service for disaster victims.
Soup Labels
An ongoing project of the CWF supports the NBA Woodhaven Home in Missouri, an agency that serves developmentally disabled adults. By collecting and sending in labels from designated food items, the CWF assists NBA Woodhaven to obtain many necessary items for their clients. Click here for the list of which labels are currently being collected. (Then click on "How to Help," then "Soup Labels," then scroll to the bottom of the page for the link to the list.)