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Missions
Mission Trips! Do you want to go on a mission trip? There are many opportunities to join such trips in the US and to other nations. Talk with Juliana Smith if you would like to accompany our youth or children on their mission trips. If you are interested in more, contact the Missions Committee or the pastor. If you want to learn to be a team leader for a UM Volunteers In Mission Team, training is available around the state over the coming year. Visit www.vaumc.org/page.aspx?pid=810 for more information. Or go to www.vaumc.org, then click on Ministries, then on Center for Justice and Missional Excellence, then on UMVIM or on any other link that looks interesting to you. This is a good way to explore mission opportunities beyond Grace. -----------
THE MISSION COMMITTEE OUTREACH REPORT What Is A Salty Servant? In the Gospel according to Matthew, verse 5:13, Jesus says "You are the salt of the earth..." In other words we are here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness how will people taste godliness? The Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church developed a unique way of beginning to address this by encouraging the church to be Salty Servants. Our Grace Missions Committee likes its approach, and agreed to try it out. Here is Florida's working definition for a Salty Servant: "A salty servant is someone who joins Jesus in service to persons outside their congregation for at least one hour during the previous week in one of four ways: · Hands-on mercy ministry alleviating the suffering of others; · Justice-ministry addressing systems that cause suffering; · Earth-care as a steward of God's creation; or · Relationship building to ease the emotional or spiritual needs of others." A Salty Servant ministers to persons outside their church family. For Jesus, the neighbor we should love is anyone in need. We are sent out into the world. We are called to follow Jesus beyond our comfort zones. As his hands and feet and voice, we become light in the darkness. Salty Servants are compassionately focused outward beyond themselves, beyond their family, beyond their group, not just for those known in their own congregations. We are sent out as ambassadors of reconciliation, agents of the Kingdom which God desires to give to all God’s creatures. The hope is that making time in our busy schedules to serve others will become something that we keep choosing week after week as a Christ-like follower of the one who came "not to be served, but to serve." You will hear more about being a Salty Servant on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th. Chuck Root, coordinator of this project, Grace Missions Committee
=========== PLEASE REMEMBER! THE MISSION COMMITTEE BUDGET DEPENDS ON YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS The Mission Committee operates on contributions from you in special offerings during the year. We receive no funds from the church budget. Please try to give generously to the special Christmas offering. In doing so, you give Grace Church the opportunity to support a number of local and world missions. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS OFFERINGS OF MONEY, TALENTS AND TIME - GIVEN TO THE GLORY OF GOD! *****************************************
Grace UMC is proud to be an active partner with DUCO (Denbigh United Christian Outreach) in assisting local people in need. For more information about DUCO, please go to www.duco1973.org. We also have a prayer blanket ministry. Those who are facing surgery or serious illness may request a prayer blanket (forms located outside of the church office). Each knot in a prayer blanket represents a prayer said for the individual. Please see our monthly newsletter under "Resources" for Missions updates. |
