Mission and Outreach

"The church that friendship builds" is a church that reaches
out to others.  Come join us!   

"Everyone can be great because everyone can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't even have to make your subject and your verb agree... You only need a heart full of grace...a soul generated by love." —Martin Luther King, Jr.

Increasingly, people are searching for meaningful, alternative ways to share the celebration of the birth of Christ with their family and friends. The chaos that has become Christmas in the secular world is so "loud" it nearly drowns out the true meaning of this holy season.

Helping to provide food for some of the 35 million Americans who don't get enough to eat is a perfect way to put Christ back into Christmas, since it is He who commands us to feed "the least of these." And in today's climate of financial uncertainty, the need is even greater for those who are forced to rely on critical service agencies to feed their families.

The Society of St. Andrew, a national hunger relief ministry and Advance #801600, offers an alternative way to share the true meaning of Christmas, not just with people you know, but with thousands you will never meet but whom you can help feed. For a minimum donation of $12 per card, you can send their custom-designed alternative Christmas card to those you wish to honor with a donation to feed the hungry, or you can have the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) send the cards for you.For details go to www.endhunger.orgww.endhunger.



United Methodists have believed, from the beginning, that each of us is called to participate in the outreaching ministry of Jesus Christ. John Wesley described this work in simple, practical  terms: "Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can."

"Putting our faith into action is at the very heart of our Christian calling. By volunteering to serve through programs such as United Methodist Volunteers in Mission or the Mission Volunteers program of The General Board of Global Ministries, every person in the church has the opportunity to serve and to live their calling more faithfully."
(United ethodist Church website).

Find out more about the many volunteer opportunities and programs by visiting the United Methiodist web site:
hhttp://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=6531
    
The mission of Terrace First United Methodist Church is to serve God's children, wherever they live
and whatever their need.  As we  fellowship together, we are reminded that we need to do more than
"talk the talk."  We need to "walk the walk."   


For  this year 2008, there are many ways to reach out to help others. Special  Mission Projects are observed through the Bible Study session donations  as well  as on the third Sunday of each month.
 April is "Heifer Month," when we collect money to purchase animals for people in need.
May is Fellowship Fund Month to support Methodist Homes. June is Camp Scholarship Funding.
July is "Christmas in July month."   We collect toys for children in need. In August we observe  
"Undie Sunday" on the third Sunday, when we donate new underwear for boys and girls getting
ready for school. For September, we ask the congregation and friends to purchase school supplies
for the children of Haiti. In October the concentration is on UNICEF and also on winter coats and boots
for children in Alaska. In November the emphasis is on winter coats and jackets and heavy sweat
shirts to be delivered to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. In December we dress a Christmas tree
with mittens, hats, and scarves for chidren. We have an additional tree in the narthex of the church
for "Christmas cards," where we give a money donation to UMCOR instead of sending each other cards.

Jesus said in response to how to inherit eternal life, "Love God with your whole heart and soul and
mind; and love your neighbor as yourself."  We need to reach out and give to all of God's children.  
It has been said that you can give without loving, but that you cannot love without giving! If you truly
believe in Jesus Christ, and if Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, then you will want to share what you
have with others. You will want to show caring and love.  Why not contact Redbird Mission in
Kentucky and/or the Heifer International Project?   The websites are listed : http://www.rbmission.org/                                                                                                                                      http://www.heifer.org/

   PEACE!