Sugar Creek offers a wide range of local, national, and international mission opportunities, or if you have any ideas for a mission project, please contact any one of the mission team members or the mission team chair, Pat Wright.
Locally:
* Chatham Food Pantry-Any month that has 5 Sundays is “FOOD ON THE FIFTH MONTH” - Contacts are Kay Rentfrow & Linda Davis. Please remember to put the following items on your shopping list for the Chatham Food Pantry: hamburger helper, hot cereal, cold cereal, tomato sauce, mustard/ketchup, applesauce, jelly, dish soap, tuna, canned tomatoes, mayonnaise, freezer bags, children’s toothbrushes, and canned fruit.
* Footsteps-a ministry outreach that helps children have new shoes. Schools in the Sugar Creek church family are available to receive these shoes. We have provided shoes for families who have had fires in the Chatham area and at Christmas we have provided shoes for needy children who attend the Asbury UM Church after school program. If you would like to be on the committee please contact Rinda Osborn (483-3822 or rnysz34@yahoo.com).
* Habitat for Humanity-We are in need of volunteers to help build, provide food for volunteers and/or donations of water/Gatorade/soda. Questions regarding food/meals, please contact our Food Coordinator, Jeanette Miner (801-0080). Contact Diane Miles (483-2996 or diane@micromedical.com) regarding questions about the build. Build times are Tues/Thurs: 4-8pm & Saturdays: 8am—4pm (Address: 1529 S. 5th Street, Springfield, IL).
* McFarland Mental Health Center-Contact is Mike Lucas (483-3891). Mike accepts donations every year for the patients and has a Christmas Party for them. The individuals do not get to go home for Christmas.
* Prayer Vigil Ministry-Contact Butch Moroney or Jeannette Miner if you are interested in joining the prayer team.
* Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, IL is here to serve and sustain families when catastrophe strikes the most cherished part of their lives - their children. It provides a temporary home away from home for these families whose children are receiving treatment for an illness at a Springfield medical facility. In an effort to reduce stress, keep the family intact, and enhance the quality of life for families, our house provides a caring, home like atmosphere for our guests. The Ronald McDonald House provides its services regardless of race, sex, creed, or national origin. The Ronald McDonald House of Springfield uses many items on an ongoing basis to keep our house running smoothly. They rely on donations to maintain the supplies that help make our families comfortable in their home away from home. On your next shopping trip, please consider picking up an item or two from their shopping list found on their website www.st-johns.org:8080 or contact Karen Dozier (646-5252) if you have any questions.
* Serving Jesus Willingly Urban Ministries, Inc.- The Serving Jesus Willingly Urban Ministry is an outgrowth of twenty-four years of various ministries led by Sam Winger. It focuses on meeting the physical and spiritual needs of people in Springfield, IL and other places. If you would like more information about this ministry and how you can help please contact Sam Winger (753-0430) or visit www.sjwum.org.
* Sugar Creek Benevolent Fund-The purpose of this fund is to help people in emergency situations and times of unforeseen crisis. It is not intended to help long term needs. James 1:27 states that God makes it clear that we need to help those who are in distress (legitimately in need). Sugar Creek is a church that cares about families and those who are really in need. If you are aware of someone in "crisis", contact the pastoral staff or church office.
* Sugar Creek Christmas Mission Trees- The worship tree at the front of the worship area is the Layette Tree. The layettes and supplies for babies are donated to Kumler Neighborhood Ministries. The Mitten Tree in the lobby will be hung with mittens, gloves and hats. These items are for the children who receive assistance at Sojourn House. The small tree hanging on the bulletin board in the lobby is the School Supply Tree. These items will go to the Asbury Children's Supper Hour.
* Teacher Appreciation Luncheons- Sugar Creek provides lunch for the teachers and staff of Ball Elementary School. This is a great opportunity for Sugar Creek to be good neighbors and say thank you to some of the teachers who help our children learn. We need individuals that would be willing to serve the lunch that day as well as to help prepare and clean-up. Food and cash donations are accepted.
* World Vision 30 Hour Famine- Sugar Creek Youth took part in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine on March 6-7, 2009. They raised money by not eating for 30 hours so that kids suffering from malnutrition can eat every day. The problem is huge, but the solution is not. Just $30 a month – roughly $1 a day – can help feed and care for a child in most developing countries. As students go 30 hours without food, they got a taste of what it’s like to be hungry, all the while reaching out to others in need. And as they did that, their compassion grew: for people around the world, and right here at home.
Nationally:
* Adult Mission Trip-Cedar Rapids, Iowa -The adults traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday, March 22nd and returned Saturday March 28th, 2009.
* Jr. High and Sr. High Mission Trip-Investment Opportunity-Economy have you down? Concerns about where the stock market is headed? Looking for other alternatives to diversify into? The Junior and Senior High Youth have a deal for you! --- “Youth in Mission” stock. This fund-raising project will help support the Senior High Mission Trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 14 - 20 and the Junior High Mission Trip to Henderson Settlement, in Frakes, Kentucky, July 11 - 18. The congregation has an opportunity to purchase shares of “Youth in Mission” stock at par value of $10 per share. The goal is to sell 300 shares of stock as our Youth prepare to serve outside of the Springfield community this summer.
Internationally:
* Flip Flops for Africa-Don’t forget to drop off your donations of flip flops and/or shoes for Africa in the church lobby. There is a table located outside the Worship Center with more information and a collection box. Please contact Rachelle Matthiesen if you have any questions (email: achelle16@hotmail.com or ph: 412-4662)
* Haitian Development Fund-The Haitian Development Fund assists the people of Haiti by serving them directly. They are interested in funding projects and forming partnerships in areas of healthcare, housing, education, food assistance and community development. Because health care is such a critical need, their first project was the creation of the Sarthe Neighborhood Medical Clinic located in Port-au-Prince in June 2002. The HDF accepts over the counter pain relief medications. Contact Diane Walrath (483-7911) if you would like to donate to the HDF.
* International Health and Development Network Mission Hospital, Ghana, Africa-Pat and Don Wright’s medical mission trip to Ghana June 24-July 8, 2009. At the invitation of Dr. Edem Agamah and IHDN the Wrights committed themselves to this project. If you would like to donate to this mission project please contact Pat Wright (793-9890).
* Midwest Mission Distribution Center-contact Pat Wright (483-7911)-The Midwest Mission Distribution Center has provided hundreds of flood buckets and health kits to communities experiencing flooding. The MMDC is in constant need of supplies for the flood buckets. For an current list please visit www.midwestmissiondc.org. You may donate to the Center next door to Sugar Creek to help those in need nationally and internationally. Sugar Creek UMC volunteers at MMDC the 3rd Friday of each month. Join us from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Center if you would like to help out.
* Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on mission’s project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ. National Collection Week is in November.
* United Methodist Men-The UMM ask the congregation each year to gather local donations and they transport them to the Great Ingathering of the Sangamon River District each fall. Needs include: clothing, house wares, appliances, furniture and children’s items. All donations should be clean and in good repair. Chaddock School, Kumler Ministries, Asbury Children’s Supper Hour, United Methodist Mountain Mission, Red Bird, Henderson Settlement, Goodwill, and Contact Ministries are among the agencies served by the Ingathering. The UMM also helps with the Sausage & Pancake, Chicken and Pork Chop dinners Sugar Creek has during the year of which they donate 10% to missions.
* United Methodist Women-Just a few of the many missions the UMW are involved in are Cunningham Children’s Home and Lessie Bates Neighborhood House-giving day care and after-school and weekend activities for youth & children. The UMW also sponsors kids to camp and their craft group also helps fund the UMW mission work.
* Vacation Bible School-contact Pat Freeman-The mission team will match what kids give with their pennies to the Heifer Project International. Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Get involved and help VBS give a Heifer gift animal.
Sugar Creek exists to reach the unchurched in our community with God's love and to develop devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.
Location | Staff | Church Leadership | Education | Small Groups | Links | Youth Home Page
Last updated: 02/05/2010 Questions? office@sugarcreek.org
.jpg)
