Outreach

Seeking active faithfulness.....

Outreach and mission are strongly held values, whether we are helping through the Boston City Mission Society, the Sunday School's "Soup-er" Sunday fundraiser, or the Senior High Youth Group's service project adventures both near and far.

MAY 2010

OUTREACH
By Rebekah Gardiner
Outreach has had a very exciting spring. First, a thank you to the Middle School Youth Group for serving a delicious, homemade soup to Bristol Lodge that was cooked at the Brown household. We are still looking for volunteers for Bristol Lodge for the dates of May 22nd and July 24th.

As I write this, the Senior High Youth Group is in Alamosa, Colorado installing dry walls for the adobe homes being built by the San Luis Valley Habitat for Humanity. We look forward to their return to learn about their experiences. At the end of April the adult service project heads to Portland, Maine to assist the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. They may be painting or planting, depending on the progress of the two houses.

Our Easter offering to Reach Beyond Domestic Violence - REACH - is providing immediate support to those who suffer from domestic violence in our direct communities. The Reach organization is just finishing a capital campaign that will fund a new facility to house victims of domestic violence. Thanks for you support.

Thank you to all who have generously supported Outreach in many different ways this
spring.

MARCH 2010

OUTREACH NEWS
BY REKEBAH GARDINER

Outreach would like to celebrate the tremendous response to the relief effort in Haiti. As Joe says, "We are the little church with the big heart." In addition; between the joint efforts of Faith Discovery and Outreach during Soup-er Sunday, $421.00 was raised which then became 39 Hygiene Kits, also going to the relief effort in Haiti. Thank you Faith Discovery!

Please refer to the Faith Discovery page to learn more.

Sign up for our Adult Service project during the weekend of April 30th and May 1st working with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. We will either be working in the neighborhood of Westbrook or in the town of Freeport. We will know of our location in the middle of April. You need to be 16 years of age and can attend either one of the days, Friday or Saturday, or both days. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland has been building houses in the Portland area since 1984 and has helped over 200 people move into a home. Let's join together to build a house to help another family have a home. Please sign up by March 15th.
Thank you

FEBRUARY 2010

OUTREACH NEWS
On behalf of CMS and some needy families in Boston, thank you so much for your generous outpouring of new items for the CMS Christmas Shop. Susan’s office was overflowing with bags this week, all ready for delivery, and by chance, we seem to have provided a wonderful mixture of toys, clothes, bedding and other gifts.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We invite you all to our upcoming Outreach Sunday on January 24, 2010. This year we have chosen to highlight some ‘outreaching’ done by members of the congregation. We will hear about the ways in which they serve and the ways in which this service impacts their lives. So many people at CCW are involved in many ways in serving others. Come and join us as we celebrate just a few examples of such service.

Education Fights AIDS (EFA) : On December 15, Andrew Koleros, the founder of EFA, Becca Schendel and other members of the Board provided a Cameroonian meal at our church to thank major donors for their support of this young organization. Later the same evening, they gave a community-wide presentation on the work of EFA in Cameroon and Rwanda and their hopes and plans for the future. The Outreach Committee was delighted to see a lot of people from CCW in attendance and EFA greatly appreciates our support. This group, organized entirely voluntarily, is now being sought out by local health clinics and non-governmental organizations, in recognition of the valuable service they provide to young people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Further testament to the impact they are making lies in the Peace Corps’ recent decision to assign a volunteer to work with EFA in Cameroon. Anyone interested in reading about the current work of EFA can find it online at www.efainternational.org

JANUARY 2010

On behalf of CMS and some needy families in Boston, thank you so much for your generous outpouring of new items for the CMS Christmas Shop. Susan’s office was overflowing with bags this week, all ready for delivery, and by chance, we seem to have provided a wonderful mixture of toys, clothes, bedding and other gifts.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We invite you all to our upcoming Outreach Sunday on January 24, 2010. This year we have chosen to highlight some ‘outreaching’ done by members of the congregation. We will hear about the ways in which they serve and the ways in which this service impacts their lives. So many people at CCW are involved in many ways in serving others. Come and join us as we celebrate just a few examples of such service.

Education Fights AIDS (EFA) : On December 15, Andrew Koleros, the founder of EFA, Becca Schendel and other members of the Board provided a Cameroonian meal at our church to thank major donors for their support of this young organization. Later the same evening, they gave a community-wide presentation on the work of EFA in Cameroon and Rwanda and their hopes and plans for the future. The Outreach Committee was delighted to see a lot of people from CCW in attendance and EFA greatly appreciates our support. This group, organized entirely voluntarily, is now being sought out by local health clinics and non-governmental organizations, in recognition of the valuable service they provide to young people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Further testament to the impact they are making lies in the Peace Corps’ recent decision to assign avolunteer to work with EFA in Cameroon. Anyoneinterested in reading about the current work of EFAcan find it online at www.efainternational.org

DECEMBER 2009

CHRISTMAS INGATHERING FOR BOSTON CITY MISSION SOCIETY DECEMBER 13TH!
It’s time for the CMS Christmas Shop again! This is the “shop” to which identified families can go and buy things for very little money to give as gifts to their families. On Sunday, December 13, the collection will take place at the morning service.

Following is a list of items that CMS is hoping to collect - they must all be NEW:
toys, books, games for all ages
hats, mittens, gloves, scarves
winter coats, sweaters, sweatshirts
blankets, backpacks
gift cards (Kohl’s, Target, CVS, etc.)

They are always particularly grateful for clothes in extra large sizes, since they are rarely donated.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFERING FOR WALTHAM ALLIANCE TO CREATE HOUSING (WATCH) – DECEMBER 20 & 24
All members and friends on our mailing list will receive a letter in the mail detailing information about this year’s special Christmas outreach offering for WATCH, the Waltham Alliance to Create Housing, which we have supported for many years. WATCH not only builds and rehabilitates low income housing, but offers an array of services for those not able to get into the housing market by providing employment training, financial advice, English as a second language classes and more. Advent is a season for watching and waiting, so watch your mailbox for more information about our commitment to WATCH!

SPRING SERVICE PROJECT WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Looking towards the warmer days in April and May of 2010, Outreach has saved the dates of Friday, April 30th and Saturday, May 1st as our service project with the Portland, Maine Habitat for Humanity. If anyone is able to volunteer both days that is terrific but participating just one day is possible too. More information will be available as we get closer to spring. Thank you.

HOLIDAY GIFT BAZAAR AT CCW After worship on December 6th!
Shop for gifts for the holidays and support the ministries of CCW! Choose from handmade items, ornaments, jewelry, baked goods and more! Additionally, Fair-trade coffees and teas will be available for sale along with handcrafted items from Guatemala and that annual favorite - Trail mix from the Senior High Youth Group!

NOVEMBER 2009

Rebekah Gardiner for the Outreach Committee

Save the Date! Tuesday, December 15th, 2009,
8:00pm for an Education Fights Aids “Friendraiser.” Please come to our sanctuary to hear about EFA’s major accomplishments in 2009 and what their plans are for 2010. Enjoy dessert and coffee while being able to talk to the members of EFA’s Board, which includes Becca Schendel. Our Faith Discovery children are developing a connection with an EFA sponsored orphanage in Kigali, Rwanda, and our church raised $3000 for EFA though last year’s Pentecost offering. Paul and Jess Schendel are returning from a visit there en route home from Uganda, so we will soon be updated on this organization’s progress. More information will follow closer to the date.