Our Mission Buffet

Our mission coordinator, Brenda Jacobsen, has a buffet of mission choices for the Lakeville Church family to involve themselves in.  Be sure to check back each week to see what new items have been added to the buffet.

• Soup Kitchen: The Honesdale Ministerium has a new soup kitchen that is held every Saturday, alternating between the Honesdale Presbyterian and Grace Episcopal Churches.  The soup kitchen is open every Saturday and can always use volunteers.  See Brenda for more details or call the church office at 226-6713
• Prayer Shawls & Yarn Ministry: a new and powerful ministry for any and all who need to feel the loving touch of God and the human family during times of sickness and darkness, and also during times of anticipation and joy.  The Lakeville Missions provides the yarn for knitting or crocheting prayer shawls, baby hats, and lap blankets, and will even provide lessons.  See Virginia Morrison or Brenda Jacobsen for details.  Our prayer circle and knitting/crocheting times are list on our calendar-the the calendar page listed to your left. 
• Care Packages for Soldiers serving in Iraq: bring in any candy, cookies, packaged snacks, and such items soon so we can send our care overseas. Our soldiers also appreciate handwritten notes.  Do not bring chocolate as it melts during mailing.
• Care Packages for College Students: we regularly send homemade goodies to our students away at school.  Talk to Brenda if you have something you would like to send.
• Dessin Animal Shelter: We collect bleach and animal food for Dessin Animal Shelter.  We also take monetary donations and at times send over items for the Shelter's Thrift Shop.  Some members also give time walking the dogs each week.  Speak with Brenda if you are interested in this ministry.
• Food Pantry Sunday: The third Sunday each month is our Food Pantry Sunday.  Please bring in toiletries and non-perishable food items that Sunday and place them in the altar area.  All donations are given to the Lakeville Area Food Pantry which is held the fourth Thursday each month at the Paupack Township Building from 11:00 to 2:00.
• Magazine Donations: Bring in your magazines after you've read them and we'll deliver them to Wayne Memorial Hospital to be used in waiting areas and for patients.
• Coupons: Clip coupons from the Sunday paper for those in need.  Bring them into church and place them in the mission box by the back table in the sanctuary.

Annual Conference is asking churches to send health kits this year to be shipped to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) warehouse in Louisiana.  These health kits will then be sent around the world to help those in desperate need.  In order for kits to cross international boundaries, they must adhere exactly to the specifications below!  Thanks for your generosity.

HEALTH KITS:

Place these items in a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.

·        1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”, no kitchen towels)

·        1 wash cloth

·        1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket sized)

·        1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

·        1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz and up)

·        1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrappers, no child brushes)

·        6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

·        $1.00 to purchase toothpaste

(NOTE: UMCOR Sager Brown is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Important Kit Assembly Information:

·        All items included in kits must be NEW items.

·        All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.

·        Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

For hundreds of years, Christians have given alms for the poor.  Earliest church records testify that Christians have given substantially to the needy of their community and of their world as a church body.  Deacons would collect funds  and resources from the worshipers and distribute these to the needy.  In the middle ages, worshipers gave their tithe during the worship service.  After worship, as they exited the sanctuary, the poor would gather and the worshipers would then hand out coins to the needy hands outstretched.  This generosity was vividly continued in the work of the earliest Methodists, who collected large sums of money each week to distribute to the needy.  Change for change, our weekly collection of coins for missions, is surrounded by a long history of giving.  Remember to collect your change and help change the plight of the poorest and neediest in God's world.

United Methodist Woman News...

As many of you know, our Flea Market was a rousing success.  We made over $2,000. We want to offer a big thank you to all who worked so diligently at this huge undertaking and a special thank you to Norma Anderson and Doris Ulsh for supervising this big event again this year.  It is a great fundraiser and it is a good time for fellowship, too.  As usual, everyone pitches right in and does whatever needs to be done.  What a blessing to have such a wonderful church family.

   Our next meeting is on August 20 and, weather permitting, we are meeting at Doris Ulsh’s house.  Some people have volunteered their boats and, again—weather permitting, we will be taking a ride on the lake.  So bring your lunch.  Beverage and dessert will be provided.  If you don’t know the way to Doris’ house, we can get you directions or we can carpool from the church.

   Also, don’t forget to put September 27 on your calendar for the Falling Leaves Tea.  Get your tickets early if you plan on going.  Reservations are needed.  We sold out last year and had to turn people away.  Our entertainment this year is the Victorian Dancers.  It should be very special.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Smile, God loves you and so do I.

Chris Grunow, Secretary

God bless all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of my favorite songs from a musical called Porgy and Bess is ‘Summertime and the Livin is Easy’. Oh, how I wish that were true for so many of God’s people. Everyday I talk with so many that are plagued with chronic pain, illness and suffering, money problems, addictions, failed relationships, and fear of the unknown. How can people not be worried when they turn on the news and it is ALL doom and gloom...Our job as Christians is to bring love and hope to all who need to hear God’s Word. The mission trail is a wonderful way to show and tell THE MESSAGE of GOD. We are the messengers and what a story we have to tell!! Let’s try and make summertime easy for as many as possible just by being the caring and sharing church of Lakeville, Pa.

The Dessin Animal shelter needed wet cat food. I am proud to say-because of Change for Change and donations from some generous people- 13 cases were delivered. Thank you to Chris and Bob Grunow for going to the store. When you see Chris and Bob, please say thank you to them. Without going into a lot of detail, they do so much for so many and ask for so very little in return. The community food pantry is always supplied from Lakeville UMC because of their efforts. God bless them for all they do...Remember the shelter always needs paper towels, bleach, dog and cat food and treats. For exercise, take the dogs for a walk and hold the cats and kittens. It is great therapy. They do not talk back...

Our ongoing projects continue. Toiletries, paper goods, cookies and candy are always needed for the Senior Center. Magazines and coupons continue to be needed. There are so many volunteer opportunities available. Each one has the ability to share God’s message. On the Mission Bulletin board, there is a paper called the Mission Matrix. Take a look at it. It highlights what other churches are doing in the mission world. Maybe in 2009 we can write some of the things we do. Do you have some ideas you would like to share with me? No idea is ever crazy-have you spent anytime with me-do you know why I am called the Mission Maniac??????

I am closing with a thought for all of you...

Meet as many people as possible in the short time we have on this journey and tell them that God Loves Them and WHY that is.... Doom and Gloom can be replaced by Love and Hope. It is our GOD given legacy to all future generations...

In His Service,

Love,

Brenda-Your Mission Maniac