Connecting Points Outreach News

Wholeness for our Clergy, Congregations, and Communities

Connecting Points

Outreach Newsletter

May 2011

Dear Michelle,
Rev. Marilyn Beecher

The name Church and Community Connection was chosen for the District outreach ministry because we see our purpose as being a bridge between church and community. We want to support local congregations as they seek to know their neighborhoods, develop outreach ministries and find community partners. It is also our goal to be involved in the community in ways that witness for Christ and work for justice. As our work is seen and trust is built, we win right to share about Jesus. The circle is completed as the community learns about our churches and knows they are welcome to join us for worship, witness and service.

Mary Lee Downey, a Church and Community Connection Board member, created this new logo for us. For us it symbolizes how our diverse people and churches are united by Christ for service in the world.

It is a joy to work with you toward these goals.

Grace and peace,

Marilyn

In This Issue

Peace with Justice Sunday

Disaster Response

Undies & Socks Collection

Foster Care Information

Immigration Values

Advocacy for Children

Creation Care

World Refugee Day

Celebrate Jesus Mission

Peace with Justice Sunday

United Methodist Special Sunday June 19

Peace with Justice Sunday enables The United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs. It is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Half of the money raised by Florida churches stays in our Conference, the other funds are used in national and international projects.

In 2011, Peace With Justice funds were given to Justice For Our Neighbors to work with Haitian immigrants in Central Florida following the earthquake in Haiti.

To order free offering materials, click on Peace with Justice Sunday.
A pastor's guide to United Methodist Special Sundays can be [downloaded here].
To read stories of lives changed by Peace with Justice Sunday [click here].
To learn more about what "Conflict Mineral" is [click here].

Responding to the Spring Storms

Supply Drive in June

Last month saw tremendously powerful tornadoes speed through the southeast, and now we are hearing daily about communities throughout the midwest dealing with record flooding. UMCOR has put out a request for Cleaning Buckets (formerly called Flood Buckets) and Health Kits. Join the other churches in the EC District by collecting supplies.

We will have drop off sites in the District the last two weeks in June.

Covenant UMC, Port Orange will be the northern site. First UMC, Winter Park has agreed to provide a truck again to deliver supplies to the Sager-Brown Depot in Louisiana.

To get the supply lists/instructions: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies

To donate funds for supplies directly: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=901440&id=3018981.

Ministry with Children

Hungry and Homeless Children

Undies and Socks Collection: There will be a collection site in the display area at Annual Conference for children's underwear and socks. They will be distributed by the Conference Outreach Ministries (Church and Community Connection and Halifax Urban Ministry are both Conference Outreach Ministries). Please send your Pastor and Lay Delegate with a box full!

Pack-A-Sack: Faith UMC has been actively involved in Pack-a Sack, whereby items of food are packed and delivered to at least eight children attending Union Park Elementary school across the road each Friday. The children have healthy food, so that they will not go hungry on week-ends.

Foster Care Informational Gathering

Saturday, May 28 at 4:00 p.m.

Orlando Public Library, 3rd floor, Albertsons Room

101 E. Central Blvd, Orlando

Saturday, July 16 at 3:00 p.m

First UMC, 101 W Dakin Ave., Kissimmee

Open Hearts Family Services (the foster care ministry of our Children's Home) is hosting a "Q & A: Pondering Foster Care" gathering for those wanting to explore the possibility of becoming foster parents through Open Hearts. There will be a panel of folks from various aspects of foster care to answer all your questions. Parking is available in the garage across Central Blvd. from the entrance. Please join us and discover how you can bless the life of children in crisis.

Advocacy Work

Immigration Values

Florida Compact written to address immigration issues

In order to steer immigration debate and policy with principles important to people of faith, business, and the community of Florida, the Florida Compact was written. Available to read and sign onto at www.flcompact.com, the Florida compact addresses principles around a Federal Solution, Law Enforcement, Families, Economy, and a Free Society.

Justice for Our Neighbors had the pleasure of coming together with other community organizations as people of faith celebrated the Florida Compact on May 4, 2011. The powerful evening of testimonies and a background in faith perspectives on migration culminated with 148 participants signing the compact.

Photo: During testimonies many stories and points of view were addressed, including the youth that don't have a voice in our community as represented by the masked faces during this testimony.

The Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act

Passed the House floor (115 YEAS to 1 NAY*)

A record year of wins for Florida Impact's priorities!

Passage of the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act
Removal of the cap on spending for the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund and defeat of the move to permanently redirect the Housing Trust Funds to General Revenue and away from housing
The House and Senate restored the funding for homeless programs as well as the statutes for the office of Homelessness at the Florida Department of Children and Families.

*-- The sole NAY vote was Representative Scott Randolph (D-Orlando).

Of course, ALL depend now on the Governor's pen, but in the meantime, we celebrate an unprecedented number of victories!

THANK YOU for all your help in achieving our goals!

(These were the issues that people attending the Florida Advocacy Days worked on. They visited lawmakers and asked them to keep a priority on children and the homeless and discussed these specific bills. Wayne Wiatt was there and asked me to share this good news.)