The Missions Committee of Mt. Zion is responsible for determining the recipients of our monthly, Special Benevolence Offerings, the oversight of appeals to the congregation for what they refer to as “in kind” contributions such as food drives or health kits, organizing food runs, and promoting special offerings such as Blanket Sunday.
In arriving at the calendar for 2009, the committee has tried to maintain a balance of offerings that reflect a variety of interests and needs with the local community plus the U.C.C. related institutions in our area. As in the past, several months or Sundays were not designated to allow for appeals that may arise during the year. During the year, the Missions Committee will apprise you on a monthly basis what the Special Benevolence Offering is. In the meantime, we share this with you as an overview of the coming year.
Jan. ~ Lancaster Theological Seminary
Feb. ~ Mt. Zion’s Disaster Relief Fund
(This fund was established in 2006 to provide emergency relief. Last year aid was provided to assist hurricane victims in Texas.)
Mar. ~ Habitat for Humanity
Share-Your-Heart – 5th Sunday
(This provides support for the UCC Child Sponsorship Program.)
April ~ Access-York
May ~ Homewood Homes - Hanover
(Our UCC related home and ministry to seniors)
Holy Joe’s Café – 5th Sunday
(Funds provide chaplains serving in Iraq and other combat areas resources to set up a coffee house for service men and women.)
June ~ Bell Shelter – York
July ~ Hoffman Homes – Gettysburg
(Our UCC related ministry to troubled children and youth.)
Aug. ~ Undesignated at this time
Compassionate Food Run – 5th Sunday
Sept. ~ York Association Micro-lending Project
(The York Assoc. has helped establish 9 Trust Banks in Africa.)
Oct. ~ Lehman Center – York
Nov. ~ Rescue Mission - York
5th Sunday – Lakota Workcamp
Dec. ~ Good Samaritan Fund
The undesignated times will be assigned as the Committee continues to assess needs that arise locally, nationally and globally through the year.
Compassion-York Food Runs have been scheduled for Jan. 25th, and May 31st . The soup kitchen, referred to as “Chop & Peel,” will prepare food for Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen the last Monday of March, June, September, and December in 2009.
Additionally, the Missions Committee will be collecting children’s items during the observance of Children’s Sabbath in October and Christmas gifts in December. These missions are in addition to our special offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) in March, Strengthen the Church in May, Blanket Sunday in September, and Neighbors in Need & CROP walk in October.
The Missions Committee is most appreciative of the congregation’s support and understanding of the importance of mission and outreach. The Committee has endeavored to provide a variety of ministries as well as balance the appeals for donations. It is hoped that this will help you to plan and to appreciate the vast mission work of our congregation.
Members of the Missions Committee: Carol Hartman, Leon Hartman, Bob Bievenour, Doris Loucks, and Kathy Ensminger (Chair).