Archive for Outreach

Crossroads Center Rescue Mission Update

Thank you for your continued support of our Mission “to give glory to God through the helping of people”. Nineteen people currently call Crossroads home and have begun work on getting their lives back on track.

Our most critical needs are as follows:

  1. Food—eggs, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta, dried beans, cheese and

    canned foods especially in #6 or #10 cans.

  2. Transportation for guests to medical appointments, jobs and job interviews, and

    support group meetings.

  3. Phone cards
  4. Paper products
  5. Laundry products for use in “high efficiency” washers
  6. Laundry baskets or bags
  7. Trash cans—large and small—and trash bags.
  8. Personal hygiene products
  9. Cleaning products
  10. Plastic totes
  11. Food storage containers—4, 6 & 8 quart size
  12. Baby monitor

Also, please pray for our guests as they work back towards independence and for their spiritual growth.

Lenten Lunches

Reminder:

Lenten Lunches are held every Friday at Noon during Lent. The lunches are sponsored by the Kearney Ministerial Association and are open to everyone. The theme this year is built around We Are Called…. The community is invited to the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church, 4500 Linden Drive. The cost for the lunch is $5 per person, with a portion of the proceeds being given to local missions. The first service will be on February 19th.

Food Drive -Souper Bowl Sunday

Thanks to everyone who donated food and money for the youth group’s Souper Bowl Sunday food drive! Some youth group members delivered the donations to the new Crossroads shelter in Kearney on Feb 8th during WNL.

Shepherd Leaders’ Coffee

SHEPHERD LEADERS’ COFFEE

Sunday, March 4, 2012

The Deacons are hosting a coffee for the Shepherd Leaders immediately after the worship service in the library on Sunday, March 4, 2012. Please come as we share ideas on how to care for our members (flocks) and learn what it means to be a Shepherd Leader. We promise not to keep you long!

Shepherd Leaders for the 2012 year include: Bev Gustafson, Kathy Gappa, Sara Sup, Suzzie Bresley, Germaine Oldfather, Barb Andersen, Thea Houser, Barb Friskopp, Joan Hartman, Susan Ingram, Georgia Byrn, and Karen Diestler. A BIG Thank You goes out to all of you for your help in supporting our church!

Souper Bowl Sunday Food Drive

Reminder:

The youth group is hosting a SouperBowl Can drive collection at the church. Donations will be given to our local food pantry. Please bring non-perishable food items to church. We will have an area in the Narthex available to collect the items. We are collecting items now through Souperbowl Sunday which is February 5th.

American Boychoir

On Monday, April 23, the American Boychoir will be traveling to Kearney from Colorado Springs. The Worship and Music Committee has volunteered our church to host the boys overnight. Founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1937, the choir has been located in Princeton, New Jersey, since 1950. Its members – boys in grades 4 through 8 – come from around the country to pursue a rigorous academic and musical curriculum at the American Boychoir School.

There are 30 boys in the choir, so we need 15 families who could provide them with lodging and breakfast. To show their appreciation for our hospitality, the choir has offered to do a private mini-concert for the host families upon their arrival at our church. If possible, we would also like to offer them a potluck dinner. They will be traveling to Lincoln the next day.

If you could host two boys (separate beds), please let Sandy McKirahan or Kathleen Johnston know. This is a great opportunity for our church to extend our hospitality to the United States’ premier concert boy’s choir.

Lenten Luncheons

Lenten Lunches are held every Friday at Noon during Lent. The lunches are sponsored by the Kearney Ministerial Association and are open to everyone. The theme this year is built around We Are Called…. The community is invited to the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church, 4500 Linden Drive. The cost for the lunch is $5 per person, with a portion of the proceeds being given to local missions. The first service will be on February 19th.

Tree of Warmth -Update

The Deacon “Warming Tree” Committee took the wonderful donations to the S.A.F.E. Center on Thursday, December 29, BEFORE the snow storms came this year. Thanks to many of our congregation’s members and their children.

We were able to deliver the following:

9 Blankets, throws and 1 beautiful hand- crocheted afghan
13 Girl’s mitten and hat sets
18 Boy’s mitten and hat sets
18 Winter/Scarves or warm muffler 1 pair leggings
2 pairs warm night booties
18 pairs warm mittens/gloves

The Deacon’s Committee of Diane Panowicz and Ruth Slominski would like to thank each of you who contributed to the S.A.F.E. Center project. If you have other coats, mittens, gloves, blankets and other warming pieces, please contact either Diane or Ruth and they will see that they are delivered to the S.A.F.E. Center’s office very soon, so that they will be given to those who need them to stay warm this winter too. Thanks, bunches! May God Bless each of you and may each of you stay warm also!

Dimes for Mission

The Mission Committee has designated that Dimes for Mission collected January through March be sent to the Relena and Tommy Myers family to be used for the camp as they see fit. The Myers family are members of our congregation who moved to Canada to be directors at the Gracefield Christian Camp and Retreat. This camp is a Presbyterian sponsored church camp. The camp relies on donations and funds from their presbytery in Canada and from camp registration monies. They are always in need of funds to replenish supplies, maintain buildings, and help with the many costs involved in running a camp. The Myers and big brother Toby are expecting a baby girl and have plans to move back to the states in the next six months where they are looking at some different ministries in western Nebraska, Rapid City area, and Colorado.

Souper Bowl Sunday Food Drive

The youth group is hosting a SouperBowl Can drive collection at the church. Donations will be given to our local food pantry. Please bring non-perishable food items to church. We will have an area in the Narthex available to collect the items. We are collecting items now through Souperbowl Sunday which is February 5th.

Dimes For Mission

The Mission Committee has designated that Dimes for Mission collected January through March be sent to the Relena and Tommy Myers family to be used for the camp as they see fit. The Myers family are members of our congregation who moved to Canada to be directors at the Gracefield Christian Camp and Retreat. This camp is a Presbyterian sponsored church camp. The camp relies on donations and funds from their presbytery in Canada and from camp registration monies. They are always in need of funds to replenish supplies, maintain buildings, and help with the many costs involved in running a camp. The Myers and big brother Toby are expecting a baby girl and have plans to move back to the states in the next six months where they are looking at some different ministries in western Nebraska, Rapid City area, and Colorado.

“Tree of Warmth”

The “Tree of Warmth” will be located in the Church Narthex waiting for mittens, caps and scarves to decorate its branches. Also donate any new or good condition, laundered blanket or blankee (any size) so that we the congregation of First Presbyterian of Kearney may spread warmth and love to others in need this holiday season. The items that are placed on or around the tree will be donated to The S.A.F.E. Center, bringing warmth to the giver and the recipient. Join in the true spirit of the season by remembering Christ’s admonition to take care of one another.

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

Build a Box

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Operation Christmas Child by either donating a shoe box or volunteering to help. This year’s goal was set at 8,000 boxes from this collection site at our church. 8,011 boxes (up about 100 boxes from last year) were donated, packed into shipping cartons, loaded on the one long semi-trailer, and shipped to the distribution center in Denver, Colorado. The boxes will be sorted and delivered to children around the world.
Thanks again to all who made this mission outreach project a community success!

BUILD A BOX

If you didn’t participate in Operation Christmas Child Shoebox during the National Collection Week. It’s not too late to participate! Build a Box is available online through December 31.
Follow these steps:
1.    Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ.
2.    Choose from a variety of gifts.
3.    Upload your photo and letter.
4.    Your donation of $35 or more will cover gift items and packing and shipping costs.
We will deliver your box to a child overseas. Pray for the child who receives your gifts. We will notify by email of the country destination of your gift.

Open your Heart and Home

OPEN YOUR HEART AND HOME
to a German or French exchange student for the coming 2012 spring semester Caring host families (with or without children) are needed to provide food, a bed and a loving home for the second semester starting in January. EMF students have medical insurance, spending money for their personal expenses and expect to share their host family’s daily life including household responsibilities. They speak English, are well-screened and eager to experience life in America. Their stay here is sponsored and supervised by EMF (Educational Merit Foundation), a non-profit, educational exchange program. For more information on EMF students, please call Marie-Claude Dijoud now at 1-800-467-8363 or visit our web site at
www.emfusa.org.

Crossroads Homeless Center

homeless shelter

Crossroads homeless shelter is looking for volunteers to pray, clean, paint, sort donations, prepare food, etc. They are also in need of a variety of furniture, office equipment, kitchen items, cleaning supplies, and lawn care equipment. A full list is posted outside the office, or you may call 236-5688 or 236-6065 to volunteer or get more information.

Invite – A – Guest Sunday

Invite and bring a guest to worship on Sunday, December 4th! Following the worship service a light lunch will be served for members and guests. Invitation cards are available in the Narthex or the church office for members to distribute.

Crossroads Homeless Shelter

Crossroads Homeless Shelter

Crossroads homeless shelter is looking for volunteers to pray, clean, paint, sort donations, prepare food, etc. They are also in need of a variety of furniture, office equipment, kitchen items, cleaning supplies, and lawn care equipment. A full list is posted outside the office, or you may call 236-5688 or 236-6065 to volunteer or get more information.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church is having a soup/sandwich lunch on Tuesday, November 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a free will offering going to support the Crossroads homeless shelter.

Lion’s Club Soup Supper

Honey Sunday

November 6, 2011

Honey from The Arc of Buffalo County’s 47th annual Honey Sunday Drive will be available when community volunteers and members from The Arc go door-to-door in Kearney throughout the afternoon of Sunday, November 6, 2011. Your $5 donation helps support many Arc programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. (The honey is fresh, pure honey from local beekeepers and processed by Chandlers Sandhills Honey of Anselmo, NE). Honey will also be available outside the Kearney Wal-Mart on November 12, 13, & 20. For more information, please contact Kristen Larsen at 308-237-4343. Thank you for your generosity!

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

Lion’s Club Soup Supper

Open your Heart and Home

OPEN YOUR HEART AND HOME to a German exchange student for the coming 2012 spring semester
Caring host families (with or without children) are needed to provide food, a bed and a loving home for the second semester starting in January 2012. EMF students have medical insurance, spending money for their personal expenses and expect to share their host family’s daily life including household responsibilities. They speak English, are well-screened and eager to experience life in America. Their stay here is sponsored and supervised by EMF (Educational Merit Foundation), a non-profit, educational exchange program. For more information on EMF students, please call Marie-Claude Dijoud now at 1-800-467-8363 or visit our web site at www.emfusa.org

Crop Walk

Sunday, October 16, 2011 1:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 4500 Linden Drive
Mark Your Calendars for Sunday, October 16th and plan now to participate in this year‟s CROP Walk. The CROP Walk begins at First United Methodist Church, 4500 Linden Drive, with registration at 1:30 p.m.; walk begins at 2:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church is on the route and will serve as a snack/rest break site. We will gather with others in our community to fight hunger both here and around the world. We need Walkers and Sponsors. Please contact Sara Sup (236-9891) or Julia Tye (233-5391) for more details or to sign up to be a Walker or Sponsor, or both! Thank you for helping feed the hungry in our community and throughout the world.

Cleanup Buckets Are Needed!

Many parts of the United States have experienced a large amount of flooding this year due to rapid melting of an above-average snowpack in the Upper Midwest, above-normal precipitation during the spring, and after-effects from Hurricanes Irene and Lee. One of the ways that PDA helps in response to flooding is through Gift of the Heart kit Clean-up buckets. These buckets are extremely helpful as a first step in the recovery process. Unfortunately, the large number of disasters has pretty much exhausted the Church World Service supply of Clean-up buckets. A shipment of 250 Clean-up buckets was recently sent to a Presbyterian church near Binghamton, New York, to help that community begin the recovery process, but more are needed for other locations. Please prayerfully consider participating in this important mission. Instructions for putting together the buckets can be found on the PDA website www.pcusa.org/pda.

The Waffle Man Fundraiser