Thanks to your generosity, the special Pentecost offering totaled $1250. The offering is a denomination-wide collection to benefit children at risk. Of the offering, 60% goes to our General Assembly (50% to youth ministries and 10% for child advocacy at the national level) and 40% stays with our congregation to disburse locally. The mission committee met after the Pentecost service and we determined that the local portion of the offering ($500) will be sent to “Take Wing,” a local program which provides youth between the ages of 16 and 24 with low-income housing, training in independent living skills, the support of weekly case management, and opportunities to achieve set goals. This has been a great benefit to youth who have been in the foster care system and are left without means of support.Mission Update
On July 19 after worship we'll have our annual Offering of Letters sponsored by Bread for the World. The universal Christian symbol is the cross. Bread for the World's Offering of letters reconciles both elements where our commitment to God, the vertical, shines with our care for the poor and hungry, the horizontal.
These letters will help our elected officials understand the moral imperative to alleviate poverty and hunger to join with the faith community to combat apathy, injustice and poverty. Goals of the offering of letters are:
- Urge congress in coordination with other government and non-government agencies to make poverty reduction a national strategy for global development.
- Provide reliable, flexible assistance to recipient countries, with their participation in developing priorities and programs.
- Focus on outcomes, have measurable goals and systems of accountability.
- Align U.S. aid, trade, migration, energy and environmental policies to promote sustainable global development that reduces poverty.
- Coordinate with other international donors to reduce program duplication and burdens on recipient governments.
Mission
Known as a medium sized congregation, our support of giving individually and locally is broad. This year there are eleven organizations to whom we give financial and volunteer aid. Here are three. Keep checking our website to learn about the other eight. We do blossom with creative ideas and new events to raise funds and expand our mission commitment.
In the immediate area of Ocean Beach, non-perishable food items and day-old bread are donated to the food pantry, Loaves and Fishes, who aid the homeless, families and individuals in need. In February, our youth group participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring, a nationwide movement to raise funds for the hungry on Super Bowl Sunday. Loaves and Fishes was their chosen recipient.
Also in our geographic area is the Peninsula Shepherd Senior Center, which provides a support system allowing older adults to live independently, self-sufficiently in their homes for as long as possible, but also providing opportunities to meet, socialize, learn and volunteer.
Beyond our local communitiy, we support county-wide the San Diego Habitat for Humanity. This well known well organized self help housing program assists low-income families in achieving ownership of simple, new affordable homes. Volunteers work side by side with new homeowners. Members of our congregations also donate their building supplies to the Re-Store (near Qualcomm Stadium) which sells items below retail prices, as a recycling and clever fund raising project.
There are eight other "mission projects" we are involved with, whcich you can learn about, if you keep visiting our website. Did you know...people who participate in volunteer activities live longer than those who don't?
