Mission...What we do

Mission Spotlights!
Click here for 2008 Annual Mission Report

FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY
WEEKLY E-NEWS

“Memorial Presbyterian Church of Dayton exceed mission goals. Exceeding mission goals for 2008 is quite an accomplishment in a time when the media is reporting a downward spiral of the economy. But the faithful of Memorial Presbyterian Church of Dayton have accomplished that. In the words of Dayton Memorial “the Church rose SOLIDLY to meet the need” and the needs are many.

The youth have been a visible part of these mission efforts providing help and support for the “Dayton Kids Closet,” “Dayton Food Pantry,” and “Smile Train”. The Memorial congregation has continued to support Lafayette Urban Ministry, Domestic Violence Ministry, C.A.S.A., and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, just to name a few of their worth while missions. You are a good and faithful servants.

To subscribe to the Presbytery of Wabash Valley weekly e-News, e-mail a message to Vicki

FROM YOUR MISSION COMMITTEE

At the Mission Committee meeting held on Monday, February 23, we spent some time thinking about our participation in the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). PDA has existed for a number of years, but it was really in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that we began encouraging the members and friends of our congregation to financially support the ministry Presbyterians are carrying out in the world.

PDA has grown into a major ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA). If you want to check out what they are doing on our behalf, go to www.pcusa.org/pda and spend some time exploring their web-site. You will find a wealth of information about the ministry of PDA including areas they are currently engaged in helping to rebuild lives and communities, and ways they help to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for those adversely affected by crisis and catastrophe.

One way you can help is by contributing to the work of PDA through our local church. The stated goal in our Mission Budget is to provide $363.00 of support during 2009. This, in and of itself, might not seem like a lot of money, and in fact, it isn’t. But, if every Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation would do the same, it would total nearly $4,000,000.00. If this is a goal you feel God is calling you to help us reach, simply make your check payable to the church and write “PDA” on the memo line. We’ll make sure it gets to the right place. Through your gifts lives can be and are changed.

Jubilee Christmas 2008.

Jubilee Christmas 2008 will be held on Saturday, December 13th at 1:00 P.M. Please mark your calendars! The congregation and friends of Memorial Presbyterian Church have always been very supportive of this unique ecumenical mission event that allows hundreds of families with well over one thousand children from the Greater Lafayette community to have a more joyful Christmas experience. We are gearing up for Jubilee Christmas 2008, turning our basement into a Toy Shop, and fully anticipating yet another incredibly successful event that celebrates family and giving.

The tremendous success of this program is due to the generosity of our congregation and friends. Generous donations of time, money, toys, gifts and prayers are essential to a successful Jubilee day. Due to current economic conditions, many families find themselves seeking assistance for the first time. Our church will help by hosting 20 area families this holiday season. Your assistance is needed to ensure that Jubilee Christmas 2008 at Memorial Presbyterian Church is another great success. Volunteers are needed as hosts/hostesses, shoppers, greeters, wrappers, set-up, clean up, etc. If you are available to help, a job is available for you (someone fluent in Spanish would be helpful). If you have not volunteered for Jubilee before, ample support and instructions will be provided in all areas. The rewards are worth your time and effort.

Donations of new toys for ages 0 - 12 are needed. Monetary donations are also welcome to purchase gift certificates for teenagers, food certificates, canned hams, additional food items and additional toys. If you wish to purchase toys, please check with Cindy for specific needs.

Please be generous and timely in your giving and volunteering as we prepare for Jubilee Christmas 2008. Please keep Jubilee Christmas, the volunteers and the guest families in your prayers. Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones during the upcoming holiday season and always!

Cindy Bull

Dayton Food Pantry

A BIG Thank You to everyone for all the donations given to the Food Pantry during the past month. We appreciate your kindness so much.
We are in need of paper bags only, preferably from Marsh or Payless.
As you’re shopping, please, take a moment to reflect on the needs of others, and consider picking up an item which will help those who are too often hungry.

The Mission Committee is once again encouraging everyone to help in another way that will support our Pantry. Beginning on March 8^th, we are asking everyone to participate again by bringing foodstuffs to church on Sunday mornings. A calendar and the items needed to stock our shelves follows:

March 8 Cereal
March 15 Peanut Butter
March 22 Apple Sauce
March 29 Tuna Fish
April 5 Pineapple
April 12 Soda Crackers
April 19 Soup
April 26 Peaches/Fruit Cocktail
May 3 Green Beans/Corn
May 10 Peas/Pork & Beans
May 17 Peanut Butter
May 24 Cereal

As you’re shopping, please, take a moment to reflect on the needs of others, and consider picking up an item which will help those who are too often hungry.

Dayton Kids Closet
Thank you to everyone who volunteered during the month of April!
We will, now, be accepting donations of new or gently used SPRING clothing,
sizes newborn through young men’s & girl’s juniors.
Please give me a call if you are available to help with this process.
God bless.
Julie Boles

April Coordinators:
Amber Holsclaw

Volunteer Opportunities:

Sorting clothes
Laundering clothes
Sorting hangers
Mending clothes
Delivering recycle clothing to Trinity Mission
Putting letters on portable sign outside
Transporting portable sign
‘Set-Up’ for distributions

Text Box: IMPORTANT DATES:
May Sort - 11th 10-Noon & 6-8 PM
May Distribution - 5/30 9AM - Noon

“Smile Train” Bake Sale A Huge Success!

We are thrilled to announce that we are able to help 5 children this year in conjunction with the Smile Train. Thank you for all the donations and help. The final total for this was was $1,339.06!!!
God bless each and every one of you.
Julie & Hannah Boles

A special offering for the Caring Circle program at Peabody Retirement Home will be received on May 25, 2008. Each gift will be used to provide services and make a personal difference in the lives of the elderly at our Presbyterian related retirement community at North Manchester. Please be generous with your response to the needs of our friends at Peabody.

2008 Pentecost Offering

Join us on May 11, 2008, as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost and receive the Pentecost Offering. On this day we join with Christians around the world to celebrate God’s gift of the Holy spirit to the church. The Pentecost Offering benefits children at risk, youth, and young adults. 40% of the offering stays with our congregation for ministry with children at risk. The other 60% will support General Assembly advocates for children and provide leadership development for our youth and young adults.

One Great Hour of Sharing

Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter future.

The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 36 percent of undesignated One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, while the Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receives 32 percent.

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be collected on Easter Sunday, April 12th, or you may mail your contribution to the church.

"Souper Bowl" February 1, 2009

20TH ANNIVERSARY SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

It’s been 20 years since the Youth of the Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C. addressed the issue of hunger in their community with this Super Bowl Sunday Prayer:

         “Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game,
           Help us to be mindful of those without even a bowl
           of soup to eat.”

This prayer inspired this single church to invite 21 other congregations to join them in collecting $5,700, which was donated to local charities that provide assistance to those in need. Over the past 20 years, more than $50 million has been raised in cash and food for organizations that fight hunger. From a simple prayer and a single youth group, the Souper Bowl of Caring has become a powerful nationwide movement that touches more lives each year.

Help us celebrate 20 years of caring. Be part of this movement that begins in your own backyard and reaches across the nation, sharing God’s love with those who need our compassion and care

Every dollar donated at Memorial Presbyterian Church will go to our food pantry to help people in our community.

$311.00 was collected in 2008 for Souper Bowl Sunday, to help support our Church Food Pantry.
Thank you to the Youth Group, and all who contributed!

Family Services, Inc. Penny Harvest

Save your pennies! Memorial Presbyterian Church will be collecting pennies (and any other loose change or bills) all during the month of April to benefit Family Services, Inc.’s Programs to “help families help themselves”.

Family Services, Inc. is a private non profit organization founded in 1964 to strengthen families and individual family members of all ages and incomes in Tippecanoe and the surrounding counties. They believe that families that are strong will rear strong children and care for their elders. At the heart of Family Services, Inc.’s programs is the belief that self sufficiency is important to everyone. These building blocks will construct a strong foundation and
enable family members to face life’s challenges with independence and dignity, resulting in a better community for all of us.

Containers to collect your spare change will be placed in the church for your convenience in April. Please look for them before or after church.