2PC Mission Matters e-Newsletter: Vol 2, Issue 1, January, 2011

Do you have a sense that God's plan for you involves becoming more involved in missions this year? Consider joining either the Global or Local Mission Team where you can see God's Love  in Action.  Each team meets during the first week of the month at 5:30 PM at the church.  If you have any questions about the teams, about  any mission work we do that you feel called to participate in, or about anything else involving missions, please, contact either mission team through don.crittenden @secondpres. info

Our Priority Partnership with our friends in Ocosingo continues.  The Las Manos de Cristo Medical Clinic is open, and we look toward thebuilding of a desperately needed well with our Lenton offerings.  An English as a Second Language project is in the works to reach out to the people of Ocosingo and Bloomington-Normal that includes our Priority Partners at Restoration Church which meets at 2 PC on Sunday evenings. We also have a medical mission trip planned to the medical clinic in June on which we will offer assistance in the clinc and ofter ESL classes at Vacation BIble School and to parents. God is definitely on the move in Mexico and our community as we put Love in Action in His name.  

Opportunities to Volunteer with our Local Partners

 . . . Ocosingo in Chiapas, Mexico & Restoration Church, Bloomington 

. . . from Carol White, Missions Team:  Serving on Saturdays (SOS)

The first quarter Serving on Saturday Mission Day is here!   Everyone is invited to bring a friend tand serve in our community on January 29.  We will be serving at Habitat ReStore, Western Avenue Community Center (WACC),  Recycling Furniture for Families (RFF), and Home Sweet Home  (HSHM).  The day will start at 8:30 AM at the church with a light breakfast and devotions before we head out to worksites until 11:30 AM.  We complete a variety of  tasks tailored to our volunteers; there's something everyone can do at each site.  It's also a perfect way to work with a friend, to get to know your small group, or to make new friends.  You may contact Carol at 662-4862 or carolwhite77@gmail.com or just come at 8:30 AM on January 29.  It's a sure way to overcome the winter doldrums as we put our faith in action.

. . . from Dennis Steele & John Schoening, Missions Team: WACC

Western Avenue Community Center at 600 N. Western Ave, Bloomington, continues to provide year round, school year, and hispanic outreach programs for the whole community.  It's stated mission is  "Partnering within our diverse community to open doors of hope and love through our faith in Jesus Christ". We are always looking for volunteers to help with the many programs. If you are unable to volunteer your time, you can still be of assistance by making a donation whether it be monetary, canned goods, boxed food items, dairy and frozen meats or cleaning supplies for the Violet ESPY Food Pantry. We are also seeking support for this year's fundraising team. Contact WACC at 829-4907, email info@esternavenuecc.org, or call Charla Cullen, Development Director, at 530-0291 or ccullen@westernavenuecc.org  to assist with fundraising.  WACC is surely an example of God on the Move: Love in Action.

 . . . from Bob Beerup, Missions Team:  Home Sweet Home Ministeries (HSHM)        

With it's motto and mission, "Investing in Lives, Ending Homelessness", HSHM has been serving the homeless and hungry in our community with Christ's love since 1917.  Located at 303 E. Oakland, right next door to its Mission Mart, also on Oakland Ave, Home Sweet Home offers overnight shelter in its 90 beds as well as food, clothing, counseling, Christian ministry, and many other services to individuals and families in need. In 2010,in HSHM served a record 96,000 meals to the homeless and distributed food boxes to the poor in our area.  It also offers the Threshold Addiction Recovery Program which strives to provide a renewed sense of hope for all who participate though education activities, therapeutic services, and spiritual development opportunities. To meet the tremendous need in our comunity for their services, HSHM has an amazing list of opportunities for volunteerism on a one-time or on-going basis.  They are currently looking for toy sorters and for people to sew aprons for the kitchen staff.  The ongoing volunteer need is for office help, groups to Adopt-a-Meal, HSHM advocates, auto resale preparers, client programmers, errand drivers, class facilitators, fleet managers, holiday meal delivery, kitchen work, building maintenance, donated goods receivers, social networkers, volunteer coordinators, weekly worship helpers, and people interested in helping with specific drives and events.  Call 828-7356,  email hshinfo@hshministries.org, or go to http://www.hshministries.org/ for information.  

. . . Sylvia Gibson, Hospitality Committee:  2PC's Culinary Academy