Missions
A Missions Warm Welcome
Let us welcome and introduce you to the Missions Ministries at Cornerstone UMC. We feel privileged as we minister to people in our church, in our community and in the world.
The purpose of the Mission Ministry is to demonstrate God's love for our world community by reaching out and giving to those in need. We accomplish this through a wide variety of ministries. Please browse through some of our mission ministries, located on the home page.
In addition to those ministries, the calendar year is filled with other events. Here are some of our additional events for the year 2007:
February
- Souper Bowl of Caring is a fundraiser which includes an opportunity for you to purchase a prepared lunch on Super Bowl Sunday. This fundraiser helps the Missions committee to purchase items for our food pantry.
- Act of Kindness Month: To help boost the morale of 90 St. Charles County Deputies and Detectives, the Missions team combined with the F.A.I.T.H. Wired Kids and crafted hand-made cards and a "goody bag" for each deputy and detective.
March
- Iraq Serviceman: Our congregation wrote notes that were sent to our men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. This effort was spearheaded by a member of our congregation.
- Shoes for Camp Victory: Another member of our congregation promoted a shoe drive for Camp Victory in Iraq. 400 plus shoes were collected and shipped to Iraq.
- Twin Oaks Celebration: Twin Oaks is an assisted living residence. The mission team purchased 18 grapevine wreaths. 18 residents' doors were decorated to brighten the residential wing for spring and to add cheer to the residents.
April
- April Showers: This event was sponsored by the Girl Scouts provided more that 3,500 personal hygiene items for our food pantry.
May
- Rainbow Network: This is an Ozark-based organization that works among the poor in the poorest Central American country. Rainbow Network is an ecumenical Christian-based group. Our church supported this effort to help the children of Nicaragua have a brighter Christmas. 104 bags were collected.
June
- Kenya, Africa Mission Project: Our church partnered with Christ United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM. Members of that church sent a team of missionaries to work on three different projects. Our church collected medical supplies to assist them in their projects.
August
- Back to School Project: Donations of school supplies were distributed to 60 plus school children.
September
- Coins for Missions: Pennies are given throughout the year to support this ministry. This year $300 dollars plus was given to our Men's Club to help with the PET project.
- Matthew 25 Projects: This project was incorporated for 6 weeks into our church service. Each weeks message focused around the theme of that week
| 1st Week |
"Hungry" |
Food was collected for our food pantry and fresh fruit for Centenary CARES in St. Louis, Mo.
|
| 2nd Week |
"Thirsty" |
Water and juice was donated and given to our pantry and to Centenary CARES. |
| 3rd Week |
"Stranger" |
Books and magazines were donated for Centenary.
|
| 4th Week |
"Clothing" |
Socks were collected for the homeless at Centenary.
|
| 5th Week |
"Sick" |
First aid items were collected and kits were made for our food pantry.
|
| 6th Week |
"Prison" |
Books and games were collected for PATCH in Chillicothe, Mo for parents to share with their children as they come to the prison to visit.
|
October
- Job Shadowing: This program has been in existence for a number of years and continues to grow. The Ft. Zumwalt School District participates in this program and is used from October - May. Every Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 2 special students worked in our food pantry with volunteers from our Missions Committee. This experience gives the students and opportunity to sharpen their communication skills, learn to stay on task and prepare for the time when they will leave the school environment. The students mark, sort and bag food so that we are ready to open the pantry on Wednesday morning.
- Festival of Sharing: This project helps others outside our community. This year 116 pairs of glasses, 12 health kits, 21quilts/fleece for backpacks, 10 personal hygiene kits and 8 student dental kits were sent to the Festival gathering.
November
- Empty Bowls: Hope High School in O'Fallon (located at the previous Williams Memorial Church site) holds an annual chili and soup lunch. Over the last 4 years $3,687.00 has been donated to our food pantry.
- Boy Scout Food Drive: The scouts and many volunteers will meet in our Fellowship hall for the traditional food drive. This year 13,500 food items were received for our food pantry.
December
- Mitten Tree: Mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, socks and toys are brought to the church to decorate the Christmas tree in the Narthex. All items are then donated to various agencies.
- Adopt-a-family for Christmas: Church families provide a meal and gifts for local families hat need help during the Christmas holidays. Families are from our food pantry or referred by Ft. Zumwalt schools.
As you can see there are many mission opportunities in which Cornerstone participates. We pray that through our love for God and the blessings he has given us that we will be able to share our blessings with others.
