Missions By Janet Baechle
“United Methodist Women inherit the vision and toil of women’s missionary societies of eight denominations since 1869. Its 140-year legacy started when the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society first organized in Boston in response to a lack of women’s health in India.” As the new president of the United Methodist Women (UMW), I join with the ladies of Christ Church to continue the vision of serving through mission giving. The UMW is not funded by the Church; we earn all the money we give to missions with three fundraisers a year. The first two are rummage sales held in the Spring and Fall. The first sale is Thursday, April 7 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday, April 8 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. The second sale is Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7 with the same hours. All we ask is that you bring items that are usable, not stained or damaged.
Pantry, Christian Home Care Services, McKendree College Scholarship Fund, Hospice of Southern Illinois, Family Hospice, Ronald McDonald House, Illinois Fire Safety Children’s Camp, Violence Prevention Center, Salvation Army, Beacon, Christian Activity Center, CASA, Fischer House, Feed My Sheep Ministries, Redbird Mission, Henderson Settlement, Cunningham House, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, Lydia Juico in the Philippines and Sue Givens, a missionary with Samaritan Hands School in Paraguay. UMW also provides funeral dinners for families of our church. What a wonderful way to show our love for them when they need it most. The ladies of Christ Church have fun and fellowship on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Come and join us. If you really want to have some fun, help us with our rummage sale or the ham and bean dinner. We can always use more hands. You will certainly make friends with your involvement.
Our third fundraiser is a ham and bean dinner with delicious homemade corn bread and desserts. We provide a children’s menu of hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and beverages. UMW donates to the following mission organizations: Network of Caring, AWANA, Vacation Bible School, Parish Nursing, Youth Summer Mission Trips, Belleville Christian Center, Fairview Heights Food 7