by Debbie Gallagher

Our Do Something for the One you love Lenten focus is off to a great start. We have 48 people who answered the challenge to donate $200 of mission money to charities or individuals of their choosing and give at least two hours of their time volunteering. We already have some wonderful places and people that have been helped including Cedar Hill Shares, New 2 You, books for children, Special Olympics, and an orphanage in South Sudan to just name a few. Sixteen of us helped to break a world record making sandwiches for homeless shelters. Thank you to everyone who is committing to doing something for the One you love, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

James 2:17 “…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Our March missional communion offering on March 6 is going to PROvision Asia, one of the missions supported by our church, founded by Chip & Jean Kingery. PROvision Asia serves people suffering from physical or mental disabilities. It offers a hand up, not a handout. Hope is given to people with disabilities by providing skills training, provision of mobility aids, physiotherapy, job placements, education and counseling. Please support them with your prayers and offerings. Chip Kingery will be in church on Sunday to talk about his ministry.

Our April offering on April 3 will be for “One Great Hour of Sharing”, part of the United Methodist Church Committee on Relief. UMCOR started in the 1940’s and responds to the needs of people in war-torn and disaster- worn areas. It assists people in over 80 countries with humanitarian relief. We read and hear about disasters every day, here and in other countries. Contributing to UMCOR is a way we can do something. Besides disaster relief, UMCOR is involved in global development work addressing health, water, poverty, sustainable agriculture, nutrition and food security. The purpose of UMCOR is “to join with God’s mission of reconciliation and healing in the world.”