Working together to make a difference.
A partnership among First Congregational, Eugene Mennonite, and Springfield Church of the Brethren, mental health professionals, and ShelterCare to develop property at 10th and Main in Springfield to provide housing for special needs populations. We are members of the Brethren Community Services Board of Directors, providing leadership and financial support to develop the housing project, as part of our church's ministry to alleviate poverty in our community. |
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Volunteering at the Fair Trade on Main store, which sells high quality crafts from 3rd world countries and is located at 10th and Main, is a fun and rewarding way to help raise funds to support Brethren community Services housing project above. Training is provided. Contact Laurie Power, 541-895-3452 if you are interested in becoming involved.
One way we can embody the simple truth of the birth of the Christ Child is by reaching out to those who feel abandoned, forgotten, invisible, or despised.
The Giving Tree benefits individuals from Eugene Rehabilitation Center, Southside Rehabilitation Center, and Royal Avenue Shelter or Safe Haven (both programs of Shelter Care). These are our neighbors who are disabled, the fragile elderly, the chronically mentally ill, or those who struggle with substance abuse addictions. You are invited to take a tag (or more than one), purchase the gift/gifts indicated, wrap the gift/gifts, and return with tag attached. Last year families, groups of friends, Dinner for Eight groups, book groups, and other small groups within the church joined together to sponsor individuals. Personal cards to the recipients are always deeply appreciated.
When the tags are gone, it is a joy to decorate the tree with socks, mittens, hats, gloves and scarves for the children of First Place Family Center. These donations will be received through Christmas Eve. The Giving Tree is a great way to model to children the real meaning of the season when there is so much pressure for those who have much already to accumulate more. For more ideas, or if you have questions, contact the Giving Tree coordinator Mary Mowday (541-485-6509) or Pastor Melanie (541-345-8741).
Giving Tree Thanks
Heartfelt thanks to the many people who took tags off the Giving Tree and returned beautifully wrapped gifts a week or so later. This year we provided gifts to 111 people residing in nursing homes and mental health shelters. In addition, four families from Centro Latino Americano were adopted, and several bags of warm gloves, hats, and scarves were delivered to First Place Family Center. Special thanks to all who helped in special ways to make the Giving Tree program such a success: Louise de Kluyver, Ginny Dunphy, Val Hazen, Dick Hilsenkopf, Blair Irvine, Sandy Ludeman, Jessica Marquez, and Rick Mowday.Mary Mowday, Giving Tree Coordinator
On behalf of all of us, a huge thank you to Mary Mowday for making the Giving Tree happen: for coordinating with the community agencies, creating tags, collecting and sorting gifts, organizing volunteers to deliver gifts, and making it happen that so many in our community were remembered and appreciated at Christmas, a time for sharing and, for many, a time of great loneliness. We are so deeply appreciative of Mary's willingness and skill to again make the Giving Tree a reality.
The Religious Response Network is a gathering of people of faith in the greater Eugene-Springfield area who support the civil and religious rights of all persons and families. We oppose discrimination against anyone in our communities, in particular, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals and families.
We come from a variety of religious traditions and believe deeply in religious freedom. Our practices vary, our diverse understandings of the Sacred, our beliefs are multiple. Yet we carry the same deep longing for our communities. We want our daily lives to be nurtured toward living lives of hope, and we desire peace and justice to reign. Liaison to RRN from First Congregational Church: Gwen Gwilym 541-505-9805 or grfthome@comcast.net
Springfield Adult English Class
Here's an opportunity to meet individuals from other countries during the school year and help them with their English fluency. There is one multi-level class and volunteers provide individual help to the students: answering questions, helping with pronunciation and spelling, working in small reading groups . The students always mention the benefit of having volunteers in the room in their quarterly evaluation reports. Your presence is welcome and very important to them. Contact: Rev. Melanie Oommen, 541-345-8741.
You can sign up for one evening and see if this program is a match for you. It is very helpful to have regular volunteers.
Tuesday & Thursdays 6:00-8:00 p.m.,
Adult English classes—Springfield Middle School , 1084 G Street Springfield
ESL Volunteer Coordinator Needed
One way FCC supports our immigrant neighbors is by providing volunteers in the classrooms and with the children of the participants of the Springfield Public School’s English as a Second Language Program for parents of SPS students. If you would be interested in being the volunteer coordinator for FCC, contact Pastor Melanie for details!