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FCC Bylaws - The Mission Committee will be responsible for the church's covenant with the United Church of Christ through the Conference, as well as other ecumenical partnerships. The Committee shall initiate and coordinate activities of social concern which promote Christian compassion and justice. The committee shall recommend a mission budget and calendar of special mission offerings to the Board. Our hope is that all ages of our church family can find a way to serve!
MINISTRIES
Homeless Related Programs
Good Samaritan Fund Administered by the church office. Funds are distributed to assist with utilities, rent, gas vouchers and medical expenses in amounts from $15 to $50. Recipients call in directly or are referred by other agencies, including First Place Family Center, Catholic Community Charities, etc.
Interfaith Shelter Joining other faith communities, we provide shelter and hot meals in our Fellowship Hall for two weeks each year. We are scheduled to host families this spring from February 28-March 14, 2005 . Sign ups for volunteers will be held after worship on February 13, 20, & 27.
Habitat for Humanity We actively support as volunteers and with funds the construction of affordable homes for families in need.
Hunger Related Ministries
Family Dinner Program - Volunteers are needed to assist in preparing and serving meals for Food for Lane County 's Family Dinner Program. FCC's night is the first Monday of every month. Contact Mary Bohls (343-6762) if interested in volunteering. This is a great place for families to serve together!
Food Rescue (Food for Lane County ) Volunteers work the 3rd Monday of each month to repackage food for distribution at Food for Lane County . Each Sunday's coin offering in the plate is sent to Food for Lane County . Sign up after worship if you would like to help, or call Mary Mowday (485-6509).
Ministries to Youth & Children
Harris School Homework Club Volunteers work 2:30 3:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays, helping children at Harris School with their homework. Volunteers are teamed with students one-on-one during the school year. Volunteers are always needed! Contact Shirley Richards (342-8074) if you are interested.
The Giving Tree FCC provides the Christmas gifts to residents at Eugene Rehabilitation Center, South Hills Rehabilitation Center, and Shelter Care's Highway 99 Shelter for Adults. The Giving Tree goes up in early December wrapped gifts with the chosen tag attached are returned to the church within two weeks. So the Giving Tree can keep giving - mittens, hats, and socks for children and adults are used to decorate the tree. These items are taken to First Place Family Center when the tree comes down. Call Mary Mowday (485-6509) for more information about the Giving Tree.
Peace Village An interfaith day camp held for one week during the summer for children ages 7-14 (those who have completed first through eighth grades). FCC organizes this camp with Temple Beth Israel and the Islamic Cultural Center. Children of all backgrounds and faith traditions are invited to participate in this week of exploring the ways of peace; both inner peace and with our neighbors and our planet. There is no fee for participating. Contact Pastors Melanie Oommen or Janet Scott at the church if you would like more information.
Our Global Mission
Amigos de Los Sobrevivientes - Amigos de Los Sobrevivientes (Friends of the Survivors) - The Amigos Program is designed to work with the survivors of torture in self-empowering ways to restore themselves to mental and physical health. Survivors need medical, psychological, dental, legal, educational, and vocational help. They need to rediscover their ability to trust. They need friends. They need a community.
Share and Care Nepal in Medico, Nepal - Founded in 1993, Share and Care in Medico, Nepal (SCM/N) is the first Christian NGO to work with rural communities in Nepal. Their mission is to improve the well being of less privileged communities by facilitating a process of capacity-building in partnership with National and International Organizations.
Ministry of Special Offerings
In December, through The Christmas Fund and Neighbors in Need we remember those of our retired ministers and their spouses who devoted their lives to poor congregations with little financial return; The Christmas Fund supplements their pensions and partially subsidizes their medical plans. Neighbors in Need helps people on the margins of American society to help themselves.
On Palm Sunday, our congregation participates in the One Great Hour of Sharing special offering where we come together to help provide disaster relief, development assistance, safe refuge, and health and social service to our sisters and brothers around the world who are struggling both to survive and improve their lives.
Our annual Pentecost Special Offering benefits a local mission project. Past projects have included Peace Village and School-Based Health Centers.
On World Communion Sunday in October, our congregation receives the annual Global Mission Offering to benefit a specific global mission project. Most recently, FCC supported grassroots economic development in Haiti through World Neighbors.
In 2005, FCC has provided financial support to the following local organizations:
School-based health Clinics When clinics close for the summer, our funds help keep them open and kids healthy.
Center for Community Counseling - Our contributions help the Center provide counseling to low-income adults by linking them with professional counselors who volunteer their time.
Community Mediation Services Restorative Justice Program The RJ Program brings young offenders together with their victims so they might take responsibility for their actions and make amends.
HIV Alliance Provides support, counseling and community to members within our community with HIV and AIDS.
Faith in Action The political action committee of Two Rivers Interfaith Ministries, Faith in Action organizes opportunities for education and social action on issues in our community and our world.
Womenspace Lane County 's resource for battered women and their families. Womenspace also provides community education and advocacy.
Mission Trips
Currently the High School Youth group is planning a trip to Appalachia on July 16-23. They will be led by youth advisor Paul Simon and Pastor Melanie. The trip will be an opportunity to serve the rural poor of the Applachian region and deepen understandings of poverty, class and race.
Opportunities specifically for high school youth:
Conocimiento Each summer for a week, a group of teens journey to Forest Grove/Cornelius to assist in the classroom of a Head Start program for the children of migrant farm workers. Youth are housed in the facilities of the Forest Grove UCC church.
Summer Fun Camp Also in the summer, Summer Fun Camp pairs teens with children who are homeless for a week of learning and fun at our church camp, Camp Adams .
Peace Village Teens provide leadership for small groups each summer at our interfaith Peace Village .
For information on any of these activities, contact Pastor Melanie Oommen at melanieo@fcceugene.org