This week, I have news to share from the newly combined efforts of First United Methodist and Trinity Methodist Churches of 99 South St.
The following is from Pastor Jeff Childs of First United Methodist:
“First and Trinity United Methodist churches worked together on election night to put on a pancake dinner to raise funds for rebuilding homes and lives affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“This is the first major opportunity for the congregations to work together on a project since they began sharing the church building in September.
“For me, it was great to see the people from both congregations helping to do all the work which might have been hard on either one of them to do alone. It is a blessing to have made some great personal connections in such a short period of time that allows us to do ministry for the larger community together.
“A little over $400 was raised as nearly 100 people gathered for the meal. A display table was set up by Kim Dungey of her past trips. I also set up a slide show presentation of work done by a team I was on in 2006 in New Orleans. In February 2008, I will be helping to bring some people from these congregations to Gulfport, Miss. with a team from the Hammondsport United Methodist Church.”
The following is from member Kim Dungey:
“The idea for this united fundraising effort was prompted by a letter I sent to both churches, asking for support to buy building materials to be used when I travel to New Orleans Dec. 4-11 with a group of 14 other central New Yorkers and two from Pennsylvania. We will stay at a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Volunteer Village in the eastern suburb, which was set up to host volunteers in a camp-like setting while they work with families to help muck out and rebuild their homes.
“This is my second trip to New Orleans. I was there last October with the same group, Presbyterian Southern Comfort, which started in October 2005 and February 2006 with trips to Mississippi, which was severely flooded by the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina. I was a participant in Gautier, Miss. in February 2006, and traveled again to that area in January of this year with a group of United Methodists from the Sodus area. I was surprised by the amount of progress I saw between those two trips, but it still is a very devastated area, with much work left to be done.
“I look forward to seeing the same sort of progress in New Orleans this time, but fear I may not. Last year, we drove block after block, mile after mile through New Orleans neighborhoods that reminded me of my own. The difference was the eerie, almost ghost town feeling. No one lives in these destroyed homes; there are no cars in driveways, no children playing, no dogs barking. Families have relocated elsewhere or are living crammed in a FEMA trailer parked in their front lawn.
“The last time we worked exclusively on mucking out houses. Our hope this time is to work more actively on rebuilding, but we'll do whatever we're asked by the site manger who has screened families and selected homes to be worked on. Each trip participant is paying their own travel, food and lodging costs. We are making an effort to raise money to purchase building supplies at the homes where we work.
“I've discovered that even an unskilled volunteer like myself has much to offer - mucking out a flooded house, helping to install drywall, paint a room or simply listening to the homeowner's story. Our group will also take its turn at camp chores such as cooking and cleaning showers and latrines. I feel blessed to have this opportunity, and pray we can help to bring hope to people who don't have a lot to feel hopeful about, more than two years since this disaster.”
In other news from First United Methodist: Its annual Bible Sunday celebration was held Oct. 28. Children in its congregation who are in the third grade (or who began attending the church after their third-grade year) received a Bible of their own from the education committee. The 11 children were: Ryan Bonilla, Austin Quick, Giovanni Pettigrass, Lexie Smalley, McKenna McAvaney, Teegan Landsdowne, Colton Langtry, Andrew and Stephanie Simpson, Christopher Holmes and Aubrey Connors.
The children of First United Methodist/Trinity Methodist had a Halloween party, including trick-or-treating for Unicef and raised $202. Also, the church's annual Old Thyme Fair in October raised more than $5,000 for the church.
Mark your calendars for a flu vaccine clinic, which will be available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and Jan. 15, at First United Methodist, 99 South St., Auburn.
Today at First United, the congregation will be raking and cleaning the church grounds, preparing it for winter.
Also happening today, the Women's Association of the First Presbyterian Church will hold its annual fall bazaar. This dedicated group has held this event every year for more than 50 years. This event raises money for them so that they can give it back to different nonprofit agencies in the area.
Have a great week everyone and keep warm, and remember God loves you so much.
“One kind word can warm three winter months.”
- Japanese proverb
Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com
“First and Trinity United Methodist churches worked together on election night to put on a pancake dinner to raise funds for rebuilding homes and lives affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“This is the first major opportunity for the congregations to work together on a project since they began sharing the church building in September.
“For me, it was great to see the people from both congregations helping to do all the work which might have been hard on either one of them to do alone. It is a blessing to have made some great personal connections in such a short period of time that allows us to do ministry for the larger community together.
“A little over $400 was raised as nearly 100 people gathered for the meal. A display table was set up by Kim Dungey of her past trips. I also set up a slide show presentation of work done by a team I was on in 2006 in New Orleans. In February 2008, I will be helping to bring some people from these congregations to Gulfport, Miss. with a team from the Hammondsport United Methodist Church.”
The following is from member Kim Dungey:
“The idea for this united fundraising effort was prompted by a letter I sent to both churches, asking for support to buy building materials to be used when I travel to New Orleans Dec. 4-11 with a group of 14 other central New Yorkers and two from Pennsylvania. We will stay at a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Volunteer Village in the eastern suburb, which was set up to host volunteers in a camp-like setting while they work with families to help muck out and rebuild their homes.
“This is my second trip to New Orleans. I was there last October with the same group, Presbyterian Southern Comfort, which started in October 2005 and February 2006 with trips to Mississippi, which was severely flooded by the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina. I was a participant in Gautier, Miss. in February 2006, and traveled again to that area in January of this year with a group of United Methodists from the Sodus area. I was surprised by the amount of progress I saw between those two trips, but it still is a very devastated area, with much work left to be done.
“I look forward to seeing the same sort of progress in New Orleans this time, but fear I may not. Last year, we drove block after block, mile after mile through New Orleans neighborhoods that reminded me of my own. The difference was the eerie, almost ghost town feeling. No one lives in these destroyed homes; there are no cars in driveways, no children playing, no dogs barking. Families have relocated elsewhere or are living crammed in a FEMA trailer parked in their front lawn.
“The last time we worked exclusively on mucking out houses. Our hope this time is to work more actively on rebuilding, but we'll do whatever we're asked by the site manger who has screened families and selected homes to be worked on. Each trip participant is paying their own travel, food and lodging costs. We are making an effort to raise money to purchase building supplies at the homes where we work.
“I've discovered that even an unskilled volunteer like myself has much to offer - mucking out a flooded house, helping to install drywall, paint a room or simply listening to the homeowner's story. Our group will also take its turn at camp chores such as cooking and cleaning showers and latrines. I feel blessed to have this opportunity, and pray we can help to bring hope to people who don't have a lot to feel hopeful about, more than two years since this disaster.”
In other news from First United Methodist: Its annual Bible Sunday celebration was held Oct. 28. Children in its congregation who are in the third grade (or who began attending the church after their third-grade year) received a Bible of their own from the education committee. The 11 children were: Ryan Bonilla, Austin Quick, Giovanni Pettigrass, Lexie Smalley, McKenna McAvaney, Teegan Landsdowne, Colton Langtry, Andrew and Stephanie Simpson, Christopher Holmes and Aubrey Connors.
The children of First United Methodist/Trinity Methodist had a Halloween party, including trick-or-treating for Unicef and raised $202. Also, the church's annual Old Thyme Fair in October raised more than $5,000 for the church.
Mark your calendars for a flu vaccine clinic, which will be available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and Jan. 15, at First United Methodist, 99 South St., Auburn.
Today at First United, the congregation will be raking and cleaning the church grounds, preparing it for winter.
Also happening today, the Women's Association of the First Presbyterian Church will hold its annual fall bazaar. This dedicated group has held this event every year for more than 50 years. This event raises money for them so that they can give it back to different nonprofit agencies in the area.
Have a great week everyone and keep warm, and remember God loves you so much.
“One kind word can warm three winter months.”
- Japanese proverb
Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com
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