Make an Impact

Messiah Church is a church of compassion and community outreach. Members and friends of Messiah devote their time and talents to support local, national and global missions. From serving at the local food shelf to traveling to developing countries we serve through mission, there is a place for you to get involved! Sign up for any of these service opportunities and community outreach programs at the Missions Table in our lobby. For more information, contact Linda Seaton, Missions Committee Co-Chair.

Messiah Church is committed to supporting several organizations consistently and long-term. Each month, we do a “Second Mile Offering” to support a specific organization, and when you visit for the first time, you can elect to have Messiah make a donation to one of several organizations on your behalf.

 

Current Needs & Volunteer Opportunities

School Supplies

Our August “Second Mile Offering” supports school supplies for children this fall. Your offering will help children through Interfaith Outreach and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) who cannot afford basic school necessities. Or, if you’d rather, shop the back-to-school sales, and donate the school supplies. Click here to see a list of most-needed items. Drop off new/unused supplies by Friday, August 17, in the basket at the Missions Table in the lobby.

Give throughout the month of August, online by selecting “Second Mile Offering,” or cash or checks designated for school supplies.

 

Donate School Supplies to Help Local Kids

With your help, we can give local kids the tools they need to succeed. Interfaith Outreach’s Back to School supply drive has a special role for everyone:

• Donate Supplies – See a complete list of supplies local kids need and a link to Interfaith’s NEW Target gift registry. Drop off new/unused supplies August 1-18, Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm, at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth.
• Volunteer – Shifts available August 1-September 7. Help sort incoming school supplies and pack bags, assist with registration or distribution, or be on the cleanup crew – click here to sign up for a shift.
• Donate Dollars – Don’t have time to shop? Donate online and the most-needed items will be purchased (choose “Back to School” in the drop-down menu).

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of local kids! Please contact Najmo at (763) 489-7500 for additional information.

 

The Great SNACK Challenge

Our partnership with Oakwood Elementary School continues this fall – and this time we want to bless the school with 5,000 snacks. Here’s the GREAT SNACK CHALLENGE: for two Sundays in August (August 12-19), we’ll be collecting snacks – individual serving-size packages of goldfish crackers, teddy grahams, cheez-its or popcorn. Look for the snack table in the lobby. Or, place your cash or check donation in the empty granola bar box and we’ll purchase the snacks. Although the school provides lunch, there are many families that lack the resources to provide snacks during the day. These snacks will be used for all students, and we will be doing our part to minimize food insecurity for children.

 

Serve at Simpson Shelter

Join Messiah members and friends to serve meals to the homeless at Simpson Shelter on Saturday, August 18 and September 15, 5-8:30 pm. Ages 8 and up welcome (accompanied by an adult). Sign up at the Missions Table in the lobby. For more information on Simpson Shelter, contact Gerry at (952) 484-2888, or visit www.simpsonhousing.org.

 

Great Expectations Breakfast

Bring a friend to the 2018 Great Expectations Breakfast on Wednesday, August 22, 7:30-9 am and connect with amazing community-based volunteers and partners who are changing the odds for struggling kids. Come hear Chris Coleman, CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and former St. Paul mayor, speak. He is a strong and effective advocate for education, economic development and racial equity.

The Great Expectations Breakfast will provide opportunities for community residents to become informed, engaged and invested in the cradle-to-career educational success of all of our kids. This event is free to attend and is sponsored by Wayzata Community Church. Breakfast is complimentary. Donations to support Interfaith Outreach are gratefully accepted at the event or at iocp.org/donate. Please RSVP by Friday, August 17 at iocp.ejoinme.org/GE.

 

Serve at Iglesia Piedra Viva’s Produce Fair

Join Messiah members and friends in assisting Pastor Jesus Purisaca’s church, Iglesia Piedra Viva, with their Produce Fair held at Simpson UMC. We are looking for 15 volunteers on Saturday, August 25, 10 am-12 pm to help with set-up and filling bags with produce to be handed out to their community. If you are able to serve, please sign-up at the Missions Table in the lobby, or contact David at (612) 743-7401.

 

Planting the Seeds – Bloom’s Annual Scholarship Benefit

Bloom Early Learning & Child Care will hold its annual Planting the Seeds scholarship benefit on Friday, September 28 at 6-9 pm at the Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel, Minnetonka (a new location). In addition to raising funds to support the program’s scholarship assistance for children attending the center, the gala celebrates Bloom’s success and advances its mission and vision. Evening festivities include a silent auction and wall of wine, as well as music by Pastor Lyndy Zabel’s World Beat Connection band. Tickets for the evening are $75 per person or a table of 10 for $700, and can be purchased online or by calling the Bloom office at (763) 449-0600.

 

Bible Drive for Sierra Leone (West Africa)

In early October, Pastor Lyndy Zabel will be driving a truck to South Dakota full of supplies for West Africa. The United Methodist University of Sierra Leone is rapidly developing, eventually incorporating schools of agricultural, medicine, education, leadership, business and theology. For the latter, they are looking for Bibles and Bible Commentaries. Much of the training at the theological school will be online, but internet access in not always available. With your donation, we can give these schools the materials they need. Bring your new or gently used Bibles and Bible Commentary donations to the Missions Table in the lobby by Sunday, September 23. Thank you!

 

Imara Mission Trip

Join Messiah members and friends on a mission trip to Imara International in Kenya in October. Imara empowers Kenyan women through education to build a self-sufficient future for themselves, their children, and their community. Help give these girls hope and healing with your service. The trip dates are October 6-21, 2018. Call Kathy at (763) 227-4308 with questions, or to sign up. For more information on Imara, visit www.imarainternational.org.

 

Make a Difference Day 2018

Join us for Make a Difference Day – Saturday, October 27! We’ll be deploying servants into the surrounding community to Make a Difference in the lives of our neighbors by sharing the love of Christ. Sign up to serve as an individual, a family or with your friends. There’s something for every age & skill level. With YOUR help, we can reach our goal of 150 individuals serving on this special day! YOU can Make a Difference!

More details coming soon on available serving opportunities and how to sign-up.

 

6th Annual Imara International Gala

Join us for the 6th Annual Imara International Gala and annual fundraiser on November 4, 5:30-8:30 pm. Guest speaker and Imara’s Executive Director, Carol Erickson, will share the many celebrations that have taken place at Imara. Imara empowers Kenyan women through education to build a self-sufficient future for themselves, their children, and their community. Help give these girls hope and healing with your attendance. For more information on Imara, visit www.imarainternational.org.

 

Calling all Knitters or Crocheters for The Lydia Project

The United Methodist General Conference is coming to Minneapolis in 2020. The Dakotas-Minnesota Area has a wonderful opportunity to come together to provide hospitality for this conference – greeting every delegate, dignitary, bishop, and spouse with a handmade scarf, to serve not only as a memento of General Conference but also as a practical solution to drafty, air-conditioned rooms. That’s where you come in! All United Methodists in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota are invited to help knit or crochet 10,000 purple scarves. This initiative is called the Lydia Project, after Lydia in Acts 16. If you are interested in helping with this state-wide project, contact Linda Seaton – we need to give the conference an estimate of how many scarves Messiah will provide. For more information, including scarf size, patterns and packaging details, click here or watch this video.

 

Shop for Critical Shelter Needs for Simpson Shelter

Current needs include: cereal, coffee, new or gently used towels, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, and men’s boxers, white t-shirts and woman’s bras in all sizes. Please drop off your donations at the Missions Table in the lobby. Click here for more information on Simpson Shelter or contact Gerry at (952) 484-2888.

 

Volunteer to Support Area Youth

Make a difference in the lives of local youth! Interfaith Outreach and the Orono and Wayzata school districts need help from community members like you! Click here for a complete list of opportunities, or contact Najmo at (763) 489-7505 to find what best suits your passion and availability:

• After-school Mentor (working with elementary students)
• Literacy Program (working with elementary students)
• High School Mentor (during lunch hour, monthly)
• Meal Provider or Host (for parent education program, evenings)
• Child Care Volunteer (variety of locations)
• Lunchtime Helper (with elementary students)

 

Interfaith Outreach Volunteer Opportunities

Interfaith Outreach is always looking for volunteers – no experience required! Find fulfilling and fun opportunities to give back:

• Children’s Play Area Volunteer – Urgent need! Can you help? Supervise and play with children (ages 0-8) in our lobby. Check in children and supervise while parents access our resources. Volunteers 13+ welcome (ages 13-15 must volunteer with an adult). Shifts available Mon/Tue 3-5 pm, Wed/Fri 9 am-noon, Wed 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm.
• Resale Store – Sort incoming donations of clothing, shoes, accessories and household items. Hang and size clothing in preparation for sale in the store. Shifts available Tuesday-Saturday, morning/afternoon/evening. Flexible schedule! Middle school students welcome with an adult.
• Donation Receiver – Support the resale store and food shelf by staffing the donation door. Unload donations from donor vehicles, provide tax receipts and begin basic sorting of incoming donations. Middle school students welcome with an adult. Immediate need for Mon/Wed/Fri afternoons. Flexible schedule.

Interested in helping? Contact Najmo at (763) 489-7505. For more information on these and other Interfaith Outreach volunteer opportunities, visit iocp.org/volunteer. Interfaith Outreach is located at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth.

 

Local Missions International Missions