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 area in our lobby. For more information, contact Linda Seaton, Missions Committee 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

June Second Mile Offering: Minnesota Annual Conference Love Offering

Our June Second Mile Offering supports the 2021 Minnesota Annual Conference Love Offering for Missions. The Love Offering is gathered within Minnesota United Methodist churches and benefits Minnesota missions of love, compassion, and justice. Funds from this year’s Love Offering will to go four projects dedicated to feeding the hungry and ministering to migrants: The Methodist Border Friendship Commission (supports immigrant and refugee service organizations along the Texas border), host churches of Ruby’s Pantry (used to purchase supplies needed to facilitate monthly grocery distributions throughout Minnesota), Matthew 25 food distribution (used to purchase storage shelves, a pallet jack, refrigerators, and packaging materials to expand monthly food distributions in Minnesota), and Volunteers in Mission scholarships (offsets the cost for first-time Minnesota volunteers to participate). For more information on the Love Offering and the four mission projects this year’s gift will support, visit www.minnesotaumc.org/loveoffering.

Give throughout the month of June, online by selecting “Love Offering,” by texting a dollar amount to (763) 333-2673 and following the prompts, or by mailing a check (indicate “Love Offering” in the memo) to: Messiah Church, 17805 County Road 6, Plymouth, MN 55447.

 

Iglesia Piedra Viva (IPV) Paper Goods & Personal Products Collection and Distribution

Messiah Church is continuing our relationship with Iglesia Piedra Viva (IPV), Church of the Living Stone, with donations and volunteers for their next item distribution event. Serving 41 low-income families living in South Minneapolis, Messiah has partnered with this United Methodist Church since its beginning.

Please consider volunteering for their next distribution event on Friday, June 25 at Park Avenue United Methodist Church (3400 Park Avenue, Minneapolis). Set up will start at 9:30 am, most volunteer slots start at 10:30 am, and distribution starts at 11 am. Masks are recommended for all volunteers. This event will be outside, so dress for the weather. Click here to sign up to volunteer today!

Iglesia Piedra Viva is also looking for donations of only these paper goods and personal products. (Please no food donations at this time, as this is currently being provided from a different source):

• Diapers
• Baby wipes
• Laundry detergent
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Dish soap
• Hand soap
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Deodorant
• Shampoo

Labeled item donations can be dropped off at Messiah during church office hours (Monday through Friday 9 am-4 pm). We will continue to accept donations of these items though August.

 

Responding to Natural Disasters with Tornado Kits

Minnesota United Methodists have a long-standing tradition of responding to natural disasters. One way we respond is by bringing relief supplies to our Annual Conference gathering. You can help keep these relief supply kits ready to go to people in need by donating items for the Tornado Kits.

Please consider donating only these items (OR completed kits). Each kit needs to contain:

• 2 pairs of work gloves
• 24 resealable bags – 1 gallon size
• 2 permanent markers
• 1 roll of duct tape – colored tape preferred
• 2 dust masks – please no surgical or fabric masks
• 24 heavy duty trash bags – 33-45 gallon size
• 24 clear/white trash bags – 20-33 gallon size

Other requested items include: gently used wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, orthopedic supplies, and sewing machines.

Messiah friends can help with donations by Sunday, June 27. Labeled donations can be dropped off at Messiah during church office hours (Monday through Friday 9 am-4 pm) or brought to worship on the 27th. Then on Sunday, June 27, between services under the tent in the parking lot, help us pack up the supplies we’ve gathered. The supplies we collect will be delivered to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center, an UMCOR-related depot, in Chatham, Illinois.

 

Sort & Pack Food for Second Harvest Heartland

Second Harvest Heartland (7101 Winnetka Ave N, Brooklyn Park) is hosting a small group of eight Messiah volunteers on Wednesday, June 30, 9-11 am. “Food sort and pack” volunteers create food boxes on an assembly line. Once sorted and packed, Second Harvest Heartland distributes these items to agency partners that serve our hungry neighbors. To sign up, click here. (You’ll need to create a Volunteer Central account, if you don’t already have one.)

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and everyone is required to wear a face mask. Questions? Contact Linda Seaton at (612) 208-5015.

 

Imara International Golf Tournament

This summer, tee off for Imara International’s moms and kids at their 10th annual charity golf tournament. This year you have a choice to play golf at any course, anytime, anywhere in the world OR play on-site at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove. Choose how you want to play your round for Imara Moms:

• Scramble Tournament Play: Monday, August 23 at Rush Creek Golf Club, Maple Grove, MN. Tee times begin at 7:30 am.
• Scramble Tournament Play: now through Monday, August 23 at the course of your choice.

Visit www.imarainternational.org/golf for all the tournament options, details and to register.

Golfers like you make this tournament successful and keep Imara’s mission of empowering Kenya’s future through the education and nurturing of young moms and their children a reality! For more information on Imara International, visit www.imarainternational.org.

 

Seamstresses & Flannel Fabric Needed

Imara International is in need of cloth diapers. If you are interested in sewing diapers for the babies and toddlers at Imara, click here for a pattern and simple instructions. Printed patterns are also available in the church office. Completed diapers can be dropped off at Messiah during church office hours (Monday through Friday 9 am-4 pm) through August.

Not a seamstress but have flannel fabric to donate? Drop off fabric at the church office and our seamstresses will do the sewing!

For more information on Imara International, visit www.imarainternational.org.

 

Simpson Shelter is in Need

Simpson has an urgent need for personal size toiletries. With limited travel this last year, travel size toiletries are a rare commodity. Because Simpson guests are mobile and carry most of their belongings with them, personal size items are the most practical. For the best prices and selection, check the Dollar Store, Target, and Walgreens. Always needed toiletries (for all skin and hair types) include: deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Simpson has expressed their gratitude for your continued support throughout the pandemic. YOU make a difference.

Labeled item donations can be dropped off at Messiah in the atrium outside Heritage Hall and arrangements will be made to deliver them to Simpson. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday 9 am-4 pm. Or contact Lavinia P to schedule a contactless pick-up.

To see a current list of other ways to help Simpson Shelter, visit www.simpsonhousing.org/ways-to-help/give-supplies. Instructions for monetary donations, links for shopping their Amazon Wish List, and a complete list of current needs can all be found here. For more information on Simpson Housing Services, visit www.simpsonhousing.org.

 

Most Needed Items at Interfaith Outreach

The Interfaith Outreach food shelf is a valuable resource to local families who access food and goods to support their families. The most needed items at this time include:

• Food Shelf: Kid-friendly snacks (granola bars, fruit leathers, turkey jerky, cheese sticks, fruit cups, fruit squeeze pouches, cashews or almonds, rice cakes, popcorn, pretzels, goldfish, and juice boxes)
• Birthday Shelf: Birthday party plates and napkins, candles, cake mix, frosting, and books for high school age kids
• Resale Select: L and XL women’s clothing, men’s shorts (like new quality and ready to wear), summer décor, and gift items

Please drop off these or any non-perishable items directly at Interfaith Outreach (1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth) during their donation hours: Monday and Friday only, 10 am-5 pm.

 

Are You Ready to Serve?

A handful of regular volunteers are back on site for Habitat for Humanity, and they’ll soon open up more volunteer opportunities. Join their “Ready” lists for build sites and ReStore volunteering:

Join the list of volunteers ready to build! Right now most in-person volunteer opportunities are on hold. When it’s safe to come back to site, Habitat for Humanity needs people who can be flexible and able to build again with short notice. If you’re able to volunteer as soon as their sites are open, sign up here.

They are also excited to welcome back regular volunteers to ReStore! Both the Minneapolis and New Brighton locations are currently looking for individuals who would like to volunteer on a regular basis (preferably 3-4 shifts a month). If this sounds like something you’d like to learn more about, sign up here.

 

Interfaith Outreach is Open and Here to Help

If you or someone you know needs help with rent, utilities, food, employment or other challenges, please reach out to Interfaith Outreach. Front desk hours are Mondays and Tuesdays 9 am-6 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 am-5 pm, and Fridays 9 am-noon. Learn how to make an appointment to visit the food shelf, talk to a case manager, get help with looking for a job, and the other services offered at iocp.org/gethelp.

 

Serving Opportunities

Looking for opportunities to serve our neighbors? Check out the following organizations that are now accepting volunteers:

• Feed My Starving Children: www.fmsc.org
• Interfaith Outreach and Resale Select: www.iocp.org
• Second Harvest Heartland: www.2harvest.org
• Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers at work sites and at their ReStore locations: www.tchabitat.org

All organizations have safety protocols in place.

 

Local Missions International Missions