Social Action Ministry
The Christian Social Action Ministry extends Wesley’s presence into the local and global community. The Social Action Ministry—along with the Inclusiveness work area and the Wesley Evening Food Pantry—serves as an outreach of Wesley United Methodist Church, focused on the prophetic vision of a just and peaceful world. For more information contact aestauder@gmail.com .
Recent Updates
Peace with Justice Award nominations sought
Social justice work advances the interests of the marginalized by promoting the reform of inequitable social systems, with emphasis not on equal individual opportunity but fair social outcomes. The Social Action Ministry would like to witness to the ways God is working through Wesley members to transform the world. If you are inspired by the way a Wesley member has incorporated social justice into her/his spiritual disciplines, please place your submission, complete with pertinent details about the person’s social justice activities, to the Social Action Ministry mailbox by June 17.
For more information, contact Anthony Stauder at aestauder@gmail.com.
Wesley sends ten volunteers to Kumler Outreach Ministries and Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Ten Wesley missioners enjoyed a productive and informative day in Springfield on May 12. The morning was spent at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center, learning about the extensive collection and compiling of emergency kits and equipment to be shipped to both US and international communities who are struggling with poverty and/or natural disasters. We saw piles of school desks and treadle sewing machines and bicycles. We saw bins of school supplies and cleaning supplies and baby layettes. And we were able to add our efforts at sewing school bags and wrapping health kits.
In the afternoon, we visited Kumler (UMC) Outreach Ministries and saw the multiple ministries they support out of a former church building. With minimal staff and multiple volunteers, they provide a food pantry, a clothing closet, a pet food pantry, a prescription assistance service, and support for the homeless. We contributed by working in their food pantry garden, adding a fence against the rabbits and laying weed barriers.
To see more pictures of our work trip, check out Mission Day-Trip 5-12-12
Coordinators needed for food pantry office & distribution
Several long-time Wesley Evening Food Pantry volunteers are graduating, retiring, or moving in the next few weeks. Could you be one of the highly-valued volunteers who fills their shoes? Office support needed Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons. Area coordinators needed for truck unload, setup, clean-up, and food distribution. Contact dcamp@wesleypantry.org for more information.
Sign Up to Be in Mission for a Day
Come join Wesley’s Social Action Ministries for an intergenerational Mission DayTrip to Springfield! We will leave Wesley at 7:00 am on Saturday, May 12, to head for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC). There will be a variety of volunteer work projects available, including those with no skill requirements.
Bring a sack lunch for noon. We will eat together at Kumler UMC, then spend the afternoon volunteering with Kumler’s Outreach Ministries. We will head back at 3:15, arriving at Wesley by 5:00 pm.
Volunteers must be at least 11 years of age. Registration is required by Sunday, May 6. You may register online at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/9040445ADAC229-wesley. A Sunday morning registration table will also be available on April 29 and May 6 with more details about the volunteer projects. Maps to MMDC and to Kumler UMC, along with volunteer release forms, will be provided the day of the trip. It will be helpful to indicate at registration if you are able to provide a car and if you have special skills or physical limitations.
If you are not able to travel with us, you can still participate in this mission event by donating needed items for us to take with us. Items currently requested by MMDC for flood buckets include 100 ft clothesline, 50 clothes pins, 2 pair latex gloves. Kumler has need of disposable razors and shaving cream for their Hospitality House. You may leave your donations at the center office.
Come join us for a day of good fellowship and meaningful service. You may contact Judith Unger, 621-3753 or junger08@comcast.net for further information.
April 22 CROP Walk supports local agencies & Church World Service
CROP Walk supports Church World Service (75%) and local hunger relief agencies (25%): TIMES Center, Eastern Illinois Food Bank, and Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. In 2011, Wesley raised over $3600. Our 2012 goal is $4,000. More info about the walk at cu-cropwalk.org. Find team and walker donation pages at http://www.churchworldservice.org/goto/Wesley2012. The Walk is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CU.CROPWalk.
The approximately 6 mile walk will start at 2pm at University Place Christian Church and meander by Boneyard Creek, making stops at the TIMES Center and Daily Bread Soup Kitchen before ultimately returning to University Place.
For more information contact Anthony Stauder aestauder@gmail.com.
CFL & battery recycling collection April 15
Celebrate Earth Day a week early! Bring your spent household batteries and CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) to the Social Action Ministry Mini Green Fair on April 15 during coffee hour (between services) on the front lawn. “Green Team” members will collect them to recycle at Staples and Home Depot. Also at the Fair: instructions for turning those proliferate plastic bags into attractive re-usables. And more…?!
Spark12
Do you know a young adult with an innovative idea that could transform our community or world?
Spark12 invests in young entrepreneurs to launch innovative ideas that will transform the world. They are a faith-based catalyst that provides funding, coaching, and resourcing to bring these ideas to life.
Spark12 is designed to help to support the most promising ideas and individuals as they strive to bring innovative solutions to a world in need of transformation. Those selected as Spark12 fellows will receive funding. They will also have their ideas vetted by mentors with expertise in a related field and by peers eager to perfect the work of the team. Spiritual coaches will help them to remain grounded and oriented toward doing the most good. Our fellows will be challenged to refine their vision, learn how to express their goals, and be networked with people/organizations that might be inclined to support an idea like theirs.
If you or someone you know would like to apply for Spark12 funding, more information can be found at http://www.spark12.org/.
Mission Day Trip May 12
Would you like to be part of a hands-on mission experience and still be home in time for supper? Mark your calendar for a Mission Daytrip to Springfield, sponsored by Wesley Social Action Ministries, on Saturday, May 12. We plan to take an energetic, intergenerational group of youth through senior adults to spend the morning at the Midwest Distribution Center and the afternoon at Kumler UMC. We will plan to leave Wesley at 7:15am and return by 5:00pm.
The Midwest Distribution Center is the central processing and distribution point for disaster relief supplies. Kumler UMC Outreach Ministries provides multiple support services to the Springfield area families, including food and clothing. Both of these centers are excellent models of our church in mission.
For those who want to contribute but are unable to make the trip, we will publish a list of needed supplies that you can donate for us to take with us. Watch for further information.
For more information, contact Judith Unger at junger08@comcast.net 217-621-3753.
Lenten offering benefits Liberia districts and Wi’am
The Wesley Social Action Ministry designates Wi’am, the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center, and our partner districts in Liberia as recipients of this year’s Lenten offering. Please give generously to support these vital outreach efforts. Last month, you heard about Wi’am. This month, we will share a little bit about the Liberia portion of the offering.
In 2003, Liberia emerged from a vicious 14 year civil war that wreaked havoc on a very modern society. Roads, hospitals, churches, and the country’s only power plant were destroy. Three years following the civil war, a democratically elected government took power. The same year, the Illinois Great Rivers (area) Conference of the United Methodist Church forged a partnership with the Liberia Conference (UMC). Each
You can see a brief history of the conflict and highlights of a recent trip to Liberia, created by Rev. Robb McCoy, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ve9SMLy8bM.
For more information contact Anthony Stauder at aestauder@gmail.com.
Free Adult Dental Care
Wesley hosts Smile Healthy mobile dental clinics. Contact Smile Healthy for an appointment at Wesley or one of their other clinic locations. (217)-359-7404.
Friday, March 23rd
Friday, June 8th
Friday, September 14th
Friday, December 14th
Wesley hosts Smile Healthy dental clinic