Meals for Interfaith

The Interfaith Shelter needs people who are willing to make part or all of a meal for the 30 guests residing at the shelter.

The Mission Team is committed to providing them dinner on the 1st and 5th Sundays of every month. Help is especially needed for Aug. 31 and Sept. 7.

There is a sign-up poster in Fellowship Hall For questions, Karen Pass at 312-7463 or Debbie Parker at 439-5994 should be contacted until August 30. After August 30 contact Maureen Roeth at 439- 8498.

Mission Movers

Recently our Mission Movers received a certificate of appreciation from the Interdenominational Ministers Conference of the Capital District. It was in recognition of the service performed by that hard-working crew — “an outstanding contribution to God and the Capital Area Council of Churches.” The men and women who pick up and deliver furniture to people in need, often at the end of their work day, know what it is to be involved in mission ministry, face to face.

Overflow Shelter

As part of our mission giving, we regularly donate money from our mission budget to the Capital Area Council of Churches (CACC) for the seasonal emergency overflow shelter as well as for the ongoing general work of CACC. We recently received a note of thanks from John Miller, executive director: “It is only through the prayers and financial support of many individuals, congregations, and denominations that we are able to carry out our ministries. As we move through our 67th year, we are particularly grateful to our member congregations whose faithful giving undergirds our work. Thank you for being one of those partners!”

Heifer International

We also received a note from Heifer International: “Your recent gift of $1224 collected as part of your Easter Alternative giving will provide many families with the help they need to improve nutrition and income for their families.” One of the projects funded by Heifer is in Zambia, where Lily Daka once received a pair of goats. The offspring of those goats were given to neighbors. Lily reported, “We are excited to pass on the Gift to another family. I still follow up and visit them as we have become friends. They are now part of my family.”

Our Missions Work

First United Methodist Church is committed to mission and provides numerous opportunities for people to live out their faith and to reach out to those in need. Some of these mission ministries include:

Albany United Methodist Society
AUMS is a ministry serving inner-city Albany. We collect groceries, provide drivers and tutors, and supply preschool lunches.

Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless
Interfaith provides shelter and support services in inner-city Albany. We assist with hot meals on Sunday evenings and provide bed linens and clothing. Our children assemble "Love Kits" and they participate in the "Pennies for Haven" fund drive.

Habitat for Humanity
We help finance and build houses.

Volunteers in Mission
Our volunteers have erected windmills and rebuilt a clinic in Mozambique. They also rebuilt a church in Gay's Hill, Georgia.

Missionary Support
We help support programs of missionaries in the Bronx and on a reservation in Oklahoma.

Refugee Resettlement
We're actively involved in sponsoring several refugee families in the Capital Region.

There's a role for everyone, with many more opportunities to reach out in mission. There's so much to do, from simple tasks to major projects. Join us as we strive to help make this world a better place!