Ministry in the Wider Context

 We call it Ministry in the Wider Context.  This refers to our taking the love of Christ into the community and beyond, expressing the love of Christ in tangible ways.  It's proclaiming our faith, loud and clear, not merely in words, but in benevolent action

 It's our ministry outreach to all of God's people.  We are unlimited in the effectiveness of our love, as we walk by faith and as we generate seed money through such community-wide events such as our Fall Festival, which will be held on Sept. 29.

 Something brand new for us, hardly off the drawing boards but energizing us,  has to do with the establishment of Ministry Teams. It's a new paradigm for how we want to do ministry in the wider context.  This is how it works.

 Ministry Teams would be comprised of 5 to 9 people who come together to do a ministry project that might have a focus such as . . .

•   learning and educating the church about Back Bay Mission and doing a workable ministry project that would express, in tangible ways the love of Christ to those who are served by that ministry
•  designing and creating a Christmas Program that could be performed for the residents of the Nursing Homes in the Torrington area
•   learning and educating the congregation about the issue of hunger in Torrington and enhancing and promoting the monthly  food collection for FISH
• learning more about the culture and issues of the places where the Helmstetters and the Barlows do their medical mission projects and gain more congregational support for their ministry

• finding out about the needs of single parents in the area and what kind of support, help, and encouragement they need and designing and implementing a ministry to meet some of those needs

 There may be any number of ministry projects that could be adopted dependent upon those who want to get together around an issue.

 The leaders of these Ministry Teams would go through a training program led by Kahu and members of the Benevolent Action Committee - - so as to gain an orientation that aligns all of the projects with the purposes of Center Church.   Members of ministry teams do not need to be members of the Benevolent Action Committee.  The Benevolent Action Committee would serve as the oversight committee to assist and coordinate all efforts and to approve and allocate necessary funds to support the work of the Ministry Teams.

 

 

                 The lush Black Hills tower over the parched prairie of the reservation. The constant breeze pushed the 110 degree heat into your being as it rearranged the trash on the landscape. The beautiful, but stark scenery screams for water. This is home to the Oglala Lakota. This is Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

 

The surgace of their existence seems unbearable, but the people are truly remarkable. The 1940's era government housing (four small rooms) is falling apart, but it's home for 15 to 18 people including extended family, friends and those down on their luck. RE-Member gives them bunk beds, strong sturdy bunk beds. Each bunk has new sheets, pillow and a Church World Service blanket to cover the mattress. For some of the children, this is the first bed they will sleep in.

 

There is so much that needs to be done on the Reservation; creating jobs, improving education, infrastructure, trash collection, recreation, it seems like a bunk bed is a small thing. What it offers and sumbolizes is hope. It shows we care. They open their homes to us, not so we can judge, but so we can experience their culture and understand their way of life.

 

The Oglala Lakota have much to teach us, but we must allow them to regain their pride and practice their culture within the 21st century structure. They need our support, our prayers, and our understanding.

The FISH food pantry is desperately low on non-perishable food.  ALL donations are welcome! See below for the Waterbury Republican's story on the food shortage.

 

Hunger doesn't go on vacation, and it doesn't only happen during the holiday season.

 The FISH Food Pantry needs our ongoing help. Recent events have squeezed FISH and other area food banks. The economy has been sputtering, and more and more people have trouble finding jobs, resulting in a growing demand for food. Some days have even seen empty shelves, with people in need having to be turned away.

 The "theme" approach is intended to build momentum and call attention to the fact that a variety of food items are needed, not just items for once a year holiday meals. Any non-perishable food items that you can donate are welcome. For example the theme for one month could be pasta.

 We at Center Church can help! We have kicked off a sustained effort to help keep the shelves stocked at the FISH Food Pantry. The key word is sustained! Each and every Sunday food will be collected and we will try to "Fill The Truck" on the last Sunday of the month!

Read our Fill the Truck Blog by clicking on the truck!

 Please bring non-perishable donations to church and place them in the Assembly Room under the table outside of the office.

 FISH of Litchfield County

Read The Waterbury Republican's Story, "Area Food Pantries See Sharp Rise in Demand"