The Outreach Board encourages and supports service projects identified and promoted by church members in accordance with Outreach goals. Church members of all ages participate in varied projects which benefit local, national, and international communities. Church members report being greatly rewarded by the excitement, fellowship, and positive feelings associated with working on humanitarian and charitable issues that are congruent with their beliefs and faith. Some of the ways our church addresses humanitarian concerns are summarized below:

Hunger Relief

During the first service of each month, children enjoy collecting food donations from the congregation; donations are brought to the Newton Food Pantry to provide food to local families in need. Children have also raised money for the Heifer Project which provides livestock to needy families in developing countries and allows the families to be self sustaining. In conjunction with other area churches, our congregation prepares lunches for worshippers, many of whom are homeless, who participate in common cathedral, a Sunday service which takes place on Boston Commons. Members also participate in walking ministries such as the Walk for Hunger, AIDS Walk and CROP walk.

   

Disaster/Poverty Relief

In spring of 2007, youth members traveled to Mississippi where they helped residents whose homes had been damaged by hurricane Katrina. They painted, did yard work, cleaned attics—did whatever was needed. A return trip is planned in the fall of 2007.

 

The congregation raises funds to purchase needed supplies such as heart health kits and school kits to help international communities affected by natural disasters or war through offerings such as the One Great Hour of Sharing and the World Mission Offering. In addition, there is an ongoing project to support Habitat for Humanity which helps low income families afford their own homes.

 

Global Warming

There is an ongoing education process centered on how we as a congregation and as part of a larger community can minimize our use of fossil fuel resources which contribute to pollution and global warming.