Missions

Custer Road United Methodist Church defines mission projects as "programs of ministry that reach out beyond our church family to help people less fortunate than ourselves and to serve our community, our nation, and our world in the name of Jesus Christ."

Serve:

AMIGOS DAYS 2010: CRUMC supports the renovation of two homes from the Oak Cliff UMC community. Opportunities exist for everyone, from power washing, scraping, painting, debris removal, yard work and carpentry repairs to working with the hospitality committee providing food and drinks for the volunteers. We invite individuals as well as Sunday school classes to lend a helping hand. To find out more about this incredibly rewarding, festive and valuable program to our community, visit Fellowship Hall on Sundays, March 28 and April 11. The project runs April 16, 17, 23 & 24. Contact Jeff Baranowski to sign-up or for more information.

MISSION BLITZ: Coming April 1-30

Goal: to involve every CRUMC family member in missions. Volunteer opportunities available for Sunday school classes, small groups, families and individuals.
Volunteer with Friday NITE Friends, Amigos Days 2010, God's Food Pantry, Head Start, the Samaritan Inn, a Blood Drive, Christmas Joy In Peru and many other mission projects.
Collections during this time: Samaritan Inn Paper Goods Collection and Spring Clothing Drive and Head Start Household Items Collection.
Mark your calendar to sign up in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, March 7. If you can't make it to the sign-up tables, contact Stephanie Mills, ext. 239.

Check out volunteer opportunities HERE.

MEXICO MISSION TRIPS: Custer Road UMC, in partnership with Juntos Servimos (Together We Serve) has engaged in mission trips to Matamoros, Mexico, for several years now, building and painting houses, making home medical visits with doctors, playing with children, visiting the Children's Home, delivering food and supplies, etc. Below are a list of 2010 mission trip dates. Anyone is welcome on these trips - most trips are limited to 15 people per trip. The cost is $295-$345 per person plus airfare (includes food, lodging, rental van and supplies). Those going on the trip fly from Dallas to Harlingen on Thursday afternoon and return Sunday evening (unless otherwise specified). If cost is really an issue, inquire about scholarships. For more information, contact Alisa Allen.

February 18-21 (Hart Trip, driving instead of flying)

April 15-18 (Full)

May 27-31
(Doctor's Trip) Leader needed

July 11-17 (Teacher's Trip, driving instead of flying)

September 23-26

October 21-24 Leader needed

November 11-14 (Aggie/Longhorn Trip)

Youth Family Mission Trip, Dec. 27-31: This trip is for youth (sixth through twelfth grade) and their families and is only $225 per person, due to driving down in rental vans. If you want a missional memory your family will never forget, reserve your place now by contacting Suzanne Gajdica.

CARLISLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MENTORS: Carlisle’s Mentor Program provides mentors for children in kindergarten through fifth grade who need help with reading, math or social skills. If you enjoy children and would like to help them succeed, this program is for you. Mentoring is done during the child’s lunch/recess period beginning with lunch in the mentor room or library. The activity could be shooting baskets in gym, reading books or playing an educational game reinforcing skills they lack. This one-on-one experience can make a significant difference on these students' outlook about school. For more information, contact Tammy Stewart, the mentor coordinator at Carlisle, at 469-752-0673.

CHICKS WITH STICKS WHO CARE: Meet first and third Mondays at 12:30 p.m. Knit and/or crochet wool vests for Afghans for Afghans, baby sweaters for the Expectant Parent Program of PISD, and 6x9" rectangles for the Handmade Afghan Project and lapghans (45x45" for USA cares, both which help wounded soldiers. Make on your own or at meetings. Contact Tammy Hogan.

Volunteer! Click HERE for volunteer opportunities or contact Director of Missions Stephanie Mills at ext. 239.

Donate:

I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. -Matthew 25:36

CHILE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF: Working in partnership with Methodist churches in Chile, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is assisting Chileans with their recovery. Bishop Joel N. Martinez, interim general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries said: "The early reports of great destruction and widespread injuries and the increasing death count point to a need for a full response by all humanitarian agencies and governments in the coming days and weeks." A special Advance fund has been established, Chile Emergency Advance #3021178. Donate directly at www.umcor.org or through Custer Road UMC by making your check payable to CRUMC and indicating "Chile Relief."

FOOD DRIVE: March 7-28. This is one of the longest supported missions at Custer Road UMC. Benefits Plano Food Pantry. Items needed are: pasta, rice, beans, canned or boxed dinners, powdered milk, canned fruits and veggies, and peanut butter. Cash donations collected will be divided between the Plano Food Pantry and God’s Food Pantry, both in East Plano. Bring food donations in the donation closet in Fellowship Hall. In the month of March, the Feinstein Foundation will match cash donations. Make checks payable to CRUMC, and indicate Food Drive on the memo line. Contact Suzanne Betterley.

CHRISTMAS JOY IN PERU: You can make a difference with even the smallest gesture. Pick up a box in Fellowship Hall on Sundays, March 7 and April 11, 18 and 25, stuff it with small gifts, a letter and a photo, and return it to the donation shelves in Fellowship Hall. We are also asking for donations of small, Beanie Baby-type stuffed animals, and new or used greeting cards, including family photo cards. For more information on getting involved with Christmas Joy in Peru, contact Lanie Williams. Download Christmas in Peru flyer HERE.

COUPON DRIVE: Benefits American military personnel and their families by helping them afford food from military comissaries. Bring your unwanted manufacturer's coupons (clipped or not) to the red, white and blue box in Fellowship Hall labeled "Military Coupon Project." Coupons close to expiration date are acceptable. Do not bring coupons that are restaurant or store specific. We are also looking for volunteers willing to help with the processing and packaging of the coupons on a monthly basis. If this sounds like a good project for your Sunday school class, children's project or small group, contact Taci Kistler, ext. 242.

BED START/FURNITURE DRIVE: Gently-used beds, comforters, linens and furniture, as well as monetary donations to purchase new beds. Our biggest need is for bunk beds, followed by full-size beds and lastly, twin-size beds. Any size bed and type of furniture is needed. Make checks payable to Custer Road United Methodist Church and designate for the Bed Start Mission. Contact Doug Nickols at 214-929-1342 to make arrangements to pick up beds. This is an ongoing mission.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE DISASTER DONATIONS: If you would like to donate to UMCOR for recovery at the services or in your own time, make checks payable to CRUMC, indicate "Haiti #277" on the memo line and place them in the offering plate, drop them in the drop box on the side of the church office or send them to the church office. You can also donate online through WebVIEW, or to UMCOR directly at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/. The Conference has set up a page about the latest news from United Methodists in Haiti that they will update as we continue to live into our response as a church connected around the world. You can check up on things at www.ntcumc.org.

CELL PHONE/SMALL ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DRIVE: Ongoing. Working and non-working cell phones of all sizes, ink jet cartridges, iPods, Blackberries, and digital cameras and digital video cameras. In conjunction with Ecophones Recycling, we will receive cash for all working items. All items will be recycled. Proceeds benefit the Collin County Adult Clinic. Bring to collection boxes at the Welcome Centers, the church office and the donation shelves in Fellowship Hall. Contact Stephanie Mills, ext. 239.

CAMPBELL’S LABELS FOR EDUCATION: Campbell's product labels for the Head Start program, and in return they receive free educational supplies. Campbell’s, Franco-American SpaghettiOs, Prego, Swanson, Pace, V8 and Pepperidge Farm. Clip the front label (including the UPC code) on cans, the UPC code on frozen products and the lids on Campbell's ready-to-serve soups, Prego Pasta Sauces (46 oz. and larger only) and Pace Products (rinse lids first!). Bring to mailbox on donation shelves in Fellowship Hall, or send to Stephanie Mills in the front office.

BOX TOPS AND TYSON LABELS: Box Tops for Education will benefit the Head Start Program. Tyson product labels will benefit the Custer Road Christian Day School, which receives $.24 per label. Free school supplies or money for educational items are the result of the label collection. Bring to mailbox on donation shelves in Fellowship Hall, or send to Stephanie Mills in the front office.

Contacts:

The Rev. John Baldwin, Associate Minister Missions / Student Ministries, ext. 227

Stephanie Mills, Director of Missions, ext. 239

Serve God by serving others. It is our Christian duty to help those in need. As James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word and not merely hearers.” Along the path of doing our Christian duty, I pray that your participation in acts of kindness will be just as meaningful for you as they are for the people you are helping.

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. -2 Corinthians 9:10