Missions

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First United Methodist Church Pasadena actively reaches out to our community and world. Our mission team feels led to answer God’s call to missions by following our theme verse: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~Acts 1:8 When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, Jerusalem was the closest surrounding neighborhood and city, Judea was the surrounding area, Samaria was a close community, but with different culture, and the ends of the earth was, well, the ends of the earth! Today at First Church, we still rely on the power and love God gives us to reach out to our neighborhood and community, our surrounding state and areas within driving distance, those who live close by but are from different cultures, and travel to the ends of the earth!

Society of St. Stephen The Society of St. Stephen Ministry provides groceries to families in need in the Pasadena area. The Society uses your monetary donations to help with rent and utilities as well as purchase food to supplement the donations of non-perishable items dropped off in the box outside the church offices. If you feel led to support the St Stephen Ministry in this way, please call the church office at 281-487-8787 and ask for the Society of St Stephen office or sigh up at the ministry center. read more...

Turkey dinner donations and delivery: In November of each year, First United Methodist Church collects names of local families in need of some Thanksgiving holiday cheer. Families and individuals sign-up at our ministry center to sponsor a family dinner, and turkey with all the trimmings is delivered to each family the week before the big day!

Toys for Tots: A Christmas outreach, this project partners the members of First Church with the Pasadena Fire Department. Toys are collected at the church during the first of December, collected in a fire truck (a highlight on a Sunday morning!) and delivered to needy families.

Samaria (cross-cultural) Dual-Language Program: The Pasadena Community is increasingly multi-cultural, with stores, schools and billboards showing our bi-lingual heritage. First UMC Pasadena is committed to reaching across cultural lines and making all persons welcome. Spanish and English (ESL) classes for adults are available several times a year.

Operation Christmas Child: First United Methodist Church Pasadena partners with Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970. Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Headed by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, Samaritan's Purse sends shoeboxes packed with necessities and toys to children around the world each Christmas. Children who have very little receive the love of Christ in a powerful and tangible way each Christmas. Hundreds of boxes are collected, wrapped, and sent on their way from our church the second week in December.

*Items we collected in the past have been small stuffed animals, toys, socks, soap, wash clothes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, crayons, pencils, note pads, coloring books, markers, t shirts, etc.

Mission Moments with Curtis Matthys

Calling all Members for a
Mission Trip this Summer!

From July 7-13, 2013, First UMC Pasadena will be going to Dulac, LA to partner with the Dulac Community Center (DCC) in a variety of volunteer opportunities. Their mission statement reads, “The mission of this agency is to provide comprehensive social, recreational & emergency services to the people of Terrebonne Parish with emphasis on the needs of the Native American population. Special emphasis is given, also, to the education and personal development of women, children and families.”

DCC offers housing rehabilitation services to community members in need. This has been an ongoing ministry for many years in the Dulac area. The Disaster Relief Ministry of the United Methodist Church established a more structured program to be housed at the DCC, following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The program was able to bring much needed funding to the community, but so much work still remained after the program cycle was over. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike brought more destruction to the fragile community just three years later. Isaac caused additional damage in August of 2012. Between the continued threat of devastating hurricanes and economic uncertainty, many homeowners are left with projects to be completed.

However, construction work is not the only thing we hope to do while we are there. We are planning a four day Vacation Bible School for the children of the community, and just getting to know the people of the Dulac community is important work as well.

One thing that really excites me about this particular mission opportunity is that it is family friendly. Children of all ages are welcome at the DCC and families are encouraged to participate in this journey.

Spaces are limited (20 females and 20 males), so make your plans early and sign up today. Applications are available at the Ministry Center. You can also contact Rev. Matthys in the church office at 281-487-8787 ext. 3004 for more information about the trip.