Upcoming Events

Major Damon Yourchisin, son of Karen & Paul Yourchisin, and the members of his Army Team stationed in Iraq, have requested toys for Iraqi children. The toys should be small and inexpensive. Appropriate toys can be found at Dollar General and Big Lots. NO fashion dolls (Barbie, Bratz, or Princesses) as these may offend Muslim family values. In a war-torn country, guns are also not appropriate. Suggested items: nerf toys and games, softball sized balls, stuffed animals, stuffed bears with outfits, baby dolls (8-10 inches), small ball and bats (whiffle style), any other toy that is easily portable and fun for children to play with. Toys needs to be in by Dec. 1.

READING INITIATIVE

Warren Area Elementary Center is in need of volunteers to support the reading initiative to improve student reading skills. Ideally they would like to have those who volunteer two or more days per week to work with the same student(s) for approximately one hour per day from 2-2:50 PM; however, they welcome those who feel they can do onne day only. No special skill requirement except a desire to build a relationship with children and a willingness to help them work on reading specially provided materials. Required clearances will be paid for through a grant from WArren Community Foundation. If interested, please contact Ruth Nelson at ruth.nelson@wcsdpa.org or 723-4320 for more information. Volunteers are desired to be in place by Thanksgiving.

SUPPORT

The First United Methodist Church of Warren supports many local ministries. Members of First UMC serve on a variety of local boards and agencies.

Specifically, we support ten different ministries in various ways. These ten are:

Faith Inn
The Sharing Place
Habitat for Humanity
Safe Place
Pregnancy Support Group
Family Services
The Food Bank
Warren County Jail Ministry
Community Concerns
Crescent Park Health

We continually accept donations of food for the food bank and personal hygiene products (soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, etc.) for the Jail ministry.

In addition we support Healthy Youth/Healthy Communites, Warren Area Student Union, The Ruth M. Smith Home, Wesley Woods Campground, the Warren Area Ministerial Association, Summer Park Ministry, Wesbury, Olmsted Manor, United Methodist Erie Alliance.

Through our Mission Commission we support FISH World Hunger, UMCOR Emergency Fund, Cherokee Mission, Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, Four-Corners Native American Mission, Henderson Settlement Mission.

Within our Annual Conference we support the Bishops' Initiatives.

We also support all of the Special Sunday Offerings in the United Methodist Church and through our Mission Share giving support a wide variety of ministries throughout the world.

--DivorceCare FAMILY Ministry--The seminar/support group, which meets on Thursday evenings from 6-8PM, will continue with the video seminar series featuring 33 renowned experts (Kay Arthur, Dr. Tony Evans, Larry Burkett, Paula Rinehart, Dr. David Seamands, to name a few) on divorce & recovery topics as seen from a biblical perspective. These video seminars are combined with the support group discussion of the materials presented during the video. We will be offering the updated version of the DVD's which have subtitles for the hearing impaired. Childcare is provided at no expense to the participants. If you know anyone who's going through divorce or separation, why not tell him or her about DivorceCare. People are welcome to join anytime during the 13 week sessions.

We also have DivorceCare4Kids and are very excited about this program. This ministry provides an opportunity for our church to help children from this community who have experienced divorce and separation of their parents. We are able to show how the love of Jesus can heal the hurting and the brokenhearted. This is not a counseling service or a one-on-one program. DC4K is designed to help hurting children heal in a group setting, to bring these children into the loving arms of a church family and to feel God's love surround them. This program runs concurrently with our adult DivorceCare program. It is hoped that both programs will continue to be a valuable ministry to those who are hurting from divorce in our congregation and our community. For more information, contact Heidi Ketzko through our church office.

The adults and children are so appreciative of this church for having this ministry available and showing God's love to them. Thank you First Church for opening your doors and hearts to a hurting community.


Food Bags Our third collection of food was received on September 14th. Items were donated to the Ruth M. Smith Home in Sheffield. Thanks!
Gift Cards

Don't know what to give that person who has everything? How about a gift card. We have produced a series of cards and inserts for you to honor your loved ones with donations.

They come as cards with envelopes, ready to send. Or they come as inserts you can add to your own card.

The four areas we have chosen to feature are:

Nothing But Nets - to help purchase treated nets to prevent malaria. $10 will purchase a net which protects one family.

Double Rainbow Farm - a local farm that uses horses and other animals in a therapeutic way.

LOGOS - to support our weekly after-school program with scholarship support.

Just come to the Church Office and ask for a card or insert. There is no cost for the card or insert, just the donation that you make.

Thanks!