"Come! Open your heart! Show Your mercy to all those in fear! We are called to be hope for the hopeless so all hatred and blindness will be no more!" - We Are Called (TFWS 2172)
Transformative Service in South Los Angeles
On a cool Friday in March 2014, a group of twenty-three youth and adults from San Diego County joined with three churches from throughout California to serve in the middle of South Los Angeles for a Weekend of Service organized by Sierra Service Project (SSP).The San Diego County group, gathered by Rev. Rick Malec from San Luis Rey Valley UMC and many of whom are in middle school, worked alongside community members from the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) to weed and prepare a community garden for planting. With CRCD, they also worked in a trash-strewn residential alleyway to clean up and make drastic beatifications.
Working with LA Green Grounds, they helped create an edible garden in the front yard of a resident who otherwise would have difficulty accessing fresh, healthy food. As a way of showing love and compassion for over 300 homeless on Skid Row, the group also partnered with Union Rescue Mission to serve guests ice cream in what Rev. Malec characterized as “transformative” for him and his youth.
All of the service work was difficult and trying, covering SSP volunteers in dirt and sweat. For Rev. Malec, this experience is summed up beautifully by realizing that when we “help bring love to people who are hurting, [we are] transformed in the grace of God.”
When we show love to family and friends, we can see the long-term effects as we continue alongside them on our life journeys. When we serve and love those who we do not know, we put faith in the love of God that our service will continue to serve them long after we have gone.
Sierra Service Project still has summer availability for its week-long service programs for High School and Junior High youth. For more information, please visit www.sierraserviceproject.org or call the office at (916) 488-6441.--Submitted by Sierra Service Project
Imagine No Malaria
Our Faith in Action
People of The United Methodist Church
World Malaria Day Events scheduled across the Conference for the weekend of April 25, 2014; Special Event: Community Pancake DinnerFriday, April 25
United University Church presents A Killer in the Dark, in cooperation with World Vision Acts and the students of the University of Southern California – Time TBA
817 W 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Community Pancake Dinner, hosted by The California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church and Pasadena First United Methodist Church – 6pm – 8pm
(Dinner served 6-7:30, entertainment throughout)
500 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101
Saturday, April 26
Pancake Breakfast, hosted by University United Methodist Church, Irvine – 8:30am
18422 Culver Drive, Irvine, CA 92612
Sunday, April 27
Imagine No Malaria study and worship at Glendale First United Methodist Church – 9:00am
134 N Kenwood St, Glendale, CA 91206
Imagine No Malaria Brunch (followed by Church Council Meeting) at First United Methodist Church of Whittier – 11:30am
13222 Bailey Street, Whittier, CA 90601
World Malaria Day worship at Community United Methodist Church, Huntington Beach – 8:30 & 10:00 am
6652 Heil Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Note: Dinner and Auction Rescheduled to June 8, 2014!
World Malaria Day Dinner and Auction hosted by St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, San Bernardino
2055 Elks Drive, San Bernardino, CA
Reservations required. Call St. Paul’s UMC at (909) 889-3609 for event details and to purchase tickets.
The Latest
Interfaith Service to Call for End to Deportations (Bishop Carcaño)In Emergency Planning, Include the Disabled (DisAbility Ministry Task Force)
Prayer Breakfast to End Child Trafficking (Holman UMC & Abolition Task Force)
Spring Children's Fair (Centenary UMC)
UMC Pastor Riding in AIDS/Lifecycle (Hollywood UMC)
Fan into Flame: 5-Day Lenten Lay Servant School and Revival! (North District)
Latest Job Postings
Previously Mentioned
Bishop Carcaño's Sermon from Ecumenical Prayer Service for Christian Unity (OC)Pastor Stephen J. Howard Suspended from Clergy Duties
Trailer to be Presented for Disaster Recovery (Shepherd of the Valley UMC)
Philippines Advocacy & Relief Drive (Hollywood UMC)
Art Graces Sanctuary Through Lent (Santa Monica First UMC)
Life Enhancement 101: Pre-Retirement Retreat (Board of Pensions and Board of Ordained Ministry)
-------
Our mailing address is:
The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
110 S Euclid Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101 United States
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment