Paw Paw Presbyterian Church

JOIN US IN MISSION

It is the work of all in the congregation to support the church in mission.  We are called by scripture to be the hands and feet of Christ in our world.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”
       I Peter 4:10
The mission commission needs your help.  Please join us at our monthly meetings on the First Thursday of the month at 6:30* and help us discern where and how God is calling our church to serve.    *No September meeting—next meeting:  October 5 @ 6:30.

Thanks to all who supported our February collection to support our Montaña de Luz children, Lola and Eric. 

One Great Hour of Sharing supports global relief through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (currently helping our neighbors in Niles recover from flooding) as well as Presbyterian Hunger Assistance and Self-development of people.  Fish Banks and OGHOS offerings will be collected through Easter Sunday. 

Thanks also to many folks who have offered support to our Syrian refugee family in many different ways – dropping off a box of diapers, tutoring the kids, providing transportation and even loaning the family personal cars for several weeks!  Thanks to a Welcome Refugees grant from the Synod of the Covenant and several individual donations, Imad finally has a dependable car for his family! 
Support for refugee family - they now have a new car!

All are welcome to join these and other mission efforts.  The Mission Commission meets the first Thursday of every month at 6:30. 
Mission Commission
Eleda Zygadlo, Chair
 

The Mission Commission ran the save your pennies campaign to contribute to our denominations Cents-Ability offering taken the third Sunday of the month.  Fifty percent of each month’s share is to be split equally between support of United Christian Services and Eleanor’s Pantry.  The balance of the monthly offering goes to our denomination for the never ending fight against world hunger. 

United Christian Services carries on the work started by Eleanor Miller and provides emergency assistance while encouraging self- sufficiency in the greater Paw Paw area.  This smmer, the work of UCS provided over $7,500 in aid area residents, including:

Helped a victim of domestic violence in need of housing for herself and her children;
Provided gas and food to a low income parent with a special needs child requiring a special diet;
Prevented  utility from being shut off on a person out of work while recovering from a broken arm. 

UCS also provides non-monetary services to those in need of budgeting and credit counseling, help with applying for disability and other types of aid, and help with completing job applications.  UCS now offers walk-in counseling at its Monday morning Coffee & Bagels, held at Freshwater Church. 

MONTAÑA DE LUZ:  PRESBYTERIANS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

With a kick-off at the January Pot Luck, our Congregation set a goal to sponsor one child in Montaña de Luz, an orphanage serving children affected by HIV in Honduras.   With each member donating a quarter a day, we hoped we would be able to sponsor a child for 2017.  Once again, the outpouring was overwhelming and the Mission Commission is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring not one but TWO children.

   Erik, an eight year old, is an orphan in the second grade.  Erik is the youngest boy at Montaña de Luz. He loves to play outside and look at books.
      Lola, arrived at Montaña de Luz at 11 months old neglected and alone.  Born on July 1, 2009, Lola is one of the younger children at Montaña de Luz.   Although she struggled with some delays at first, Lola has learned to interact happily with her friends.

Put 25 Cents in the jar each day to contribute to the life of our adopted child from Montana De Luz

UNITED CHRISTIAN SERVICES

Community and church leaders have joined together to continue the important community ministry founded by the late Eleanor Miller. Now organized as United Christian Services (UCS), the organization embraces the teaching of Jesus to care for one another through assistance in emergencies while encouraging self-sufficiency in Gobles, Paw Paw, Mattawan, Lawton, Lawrence, and Decatur.

UCS continues to be led by local churches and social service agencies, uniting together as a first point of contact for coordinating information and aid, collecting resources, addressing emergency needs, and encouraging self-sufficiency through education.   
Tom ShoemakerOur congregation continues to support this effort through monies collected each third Sunday in our special Cents-Ability offering.  Pastor Tiffany and Tom Shoemaker attend many of the regular meetings to keep our church connected to this ministry.

ALSO, The Mission Commission invites you to join us for a meeting and to help plan new ways to serve others as we reach out to share God’s love in this world.     Our meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 in the Youth classroom.  No special skills are required other than a willingness to be involved in this ministry.  

Members at large are always welcome to attend meetings as we are all joined as the church called to be the hands and feet of Christ.  For more information, contact commission chair Tom Shoemaker 

at 657-3656 or tommyshoe@yahoo.com.
 

PEACE AND GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING
Thank You for Your Support!

The denomination’s Peace and Global Witness Offering taken on October 2 promotes peace in a number of ways.  Congregations retain 25% of this offering to connect with the local witness to Christ's peace. Mid councils are given 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation.  The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness. 

This year our local share will go directly to United Christian Services to support their efforts to bring caring support and self-sufficiency to individuals and families in need. 

CENTS-ABILITY OFFERING PROVIDES LOCAL AND DENOMINATIONAL SUPPORT!

Upon recommendation of the Mission Commission, the Session recently voted to provide ongoing financial support to UCS through our Cents-a-bility offering. One half of the local portion of that offering will now go to UCS, with the other continuing to support Eleanor's Pantry.  The other half supports national and global hunger relief efforts through the PC USA.

Your support of the Cents-Ability offering taken each third Sunday of the month now has added meaning as we continue to share our resources in ministry to those around us.