C.O.M.E. Minutes

MINUTES: Outreach/Mission/Evangelism (COME) Team of Springdale UMC

July 24, 2016

In attendance: Rhoda Barnhart (chair), Deborah Schoenfelder, Jim Schoenfelder, Jim Farmer, Jo Leighty, Rachel Richards, Julie Mather, Austin Richards, Pastor Kimberly Bowles.

Minutes of April 17, 2016 were distributed for review.

MISSION

1. Special offerings

• Report for One Great Hour of Sharing (March 6): Total giving=$507.00.
• Report for Rural Life Sunday (May 15): Rhoda, Jim F., and Pastor Kimberly searched and could not find information about this offering; so the decision was made to cancel promoting and collecting an offering for Rural Life Sunday.

2. Mission trip in 2016: Pastor Kimberly reported that our congregation has a “spot” reserved for 2017 at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) in Chatham, Illinois. She will look into a smaller, intergenerational mission activity for this fall (e.g. the Matthew 25 ministry hub in Cedar Rapids, IA).

3. 2016 Thanksgiving Ingathering (TI): Rachel Richards, with support from COME members, will coordinate planning and implementation of TI.

• Selection of projects: The committee chose two kits (UMCOR Sewing Kit, and UMCOR School Kit) and one cash donation project (Personal Energy Transportation [PET]).
  • School Kit bags: Jo Leighty will take the lead in making School Kit bags.
    • Receptacles for donated kits and kit items: Julie and Rachel will provide containers.

• Promotion
  • Instruction sheets: Rachel will create a full-page instruction sheet describing how to participate in TI by purchasing items, assembling kits, and donating money for PET; and a half-page shopping list of items needed for each of the two kits.
  • Children’s messages: Jim F. will do a message about the School Kit. Messages for the Sewing Kit and PET are yet to be determined.

• Finish out and pack kits: COME members who are able to stay after worship will do so on Sunday, October 30.
• Dedication of cash donations and kits will take place on Sunday, October 30, 2016 during worship.
• Delivery of kits, money, postage, completed form(s) to Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, November 5, 2016: To be determined. Jim F. said that he and wife Ruth might be able to do this, and Rachel Richards also indicated interest.

EVANGELISM 

1. Family Night

• Report on April 17 Family Night (Chauncy and Amanda Farmer in charge): The night went well with several in attendance and lots of activity and interactions.
• Next Family Night is September 18 at 5:30 PM; to be coordinated by Rachel and Austin Richards, Steven and Jessica Grace.

OUTREACH

1. Contact persons for upcoming months have been arranged by Jo Leighty, Coordinator. September and December 2016 are still open.
2. Pastor Kimberly followed up on the idea of starting a “Learn and Take” activity series, beginning this fall. She spoke briefly with three potential guest presenters, and all three indicated interest in taking part.
3. Jo will be in charge of a food booth at the 2016 Hoover’s Hometown Days on Saturday, August 6. The booth will have hotdogs, chips, and bottled water available, with money from the freewill donation going into the church’s general fund.

Next meeting: October 9, 2016 following worship.