Mission & Outreach at First UMC is rooted in God's mission of healing the world. As a church, we are sent out each week in order to be the hands and feet of Christ to a world in need of hope and unconditional love. Join us as we seek to care for the marginalized and the oppressed through embodied service, material goods, and speaking truth to power in love.
Peace With Justice Sunday May 26
This special offering supports programs and ministries to educate, equip, and mobilize actions in support of identified Economic, Health, and Gender Justice Priorities. Envelopes will be in the bulletin that morning, or you can bring or mail your offering to the church if you can’t make it on Sunday.
Half of the funds collected on Peace with Justice Sunday will remain in our New England Conference. These funds go to the Church and Society Board of New England conference to provide educational resources, building and sustaining relationships, and help mobilize networks to engage in social advocacy and action.
The other half funds national and international peacemaking ministries and grants. We pursue peace with justice efforts by working with the World Council of Churches, interfaith and ecumenical bodies, and secular organizations for social-justice policies and programs that seek the wholeness of shalom for all of God’s people.
Individuals in our church community have carried banners for peace with justice, donated to social justice organizations such as Methodist Federation for Social Action, Doctors without Borders, Merrimack Valley People for Peace, Anti-Defamation League, etc.
Featured organizations we partner with:
Bread & Roses is a soup kitchen in our neighboring town, Lawrence, MA. Our team provides a full meal every fifth Saturday.
Fina House is a housing opportunity for women who are survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence. Our church provides handmade blankets and scarfs for families in residence.
Communities Together is a collaboration of churches in the Lawrence Metro area. Our parishioners are active in supplying materials for their underwear and diaper drive.
www.communitiestogetherinc.org
Other organizations
Neighbors in Need: a network of local food pantries. (www.needfood.org)
The People's Pantry of North Andover: a partnership with The North Parish—Unitarian Universalist's food ministry. (www.northparish.org)
Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity (www.merrimackvalleyhabitat.org)
United Methodist Committee on Relief (www.umcor.org)
United Methodist Economic Ministry of Maine (www.umeconomicministry.com)