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.
SAVERS COLLECTION TO BENEFIT CHRISTMAS POP UP SHOP ENDING SOON
Savers collection to support our Christmas Pop Up Shop 2026 continues!
Time to gather your donations while decluttering your home!
We have again arranged a fundraiser with Savers for this year. The funds are used to purchase toys for our Christmas Pop Up Shop. We have one final dates scheduled when donations can be dropped off. Of course, items can be donated whenever you are in the building, either Sundays or during the week. If you are delivering items at a time other than during the posted donation times, then please let Evangeline know (evarose.samson@gmail.com).
FINAL Community Collection Day
Tuesday, August 18 5:00-7:00 p.m.
We are collecting:
Clothing - Men's, women's, & children's clothes, coats, shoes, scarves, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, belts, backpacks, etc.
Household Textiles - Bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linen, tablecloths, curtains, pillows, etc.
Small Household Goods - Kitchen items (such as pots/pans, dishes, silverware, glasses, serving pieces and hand-held appliances), home decorative items, knick-knacks, toys, games, and small electronics
Books & Media - Paperback, hard cover - all genres
*media needs to be boxed separately
*no encyclopedias or text books
*please no damaged books
Please use bags for clothes and textiles and tightly pack boxes of small household goods. Separate books from household goods and media.
Please check out the newsletter for more details.
Bread & Roses Meal Preparation
On Monday, August 17th, members of our congregation will prepare 144 bagged meals for distribution to Bread and Roses. As with our usual schedule we will do the preparation at the church from 2PM to 4PM (we often finish sooner!). Please plan on joining in the sandwich making and meal bag assembly. Many hands make light work! We are asking for cash donations, rather than food contribution, toward the purchase of the deli turkey and ham. Please see a member of the Missions Committee (Paul C, Paul R, Ave, Andrea, or Lynn) if you would like to contribute. Each meal will have very specific food items included which are purchased either from Market Basket or online. Contact the office or use the sign-up sheet in the narthex to say you’ll help!
Collection for UMCOR Hygiene Kit Supplies
In August, beginning on the 16th, we will begin collection supplies for UMCOR kits to be sent to UMCOR in early October. Donations may be brought to the church through September. Financial donations for the cost of shipping are also welcome. This year we will prepare hygiene kits, which have a value of $12 per kit. Please follow the instructions exactly because we can’t use incorrect items. You will find the list of needed items in the August newsletter on this website. Our goal this year is 35 kits, so we appreciate your generosity !
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)