Outreach at Lynnewood
Our Commitment to Outreach
Outreach to our community, to the world, is an integral part of the worship experience at Lynnewood. We are committed, as a congregation to living our faith through giving of our time, talent and resources to help others.
The power of our Christian faith is that it is a faith of action and of caring. Jesus looked at the world through a lens of compassion and lived a life of service to others. Likewise, for us, as disciples of Jesus, we see the power of God’s grace when we are engaged with the needs of our world.
An Overview
Outreach at Lynnewood includes: financial support; regular donations of food, clothing and other goods; and volunteering our time. We devote a significant portion of our church budget to outreach programs. We offer the opportunity for our members to participate in at least one outreach activity each month.
We collect a monthly offering for particular needs. These offerings are for: disaster relief (such as the Tsunami in Indonesia, the earthquake in Pakistan and Hurricane Katrina); United Methodist Programs (such as Peace With Justice, One Great Hour of Sharing or World Communion Sunday); or a specific local or regional need identified by the Outreach Committee.
Coordinated by Lynnewood’s Outreach Committee, our Outreach Program includes: Partner Ministries, Continuing Ministries, Special Opportunities, Mission Trips and our annual Ministries of the Heart campaign.
Outreach During July
Wow Lynnewood, you sure made a difference in our world during July. Thank you!
We had a great workday at the shelter for homeless families, Sojourner House. The yard and remodeled playroom look great. Participating were: Cynthia and Keith DeLand, Mike Hughes, Linda VanPelt, David, Owen and Ella Camp, Diane Chinn, Donna and Kyle Ballard, Ron Rigge, Bill and Mary Behrendt, Steve, Gabe and Becca Elliott, Kim Risedorph, Doug and Mary Ellen Huey, Andrew Boyd and Claire Chow.
Jackie Shurtleff and Margrit Honegger provided baskets of household goods to families leaving Sojourner House and moving into their own place.
We served ice cream and cold water on a hot day to clients of the Tri-Valley Haven Food Pantry. Our team was: Ann Carr, Will Leininger, Carole Carlson, Mark McClellan and Steve Elliott.
Lynnewood participated in a Missions Concert fundraiser at San Ramon Valley UMC.
We collected a suitcase of vitamins, medical and other supplies for the mission team going to Tonga.
We took a special outreach offering for the Native American Ministries of the United Methodist Church.
A team from our church worked at the Alameda County Food Bank. The shift results: 3,000 pounds of corn boxed, 1,350 pounds of potatoes sacked and four pallets of food sorted! Participating were: Amy Atherton, Jane Dickinson, Gladys Pearson, Mary and Bill Behrendt, Wendy Kenley, Steve, Gabe and Becca Elliott.
We collected school supplies for use in Lynnewood’s outreach to low income kids in August events.
Our congregation provided a nice batch of BART tickets to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat, in turn, receives cash for each of these “tiny tickets.”
Outreach Schedule for August
We have several outreach opportunities available in August. Consider those of interest to you. Each is described in this newsletter.
Month of August - Collecting supplies for Tri-Valley Animal Rescue
August 9th - Workday at Pleasanton Gardens (senior housing complex)
August 10th - Peace With Justice Outreach Offering
August 19th - Back to School Event for low income and homeless families
August 23rd, 25th and 26th - Workday at Shiloh House (domestic violence shelter)
August 24th - Bake Sale for Hope Hospice
Ministry Partners
Ministry Partners are the strategic outreach priorities of our church. At present they include:
Outreach Events
Each year our church identifies specific needs that we wish to address with Outreach Activities. This year these opportunities included:
Special Opportunities
Additionally, Lynnewood identifies Special Opportunities that we wish to support during the year. These opportunities included: