Calvary United Methodist Church Missions Projects support our community as well as ministries around the world. Listed below are some highlights of the activities and/or ministries in which Calvary United Methodist Church is involved:
World Communion Sunday
This is an investment in the future leadership of the church and the global community, ensuring continuing ministry for generations to come. We, at Calvary United Methodist Church, ask members of the church to donate various types of bread. As the congregation enters the church, they may select a loaf(s) bread if they choose, and they make a donation. We join churches all around the world in celebrating communion on that day.
Harvest Home Baskets
At Thanksgiving time, food is given to individuals and/or families who need a little boost to make their holidays special. Food is donated by members of the church and the community. The boxes include a turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy mix, vegetables, fruits, desserts, along with other types of food.
Camp Fund
The ladies of Calvary Church bake thousands of Christmas Cookies every year as a fundraiser. These monies are used to help offset the cost to send youth to various Christian youth camps. This has become a wonderful event for all of us at Calvary with approximately 50 people participating in either baking, frosting, packing and delivering the cookies.
Items of the Month
The Missions committee asks for donations of specific food items each month that are used to stock our emergency food pantry. This pantry operates out of our church office and is for individuals and families in our community. A non-food item is also requested that will be given to the Elkland HUB to fill health and school kits for Mission Central.
One Great Hour of Sharing
This activity helps God’s children for whom war and violence are very real and offers compassion and healing to people we will never meet. It provides disaster relief and helps refugees with basic necessities of life.
Good Samaritan Fund
This fund ,formed in 1988, was inspired by our own Friends In Deed! Every person in the Williamsport District is asked to donate just $1.50 per person/per year to this fund. It brings food or assistance to area citizens who are unemployed, stricken by tragedy, or in need due to some crisis. Calvary's Missions Committee assists the church in raising this money each year.
Peace with Justice Sunday
This collection of gifts allows us to reach out to children and youth by helping them find alternatives to violence. The money provides education and resources to help end global injustice and improve human rights for all people and supports the work of leaders who stop violence and restore peace. Fifty percent of every dollar given is put to work in our annual conference and the remainder funds Peace With Justice ministries around the world.
United Methodist Student Day
This offering provides more than 2,000 undergraduate scholarships for students attending United Methodist-related colleges. Some of the money is used to provide approximately 1,200 loans to students who have already demonstrated their commitment to education by having the lowest loan-default rates. Each year $50,000 is returned to the annual conference for merit scholarship awards for students of their choosing.
Mission Central
Mission Central is located in Mechanicsburg, PA. This ministry touches people by creating an atmosphere of trust and compassion to all people needing help. Some of their services include food, shelter, referrals, fuel assistance, rent assistance, volunteer programs and community education for people in all parts of the world. Calvary has been supporting Mission Central for many years by collecting items that are needed for disaster relief. For more information, you can click on its website: www.missioncentral.org.
Emergency Disaster Relief
Whenever there is a disaster, the United Methodist Church declares a relief fund. We, as a church, try to support the requests with special offerings. Calvary has gone on three Mission Trips to help those who have been affected by Katrina and others natural disasters.
Conference Work Camps/Volunteers in Mission
Individuals of the church are encouraged to volunteer their labor with various work camps. Each individual has a special gift to offer, whether it is cooking, cleaning, hammering, painting, etc. At Calvary there was a work camp at our own church when the Friendship Center was built.
Native American Awareness
This is a special offering for Native Americans who are responding to God’s call in the ministry. Answering this call requires both God-given talent and seminary training. Gifts will provide scholarship money within our own church conference, and in urban areas across the United States. In the past, Calvary has had Native American speakers to provide a unique look into this ministry.