CHRISTIAN OUTREACH

CHRISTIAN OUTREACH MINISTRY

The Christian Outreach Committee focuses on reaching out to our local families in need as well as the needs of people worldwide.  Below are some of the charities that we support through giving. 

Changing the World Through Local Charities

ENFIELD FOOD SHELF

Enfield Food Shelf accepts donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, baby diapers/food, and frozen turkeys (during the holiday season) for less fortunate families in the Enfield area. The church is supporting the Food Shelf with monthly food donations/collections and various additional collections (Food Boat and November Thanksgiving). Our average Month donation exceeds 100 lbs.
Enfield Food Shelf website

ENFIELD LOAVES AND FISHES

The Enfield Congregational, United Church of Christ supports Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen by hosting a Saturday brunch on the fourth Saturday of every other month, at the Loaves and Fishes facility.  Food donations & church volunteers support this local mission. NOTE: ALWAYS CHECKOUT OUT THE OUTREACH BULLETIN BOARD FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS, SIGN-UP SHEETS, AND THANK-YOU NOTES (Received in response to your generous donations).
Enfield Loaves and Fishes website


Enfield Loaves and Fishes Facebook

HAVE A HEART (Enfield Emergency Loan Fund)

Have A Heart ia a program of Enfield Churches and Community, Inc.  Its purpose is to provide interest-free loans to Enfield residents with emergency/critical needs.

DOVE TREE

Our sanctuary Christmas tree gets adorned with white paper doves containing gift suggestions for families in our community in need of gifts.

SPRINGFIELD RESCUE MISSION

Springfield Rescue Mission is a shelter for the poor.  The purpose of the Springfield Rescue Mission since 1892 has been to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the hungry, homeless, addicted, and poor by introducing them to Christ and helping them apply the Word of God to every area of their lives. ECC donates clothing, personal items, and toiletries to assist those in need.
Springfield Rescue Mission website

Changing the World Though Global Charities

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING (OCWM)

One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM), is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries God’s message of love and hope to people in more than eighty countries.

The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water and food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, emergency relief, and advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response.
More about One Great Hour of Sharing (UCC website)

NEIGHBORS IN NEED

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States.  One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry(CAIM).  Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. UCC special offerings include: One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, and the Christmas Fund.
More about Neighbors In Need (UCC website)

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE – BLANKETS

Since its formation in 1957, the United Church of Christ has worked with Church World Service (founded in 1946) to accomplish more together than it could alone, joining hearts and resources to create a tradition of help and a legacy of hope.
When disaster strikes, Church World Service is the primary agency through which the UCC gives support for relief and recovery efforts. This assistance may take the form of winterized family tents for Pakistani earthquake survivors, food packages and tankers full of water for displaced people in violence-torn Darfur, Sudan, or long-term recovery assistance for families affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, or flooding across the U.S.
In addition to continuing support, ECC has an annual Mother’s Day collection for blankets.
More about CWS Blankets (CWS website)

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE – TOOLS FOR HOPE

Since its formation in 1957, the United Church of Christ has worked with Church World Service (founded in 1946) to accomplish more together than it could alone, joining hearts and resources to create a tradition of help and a legacy of hope.
When disaster strikes, Church World Service is the primary agency through which the UCC gives support for relief and recovery efforts. This assistance may take the form of winterized family tents for Pakistani earthquake survivors, food packages and tankers full of water for displaced people in violence-torn Darfur, Sudan, or long-term recovery assistance for families affected by hurricanes, tornados, or flooding across the U.S.
In addition to continuing support, ECC has an annual Fathers’s Day collection for tools.
More about CWS Tools (CWS website)

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL

Heifer International has been a mainstay of our Christian Outreach and Christian Education programs for decades, whether collecting and contributing through Sunday school, or promoting gift giving at Christmas time (for example donating an animal in someone’s name).
More about Heifer International (Heifer website)

CHRISTMAS FUND (formerly Veterans of the Cross)

Christmas Fund, a UCC mission offering, has helped provide supplemental monies to low-income retired clergy and lay employees, as well as to active clergy facing unforeseen financial crises.  At Christmas, the offering provides gift checks to hundreds of clergy and lay employees, but it also provides emergency assistance to them and their families throughout the year.
More about the Christmas Fund (UCC website)

Changing the World Through Mission Minstries

APPALACHIAN SERVICE PROJECT

Appalachian Service Project.  In the fall of 2017, our church encouraged our youth to go out and give back to the community. The Junior Youth Group would stay locally and the Senior Youth group would go farther out.  Repairing homes through the Appalachia Service Project, whose vision is “Warmer, Safer, Drier,” was chosen for that ministry.

We took our first mission trip in the summer of 2018, traveling to, and working in a small Virginia town, coincidentally called Appalachia, Virginia.  We only had 7 youth sign up, and half will tell you that they only went because their parents made them. However, for all of them it was a life changing experience. So much so that, not only are they all going this year, but they have also talked more youth into joining us.

We are continuing with this worthy ministry in 2019, and we will be heading to Knotts County, Kentucky during the first week of July.  See more about our ASP experience and our current status for this year’s mission HERE
You can also read More about Appalachian Service Project (ASP website)