Missions | Bethel UMC

REACHING OUT TO SHARE GOD'S LOVE

SNAP Party

For nearly 50 years, Bethel has hosted an annual Christmas party for individuals with special challenges from our community and beyond. Attendees enjoy singing familiar carols, eating a home-made dinner, watching a BlackLight show, and finally, greeting Santa who provides a small gift. Penny Dombroski has coordinated this party for many years.

LET IT SHINE

BLACKLIGHT PUPPET MINISTRY

The Blacklight Puppet Ministry, “Let It Shine”, grew from a national conference in 1999 and continues. The group spreads the Good News throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond using music, puppets, special lighting, and lots of enthusiasm. Contact Kris Nemet to arrange a performance.

COMPASSION NETWORK

The Compassion Network is made up of local churches and serves families in need within the 15068 zip code. Currently, the biggest need is to provide food. That need is met in a couple of different ways:

A backpack program puts together bags that contain snacks and other food items designed to last up to one week.
Boxes of perishable and non-perishable food items are distributed to people and families who need them.
Meal preparation is done on a limited basis. This involves providing cooked meals to families in need.

If you want to volunteer in any capacity, or if you are in need right now, please contact us:

Phone: 724 448 8173 email: Invr4get911@aol.com

Bethel UMC provides a kitchen for meal prep and distribution, volunteers, and monetary support.

OLD MUTARE MISSION AND ORPHANAGE

Rather than purchase real flowers at Easter and Christmas, Bethel collects donations, called Israel’s Lilies and Israel's Poinsettias, to support the orphanage at Old Mutare, where the mom of our friend the Rev. Dr. Israel Kamudzandu worked.

THE SHOE FUND

The Shoe Fund provides gift certificates to school nurses to purchase shoes for students in need in several school districts.

RUMMAGE SALES

Twice a year, the Ruth Circle and friends collect gently used househood goods and clothing and open Friendship Hall to the Community for shopping. Many community members count on the sales for clothing and other items each year. Bag day is always a hit!

MISSION TRIPS

Out of state mission trips are planned for every other year while the youth and adult chaperones fit mission work into their retreats and make visits to sites in need that are closer home. The COVID quarantine has put work camps on hiatus for a while. Bethel has supported individual adult mission trips to Paraquay and New Orleans.

COMMUNITY MISSIONS

supported by donations and volunteerism

ALle-Kiski Hope Center

HOPE offers supportive services, opportunities for healing, and community education to assist victims, and end violence and abuse.

LOcal FOod banks

Westmoreland County Food bank, local church food banks, and Allegheny Council of Churches provide food to families who are food insecure.

Meals on Wheels

Vulnerable seniors are at the greatest risk amid COVID-19. Local Meals on Wheels programs are on the front lines every day, focused on doing all they can to keep older Americans safe and nourished in communities across the country.

SOmething to eat Everyday/

Blessings in a bookbag

Local school districts pack a weekend's worth of food for students who are food insecure using donations from the community, including churches.

ALLEGHENY VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF CHURCHES

This multi-faceted non-profit organization supported by 54 local churches . AVAOC provides temporary housing for families experiencing homeless. The agency also provides numerous services for families in need.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS THROUGH THE WESTERN PA CONFERENCE OF THE UMC AND THROUGH UMC.ORG

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provides assistance to persons and communities in aftermath of natural disasters or crises. One way UMCOR offers relief is by providing affected persons with supply kits to help them as they strive to rebuild and restart their lives.

CLEANING KITS

Cleaning kits provide supplies to help individuals and families clean up after flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Locally, buckets are stored at the First UMC in New Kensington. Bethel is a drop off spot for UMC churches nearby. Bethel will provide rapid delivery for crises in Westmoreland and Allegheny County. Rev. Lynette Moran is the contact.

HYGIENE KITS

Hygiene kits replace basic necessity items lost in a disaster such as toothbrushes, hand towels and soap to help persons stay clean and healthy.

SCHOOL KITS

These kits have school supplies for children as they return to the classroom.