As we are regularly reminded, there are many in need around the world, especially in the event of natural disasters, but often we are not as informed as to needs closer to home. Red Bird Mission and Clinic, founded in 1921 and headquartered in Beverly, KY provides ministries in the Appalachian Mountains. Chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing, and rugged mountainous terrain provide daily obstacles to residents in this isolated, rural, distressed area. Red Bird Mission strives to help through ministry in five areas: Education, Health and Wellness, Community Outreach, Economic Opportunity, and Community Housing Improvement.
Missions Committee Upcoming Events
The Missions Committee has been blessed with many opportunities for participation in April and May. We hope you can join us for several.
April 27: Suppor t our RHUMC Youth by walking a lap or two at the Relay for Life at South High School. Our youth are looking for church members to join them in a commitment to have someone on the track from 9:00 a.m. April 27 to 9:00 a.m. April 28: You can walk, run, bring your pet and just hang out for a good time. For more information, check out the article in the Youth Section of this Cornerstone or contact Kristin Reksc at Kristin@rhumc.org.
May 4: Walk in the annual Crop Walk. This year we will be back at Pt. Fer min Par k in San Pedro. The course is 1.5 miles; the walk begins at the park at 11 a.m. The Missions Committee will be offering a light brunch before the walk starting at 10 a.m. You can donate or join the RHUMC team at https://www.crophungerwalk.org/peninsulaharborca/Team/
View/95379/Rolling-Hills-United-Methodist-Church. Alternatively, you can pick up an envelope to collect donations at the Crop Walk table on the patio April 14 and 28.
May 5: Celebr ate Cinco de Mayo with our supported missionary John Elmore. John will speak briefly at the 5:30 service and then be available at 6:30 for a more detailed presentation on his work in Chile. John and his wife Maria work at a high school and church in Chile. The Committee will provide a light Mexican supper.
May 15: Our longtime missionary Paul Jeffrey is retiring, so this evening’s presentation will be his last update. Paul is well known for his fabulous photography documenting the work of the Methodist church from around the world. He has reported from over 70 countries. Paul plans to discuss his work over the last three years as well as summarize a bit of what he
has learned over his 35 years of missionary work.
Mission Committee Welcomes Volunteers
The Missions Committee is looking for smiling faces as we head into the new year. This is an opportunity to be involved with the planning of events which raise money and RHUMC involvement with both local and international Mission projects. It’s a friendly, low-key group whose aim is to be helpful where we are able. We meet monthly – usually for an hour on the second Tuesday of each month. Come be part of a fun group. Everyone is welcome! Interested? Please contact Bill or Barbara Leone at 310-377-2628 or by email.
Circle of Life Meal Preparation – the Circle of Life team prepares meals in RHUMC’s kitchen and serves lunch at the Amigos House in the Harbor Gateway area to individuals who have AIDS and their families. The next three meal preps are scheduled for Saturdays, February 2, April 6, & June 1 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. If you would like to help with cooking in the morning and/or serving later in the day, contact Jackie Showalter at 310-544-8510 or jjshow2@verizon.net. Also, if you happen to be remodeling your kitchen or have a working appliance you are looking to get rid of, the Amigos House would appreciate donations of a freezer and a gas stove with a hood.
St. Paul’s First Tuesday Meals – RHUMC helps support St. Paul’s UMC in Redondo Beach with preparing meals for the homeless. Meals are prepared in RHUMC’s kitchen. The next three meal preps are scheduled for Tuesdays, February 5, March 5, & April 2 from 12:30-2:00 p.m. If you would like to help with preparing the meals and/or delivering them to St. Paul’s, contact Mary Jane Schwebel at 310-377-8780 or mjs41@cox.net.
Opportunity to Host Members of the Copenhagen Girls’ Choir March 2019 – The internationally acclaimed Copenhagen Girls’ Choir will be performing a concert at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church on Tuesday evening, March 26. The choir will also be visiting and performing with the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus in Pasadena. They will be accompanied by a six-instrument Nordic band and some of the pieces are being written for them right now to premier during their California tour.
We are seeking volunteer host families to host two to four girls each during their time in Southern California. (Their chaperones will be staying in a local hotel.) The girls arrive Tuesday afternoon March 25 (by chartered bus via Carpentaria) from their tour in Northern California and will return to Copenhagen by air from LAX on Friday afternoon, March 28. There are sixty-five girls in the choir, ages 14-16. They all speak English.
Would you like to be a host family? It’s an amazing experience – ask any of the families that hosted three years ago. If you are interested, please contact Susan Deo at 310-373-9826 or nasdeo76@gmail.com with your name and contact information and how many girls you are able to host (between two and four). Feel free to contact Susan if you have any questions as well.
By the way, you don’t have to be a host family to attend the concert, so save the date, March 26 evening, whether you are hosting some of the Girls or not!
Sierra Service Project for Youth – Through acts of service repairing homes and community centers, Sierra Service Project invites youth into a closer relationship with God and to experience the transformative power of serving people who have a culture and life experience different from their own. Sierra Service Project offers week-long service projects during the summer for junior high and high school youth groups. Each summer, over 130 churches and 2,000 youth and their adult leaders join together at one of our six sites located in rural and urban communities across the western states.
At SSP, youth are safe to grow in their faith, learn new skills, and make new friends while serving those in need. Last summer volunteers completed 119 home repair projects and other types of community service. SSP serves the elderly, poor and marginalized. Our service is offered without strings attached and with respect and humility.
If you are interested in participating, contact Kristin Reksc at 310-377-6771 or email Kristin
Box Tops – Our church can help, and it’s easy! By collecting labels, box tops, and lids (V8 products) we can help the school at Red Bird earn free equipment and supplies. Just look for products that say “Labels for Education,” “Box Tops for Education” or “Tyson Project A+.” Some of the participating companies are: BIC, Campbell’s, Dannon, Emerald, Glad, Pepperidge Farm, Post, Kleenex and Hefty. Clip your labels and bring them to church – deposit in the box in the narthex. Meanwhile, you can learn more at: www.labelsforeducation.com, www.boxtops4education.com , and www.projectaplus.tyson.com.
Stay tuned for the Mission Committee’s upcoming winter project. Opportunities to help will be available soon!
