Friends,
I recently read a 2015 Lenten message by Pope Francis in which he stated, "A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just." Similarly,
Desmond Tutu once said, "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." I find these words encouraging, and hope you do too. There are many opportunities with our ministry partners to do a little bit of good, and show a little mercy this month. Check out some of the highlights below.
Grace and Peace,
Renae
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Lenten Collection Drives
March 5 - April 9
Helping Hungry Families in our Traditional Service
Daily, more than 50 families rely on the Urban Ministries food pantry for a week's worth of groceries. This translates to 45,000 pounds of food each month. To help, our Traditional service is placing an emphasis on collecting food during Lent.
Here's the challenge: for every meal you and your family eat Monday-Saturday, place one non-perishable food item in a grocery bag.
Bring the full bag back to church with you on Sunday. Empty the contents in the food collection bins near the 1st floor or sanctuary entrances. Repeat the steps above each week during Lent. If you want to make a financial donation, $20 covers 100 pounds of healthy frozen food! Make checks out to ESUMC, and mark Food Drive.
Collecting Children's Socks & Underwear in The Gathering
The Gathering is partnering with Conn Elementary School, and they are in need of new socks and underwear for the school
clothing closet. Socks and underwear (all children's sizes - must be new), can be placed in the collection baskets in Kerr Hall, near the stage.
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A Place at the Table:
Pay What You Can Brunch
March 11, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., bu-ku Restaurant
A Place at the Table, seeks to create community around healthy food regardless of one's means, and part of this effort includes launching a Second Saturday brunch series.
Come dine with A Place at the Table and bu-ku, see old friends and make new ones, and pay-what-you-can for brunch.
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Build with Habitat
March 11
As part of a coalition of downtown churches, we have the opportunity to help families realize their dreams of being homeowners. Join our March build day, as we come alongside Al and Terry Young, and their four children. No special building skills required.
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Disaster Response Day Trips
March 17 & 31
In continuing efforts to respond to Hurricane Matthew damage,
we have a team of folks who partner with other United Methodist churches to work on homes impacted by the storm.
There will be day trips on March 17 and 31. To help,
email Suzanne
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Run or Walk to Fight Pediatric Brain Cancer
March 18, 8:00 a.m., Chick-fil-A at Falls Village, 6701 Falls of Neuse Rd.
Run, walk or volunteer at
Ella's Race
in memory of ESUMC member
Ella Newmiller
, who passed away from a brain tumor five years ago at 8 years old. Proceeds from this fun and inspiring event benefit The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and The Cure Starts Now, a foundation dedicated to finding the "homerun" cure for all cancers, starting first with one of the most deadly and difficult cancers: pediatric brain cancer.
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Learn about Peace & Justice in the Middle East
March 24 - 26, Raleigh, Chapel Hill & Durham
Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, co-founder, CEO and president of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, world-renowned champion for peace, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine and recipient of the 2015 Olof Palme peace prize, will speak about peace and justice in the Middle East. He will be at White Memorial Presbyterian on 3/24 (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.), at the Church of the Reconciliation in Chapel Hill on 3/25 (10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.), and at Duke University Chapel on 3/26 (11:00 a.m.) To RSVP for 3/24 or 3/25,
email Kathy Huffstetler.
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Church in the City
April 2, 9:45 - 10:45 a.m., Chapel/Chapel Annex
Join us for the fourth in a six part, bi-monthly series where we bring together local experts to learn about issues facing our city, and as Christians how we can respond. Mark your calendar!
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Take a ZOE Trip of Hope to Liberia
May 15 - 24
Want an opportunity to experience God's power at work in the lives of some of the most vulnerable children on earth?
If so, consider journeying to Liberia with
ZOE
, a ministry that empowers orphans to care for themselves and their siblings. While there, you'll meet our ESUMC
sponsored
orphan working group,"Friends Forever" (a name they picked), which consists of 25 orphan-led households, comprised of 77 children who are orphans. Come experience, and be
challenged by, the expressions of faith and discipleship evident in the lives of these young people.
To get a glimpse into the trip,
c
heck out this video
from a trip by the Woodlands UMC to visit their working group in Rwanda. If you want to join the May trip, email Renae to learn more.
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 Ongoing Opportunities
Looking for ongoing opportunities to serve this year? Here are a few ways to get involved on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis:
Loads of Love
Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., weekly teams provide one free wash & dry to people in need, serve weekly or monthly.
Email Dawn
Reading Buddies
Spend 30 minutes a week reading with a child at a local elementary school (during the school day).
Email Renae
Mentor with Neighbor to Neighbor
Work one-on-one helping a child with homework for an hour once a week.
Learn more.
Ruth Sheets Center
Spend time with older adults in ESUMC's adult day center. Choose a weekday, 2:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Email Matt.
Raleigh Rescue Mission
4th Monday, 6:45-7:45 p.m., serve with our devotion/worship team -
email John or spend time with children, giving their moms time to relax, rejoice and rejuvenate during worship -
email Tina.
Family Promise
Quarterly, we host families who are temporarily homeless - providing housing, meals and transportation to the Family Promise day center for a week at a time. There are lots of ways to be involved.
Email Ed.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Knit or crochet lap blankets for people who are sick or homebound.
Email Catherine.
Meals on Wheels
Deliver meals to people who are homebound. Mon. - Fri., daily, weekly or monthly opportunities.
Learn more
Missional Communities
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"E
verybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant."
The Drum Major Instinct, February 4, 1968 Atlanta Georgia
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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