Ministries
What Jesus calls us to do...
Why we serve...
Members of the Outreach Commission at United find great joy in our Outreach efforts, because it is through this work that we can be "Christ to the world" by spreading His love locally and internationally."Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers! Luke 9:16-17
What we pray for...
Committee members also share a great burden - the responsibility of discerning how best to be good stewards of the gifts and resources which God has entrusted to us. We welcome your prayer support."While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people putting their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies. "I assure you," he said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has." Luke 21:1-4
How we answer that call...
- Foreign Missions (We currently support mission in Hungary and China)
- Denominational Giving (We support the Reformed Church in America)
- Emergency Relief (most recently, aid for US tornado and flood victims)
- Support of Local Social Service Agencies (women's shelter, SHIP, and other local organizations)
- One Great Hour of Sharing (coordinated with the Sunday School) - supports Church World Service to help to help alleviate suffering and want worldwide by providing food, clothing, shelter, medical assistance and education. Watch for our calendar just before Lent.
- Crop Walk (hunger relief - join us in Somerville in October as we walk to fight hunger.)
- Christmas Fund
- Christmas Angel Tree (members of the congregation take a tag from the Angel Tree and purchase the gift specified on the tag. Recent donations have included winter hats, gloves and scarves for senior citizens at the Bessie Green Community Center in Newark and gift certificates for food and shoes were donated for people in our community who are served by SHIP.)
- Blanket Sunday (a Church World Service effort to supply blankets)
- Special events such as "Souper Bowl for hunger relief. During morning worship on a "Super Bowl Sunday" when we passed our biggest crowd-sized pot. This is our special offering.