The Parable of the River Children
One summer in the village, the people gathered for a picnic. As they shared food and conversation, someone noticed a child in the river, struggling and crying out for help. The child was going to drown!
Someone rushed to save the child. Then, they noticed another crying child in the river, and they pulled that child out. Soon, more children were seen drowning in the river, and the townspeople were pulling them out as fast as they could. It took great effort, and they began to organize their activities to save the children as they came down the river. As everyone else was busy in the rescue efforts, two townspeople started to run away along the shore.
"Where are you going?" shouted one of the rescuers. "We need you here to help us save these children!"
"We are going upstream," they shouted back, "to see why the children are falling into the river!"
Where do you see yourself in this story? Are you saving children who need immediate attention or are you rushing upriver to see the source of the problem? LAUMC offers opportunities for you to do both, and believes both are equally the work of the church.
- Bold Mission and Service Committee offers all kinds of opportunities for hands-on volunteering in the community and beyond, including mission trips.
- Outreach Council provides other ways to support organizations making a difference through donations, Buck-a-Month, collection events and allocation of a portion of the church budget to selected agencies. They address immediate, existing needs of those who are suffering — with compassion and sensitivity.
- Social Justice Ministry provides opportunities and resources to study root causes of human suffering in the community and around the world — including unjust systems. They try to identify changes needed and advocate for those changes, working toward long-term solutions. (Learn more)
blue = Family friendly event
green = Donation events
gray = All other events
Serve at LAUMC
March 9, 2012 — Change the World Dinner
2nd Sundays — Contribute to Buck-a-Month
4th Sundays — Bring Food for Food Drive
4th Sundays — Unload Food from Red Barrels into Redwood Room between services
Serve in the Community
Sign up now — Teach basic computer skills in English and Spanish
February 25, 2012 — Construction volunteers for Habitat for Humanity "All Faiths House" in Cupertino
March 10, 2012 — La Mesa Verde Installation Day
April 28, 2012 — Bicycle Exchange LAUMC Volunteer Day
October 27, 2012 — Rebuilding Together
Every Saturday — Hope's Corner Meals Program
Selected Saturdays — Repair bicycles at Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange
Donate items to local agencies
Day Worker Center of Mountain View
East Palo Alto Kids Foundation (EPAK)
EHC/Lifebuilders—Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Family Supportive Housing (San Jose Family Shelter)
Sacred Heart Community Services
Support Network for Battered Women
West Valley Community Services
Use Hands On Bay Area to find a place to volunteer
Use Bay Area Volunteer Information Center to find a place to volunteer
Serve Beyond the Bay Area
February 18–25, 2012 — San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona (Trip Blog)
June 23–30, 2012 — Living Water well drilling trip to Nicaragua
Serve For Long-Term Solutions: Study & Advocate
Everyone is always welcome at our Social Justice Ministry Team meetings on the first Mondays of each month at 7:00pm in the Library (across from the Youth Room).
If you have an item to add to the agenda, please send it to sjm@laumc.org.
For Social Justice E-news: please go to the NEW Social Justice Ministry Newsfeed
For links to comprehensive online resources on social and economic justice issues,
go to Social Justice Ministry Resources.
UPCOMING ACTIONS & EVENTS:
• Bread for the World releases 2012 Hunger Report, photos, video
JustFAITH Ministries information and videos — JustFAITH changes people....Those people change the world.
FOCUS ON: FAITH FOR FOOD JUSTICE
Here are two great organizations with resources for learning more and for joining others in advocacy:
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities where we live. — Facebook | Breadcast (podcast)
Join Just Food Silicon Valley to bring food justice for all people involved in the production, selling and consumption of food in Santa Clara County. Just Food Silicon Valley is coordinated by Working Partnerships USA and the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice.
ONGOING ACTIONS — NO SET DATE:
Bread for the World: Bread Blog — Call Congress Today and Protect Foreign Assistance for Hungry People
Drop the I-Word: Take the Pledge to eliminate the use of the word "illegal" as part of the conversation on immigration reform. From the United Methodist Church's General Commission on Religion and Race
Exercise your purchase power! Request and buy Fair Trade products — look for this logo.
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MORE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ACTIONS:
Action Center of the General Board of Church and Society which challenges United Methodists to work in areas of important social concern.
Action Alerts from the United Methodist Women's Organization (National) — Facebook on issues of women's health and equality, domestic violence, human trafficking, and others.
MORE CALLS FOR ACTION FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:
Action Alerts from California Council of Churches
Action Alerts from Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
RCRC ACTION CENTER from Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
What You Can Do to help end the genocide in Sudan
Other resources and links related to serving for long-term solutions (social justice ministry)
