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Jr High Mission to Camp Lookout 2010

Brad — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:54:58 +0000

We are having a grand time at Camp Lookout so far this week. We arrived on Monday, breaking into work & bible study teams then did initiative games helping everyone get to know each other. Capped the night off with worship music by Purrington.

First day of work had our group feeding the homeless, sorting and setting up food boxes for families, working with the widows harvest ministry mowing & trimming lawns, and a number of projects around the camp property. In the afternoon folks got involved in various activities around camp. We had a number of our team caving & on the high ropes. Others were at crafts, paddling, and climbing wall. We ended the evening with worship & bible study and then off to bed for a next day.

We are uploading what photos we can and adding them to our flickr photo set. If you don’t see a picture you are looking for, it will be up eventually. &:~)

Flood Relief – May 14th

Beth — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:08:49 +0000

Dear HFUMC Family,

We have been working diligently over the last 10 days to coordinate with the many faith based organizations providing relief efforts in our Hendersonville and surrounding areas. We have been present in planning with the Church of Christ, Long Hollow & First Baptist Churches, United Way, Presbyterian Church, and a number of fellow UM churches formulating our overall district UMCOR response (http://www.umcor.org).

Part of our long term mission in recovery is to come along side of existing structures of relief effort and fill in the gaps.

Currently we have three basic areas of need:

1. All volunteers who wish to do the hard labor of cleaning and mucking out homes will work through Long Hollow and First Baptist Churches. They have been conducting ongoing assessments and have a number of targeted areas in need of help. If individuals or teams wish to help in this way, Long Hollow Baptist Church and First Baptist Church will deploy groups at 8 am this Saturday and additionally on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, in the coming week. Due to the potential toxic nature of flood waters, it is discouraged to have any volunteer in homes or dealing with flooded areas under the age of 16.

We will have our own UMCOR recovery in place to ‘fill in the gaps’ starting next week
UMCOR has distributed 2,800 buckets so far and have now replenished our supply with at least 1,500 on hand. Jason Brock, TN Conference UM Relief Coordinator, urges us to please stay safe and look for future updates by email listserv and at http://tnumcrelief.blogspot.com/

2. Feeding the volunteers is an enormous undertaking and where HFUMC will serve along with some of the other churches. Starting this Saturday, we will put together lunches for volunteers working in homes through our volunteer deployment areas. Please contact merrilee.wineinger@hfumc.org, so she can anticipate your presence. We have these current needs:

15-25 Volunteers at 9 a.m. Saturday, May15 at HFUMC to help make lunches in assembly line manner.
35-45 Driving Individuals or Families at 11-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 15, to help deliver lunches to work sites and teams.
This can be an excellent avenue to get involved, if family or physical limitations prevent service in labor details. Infrastructure support is appreciated and vital to the relief efforts.
We hope to provide lunches, as needed, through the week; flexibility will be important as the demand is fluid and dependent on changing needs.

3. Assessments are the tools used to determine immediate and long term recovery assistance. There is a need for people willing to go out into the community and conduct assessments of property damage.

If interested in learning how to conduct an assessment, please plan to attend an orientation and training session at 4:45 p.m., conducted by Paul Gardner, this Sunday, May 16 in the HFUMC sanctuary. This training will follow the Pre-Annual Conference Meeting for our Cumberland District.

There are other organizations working in relief efforts and we wish to be in contact with them. If you know of other contact persons please direct them to us so that we may coordinate with them.

Our UMCOR response will be as an umbrella to what is happening here in Hendersonville as well as surrounding areas. We will strive to make sure our neighbors from Madison, Old Hickory, Goodlettsville, Mt. Juliet, Hermitage, Lebanon, Trousdale County, Cheatham County, and our own Sumner County are taken care of. We see this as partnership walking alongside those organizing the short term relief efforts and keeping with affected families for the long term recovery. We anticipate hosting work groups and getting involved beyond our Hendersonville borders. We are currently developing a web presence that will be a portal to pertinent information and updates to our district recovery efforts. We hope to have that available by the end of the weekend.

We hope this letter gives you some good information to work with, as we know many of you are eager get involved this weekend and in the future. Monetary donations to UMCOR, Local Missions, In Christ’s Way, and Joseph’s Hands are tax deductable and appreciated.

Sincerely

Flood Relief – May 8th

Beth — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:46:36 +0000

Hey Everyone! i’ve been getting inundated with calls and txt messages as to how to plug in. If you are wanting to work, send me a txt and what times you are available. I’ll try and plug in where i hear something. Also, if you hear of an area or a home that is in need of help give me a call.

#4972823

Needs as I know of Now:

Hendersonville…

In Hendersonville You can always go to Southburn road back in the Wessington area. It’s easy to plug in there. Park on one of the access roads to Southburn, or one of the circles on the road. Then go to one of the food tents. Ask them where folks need help. Many houses are gutted of materials, but many still need help pulling boards and drywall. So come prepared with gloves, goggle/glasses & masks. If you don’t have something like that there is probably stuff provided at the food tents. There are also other roads in that area that were affected Chippendale is very similar in need as I understand.

Don’t head over to the Parks unless you have been requested to at this time. They are not prepared to handle masses of people. Wait until next Saturday for that.

Caldwell area is open up as of yesterday since the waters receded. I don’t know all the situation there, so I would say be very understanding and cautious if you head over there. I imagine that the folks over there are being inundated with people and spectators & might feel overwhelmed. If someone knows more about that area let me know so I can direct more folks to or keep people away.

Old Hickory…

the neighbor hood is asking for as many volunteers as possible to meet at the community center in Old Hickory at 8am to head into the Waterford Subdivision. Boyter & I drove into there yesterday after it opened up. There is a lot of activity there, but also a ton of homes needing attention. It is going to be hard work down there. Bring tools and be ready to work.

one of my neighbors is in need of cleaning out her basement. they had some 4 feet of water and her husband works for the news station and hasn’t been home enough to get into there. they also need their back yard mowed as its producing mosquito activity holding onto water. Dennis & Tristan Greeno got over there today, but for odd reasons were not able to get everything they wanted to get done.

Hospitality…

You may not be able to do the hard work kinda things. Totally cool! you can help out providing drinks, snacks or food. I’m promoting a Popcicle break at 2pm. Grab a bunch of boxes of popcicles, put them in a cooler and then go offer them to workers & families. It’s hot out there and that is a cool break and time to talk to families.

Got a cooler on wheels? just fill it up with something + ice and then drive around looking for workers in town. Hand out what you have or take orders (that can get expensive and generally people don’t care what it is if its cold and free).

Can’t Help ALL Saturday..

It doesn’t need to be your whole day. If you can come in jump into helping a few people or distributing food for an hour or two then that is a big help. this will be a long process so don’t feel like you have to work from sun up till sun down. any help is appreciated but coming back to places over and over again doing a few things gives people a whole lot more comfort than just slamming yourself for one day and sleeping for the next four.

get creative if you have a complicated schedule. recruit people who can help with you.. if you still feel overwhelmed in helping then give me a call.

that’s it for me, for now.
shalom
-gavin

ps: if you are in the old hickory area, you can come help me in my basement and other parts of the house neglected as i’ve been out and about tending to other more tragic situations

Firewood for the Homeless

Beth — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:03:30 +0000

Firewood for the Homeless Mission

This coming Friday, April 16th, the youth ministries of the church is looking for your excess Firewood, to collect and donate to the Homeless folks at “Tent City.”

There are a few hundred homeless people living in make shift tents and homes underneath the bridges and in the woods around downtown Nashville in what the city considers “emergency temporary housing.” The most established and highest populated of these areas is called “tent city.” In working with some of the other churches and agencies that work with these communities one of the expressed needs they’ve asked for is firewood. They do not have electricity or gas set ups to cook food any other way than on an open flame, as well it is a source of heat when it gets cooler at night. Firewood is seen as an ongoing need for these homeless populations.

If you have a pile of firewood or brush wood that is around your property and you would like to put it to use with some people who could really use it. Email me (Gavin) at gavin.richardson(at)hfumc.org with your address & location of firewood donation on your property, plus any special instructions. If you know of construction sites that have scrap, untreated, lumber that can be donated as well. We will be driving around this Friday and collecting as much as possible and delivering it to Tent City later in the afternoon.

Shalom,
-gavin

2010 Junior High Missions Experience

Beth — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:00:41 +0000

LOOKOUT!!

In our fifth year of the Jr. High Mission Experience we will again work through the mininstry of Camp Lookout. Camp Lookout is based on Lookout Mountain and is part of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church camping program. We will participate in their Junior High Service Camp which is a mix of service work to the camp, service to the homeless, helping the community churches, aiding the widows in the community, and all the fun that can happen at camp (swimming, creek stomping, caving, etc).

Junior High Missions experience is open this year to graduated 6th graders thru graduated 8th graders (the 6th grade grads is a new addition).

When: June 7th – 11th. We will leave the church parking lot approximately at 6:00am on Monday the 7th and return around 2:00pm on Friday the 11th.

Where: Camp Lookout, which is on top of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga area, but its actually in Rising Fawn, GA as addresses go

Cost: $200 dollars which includes your meals and activities while at camp. You will need to bring some money for food on the road & some camp memorabilia. Selling Missions Stock is available after Easter to help offset the cost of the mission & encouraging others to get involved in your missions experience.

Limit: We will limited on our group size depending on the Adult Leadership available. We hope to take a missions team of 24, with 6 – 8 adult or young adult leaders. Because of the work related projects at the camp, not all our leaders have to be driving adults, but we do need a good number to get down there. If you are interested & have questions related to committing to the missions team, give Gavin a call or email.

Deadline: April 18th – Deposit $75 & Paperwork (Camp Lookout Registration Form 2010 & CAMPER HEALTH FORM 2010)

Note: Taking a Missions Stock Packet, available Sunday after Easter, will be considered a sign of committing to the missions team.

More Info: Camp Lookout Parents Guide 2010 Service Week

Photos from

Any future questions about the Jr. High Mission Experience, feel free to call or email Gavin

Week for the Homeless

Beth — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:14:05 +0000

During many of ya’lls second week of Spring Break we are going to try something that has been leaning on my heart for a number of years. That is beginning to get to know and help the homeless population in and around our city. We are still working out our details as destinations for each day, but here’s the basic set up.

Wednesday – Friday April 14- 16th We will be helping out some of the local missions and homeless first hand through some of our church agencies and friends.

Saturday Morning April 17th, I am encouraging families to sign up and participate in “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” to help raise awareness, some money, and to meet many of those who are homeless in our community (and see of the folks we met days prior).

Saturday Evening April 17th, I am encouraging families to pilgrimage all the way to Franklin 1st UMC (EastSanctuary at 6pm) to hear Shane Claiborne speak about Kingdom work he’s been a part of as peacekeeper in Iraq, serving those in need alongside Mother Theresa, and his work with his friends as part of The Simple Way.

It is sure to open the eyes of what is out there, spark the imagination of what is possible, and change yours & my families lives forever if you allow it.

shalom, -gavin

Room in the Inn Super Bowl Party

Beth — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:13:12 +0000

We traditionally throw a bit of a Super Bowl party for our Room at the Inn guests. Terri Donaldson is helping to coordinate Here is our Current List of Needs

Updated: Jan 28th 4pm

Set Up Cots
1. Jennifer Elder
2. ___________________

Prepare meal, serve & clean up (5:00- aprox. 7:30)
1. Parker Smythe
2. Austin Chariton
3. Russell Vannozzi
4. Aaron Longe
5. ______________
6. ______________

Innkeepers (7:45 p.m.-5:00 a.m.) ADULTS
1.______________
2.______________

Breakfast & Clean-up (4:30-aprox. 6:30 a.m.)
1. Clayton
2.______________

Sandwich meat (24 sandwiches)
1.______________

Bread (to make 24 sandwiches)
1.______________

Apples/Fruit (12)
1. David McCoy

Chips (12 individual bags)
1. Aaron Longe

Milk (one-half gallon)
1. Hurdle

Orange Juice (one gallon)
1. Aaron Longe

Eggs (3 dozen)
1.______________

Sausage Biscuits (24 total)
1.______________

Browned Ground Beef- 1 lb. (for sloppy joes)
1.______________
2.______________
3.______________
4.______________
5.______________

Manwich Sloppy Joe Mix (1 can)
1.______________
2.______________
3.______________
4.______________
5.______________

Chips
1. Sarah Gullha
2. Erin Lusk
3.______________

Baked Beans
1. Donaldson

Hamburger Buns (8 count)
1. Savannah Hall
2.______________
3.______________

Desserts (12 servings)
1. Savannah Hall
2.______________
3.______________

Soft Drinks (three 2-Liter bottles)
1. Sydney Incoraia
2.______________

Pickles- Dill chips (one jar)
1. Savannah Hall
2.______________

*If you are bringing food, try to bring by Sunday morning if possible.

**Have items in kitchen no later than 4pm

***We are always in need of fellas to stay the night and people to help with the morning breakfasts. This cannot be handled by youth alone, so don’t be shy parents. &:~D

Haiti Relief Efforts

Beth — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:25:19 +0000

Many of you are like me & seeing the devastation that people are pulling themselves out of after the earthquake that hit Haiti this week. As with anything of such catastrophic size, you & I cannot do a whole lot to make some massive impact, the enormacy of the problems are too much. But, we can not do nothing. And, if we respond how Christ compels us to give, pray, and love then what we do do will be compounded by others in our faith community & That will make a massive impact.

Here is what I suggest we do to help Haiti:

Give to two entities:
- United Methodist Committee on Relief is already on the ground and was on the ground in Haiti when the earthquake hit. (Executives of UMCOR were actually rescued from the rubble of a major hotel just last night). 100% of your giving goes into the efforts in Haiti. Your money doesn’t cover administration etc because that is already taken care of with everyones regular giving to the church. Donate to UMCOR’s Haiti Advance
- Want something a bit more personal? Give to Bahamas Methodist Habitat, they are using their pilot network and island locale to ship in relief supplies as well as pull displaced persons out of the country. Many of you met Abraham & the other BHM staff this summer, they are the ones coordinating those efforts. Donate to Bahamas Methodist Habitat relief efforts
Bring Items to Coffee House & Drive Groups on Sunday:
- UMCOR is in need of “kits” for distribution through the Haiti population. I will have some buckets for the “cleaning buckets” on Sunday on the media bar and 1 gallon zip lock bags for “health kits.” Bring supplies to fill those Sunday morning & evening. Download the Cleaning Bucket List : Download the Health Kit List
- If you wish to contribute a Bedding Pack, feel free to do so. Download Bedding Pack List
- Drive Groups can organize to go purchase needs & pack a bucket or health kits.
- We will take them to the Conference Office for shipment to the UMCOR distribution center in Louisiana.

Abraham has started a twitter account to do updates. Follow BMHUpdate

Saunders family Christmas

Beth — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:36:19 +0000

David wrote me an email highlighting some of the things that the Saunders clan does over Christmas to help live into meaning of the year a little differently than many of our traditions.

You can bring this up at youth, but something that my extended family has been doing lately is instead of getting a huge gift for each other, they each donate what they want/can to their favorite charity and then talk about that on Christmas day, as well as still exchanging small gifts like books/cds.

You could encourage the kids to have a donation made in their name (even if it’s not the only “gift” they receive). I am donating money to pay for 2 biosand filters for Bloodwater Mission (as well as asking for another one on to be donated on top of that instead of receiving a gift) to send to Africa and provide clean water for two families for up to 20 years. You can find little ways to cut back on consumerism in your Christmas, even if it doesn’t eliminate it.

-David

theCorner : 12/15 : 5 Minutes of Subverting Christmas

Beth — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:04:36 +0000

Greetings All!

School is wrapping up and the family parties and plans are happening. In the midst of all this chaos remember to take time to Not treat Christmas as Your Birthday.

Here’s some things to help with that:

Advent Conspiracy: What if Christmas became a world-changing event again? Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All
Last Minute Toy Store: We are looking for friends to minister this Friday through the Last Minute Toy Store at 61st Avenue United Methodist Church. It’s a tradition we’ve had for a number of years. If you cannot give time, we are also collecting “teen” gifts, which are generally in short supply. More Details Here
Leave a Message for West Africa this Christmas!
Warmth in Winter 2010: This year is unlike any other. Get ready to Go the Distance with 2k+ fellow youth from all over middle TN and even Georgia. I need everyone who is planning on going to fill out a registration form ASAP. If you can’t get your money in by then, no worries, I just need to know you are going this early in the game. Sorry for the slam, but I’d like to make some of the early registration deadlines. visit website for more details
Eikon: On Hiatus till Next Year, Jan 2010
NWG Choir: Rehearsal this week at 4pm, Singing at 7pm Christmas Eve Service
Drive Group: Training Tip for this edition
Christmas Party Scavenger Hunt: our Annual Scavenger Hunt Christmas party is Dec. 20th. Usual start time applies, but plan to be later in the evening pick up. We are still in need of Drivers, Lots of Drivers to meet our Safe Sanct Requirements
This month’s Youth Leader Spotlight
What Is Your Spiritual Type?
More Fun Links!
Have you downloaded & filled out our yearly Health & Permission release form? Please do that.

shalom

-gavin