Opportunities for Mission at the Ravena UCC

 

... let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.                                                                                                    - I John 3:18

 Caps for Kids- In response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic particularly devastating to the children of Africa, Janet Steeves, a member of the Blooming Grove, New York United Church of Christ started the Caps for Kids program. Here?s how it works: people with a talent for knitting make and donate knit caps which they may sell, or send to Janet to be sold, at $10. each with 100% of the proceeds sent directly to Church World Services (CWS) designated to buy medicines for children in Africa suffering from, or impacted by, the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
It takes the sale of 13 hats to supply medication to one person for a year. This program has expanded from a local church program to a multi-state program. If you would like to become involved in this program by knitting caps or helping to sell them, please contact the Congregational Christian Church, 175 Main St., Ravena, NY 12143. Office telephone: 756-2485 or E-Mail: pastor@ravenaucc.org.

Brown Bag-It- Our school system offers a free and reduced cost lunch program for families who are unable to afford the nutritious meal sold in the school cafeterias. This program helps the children get at least one nutritious meal during the school day. However, our church realized that this program was unavailable to families in need during school breaks. To meet that need, the Brown Bag-It program was formed. Brown lunch bags are filled with an unperishable entree, cheese and crackers, chips, cookies and a juice box. The bags are then distributed in various locations throughout the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District during school breaks.
This program has expanded to include most of the churches in the RCS Association of churches and supplies in excess of 1,000 nutritious lunches every year.  If you would like to become involved in this program by donating money or supplies, packing bags, or helping in distribution, please contact the Congregational Christian Church, 175 Main St., Ravena, NY 12143. Office telephone: 756-2485 or E-Mail: pastor@ravenaucc.org.

 Opportunities in the Wider Church 

United Church of Christ Action Center- UCC Take Action Center, where you can read up-to-the-minute alerts on national and state issues and voice your concern about important matters of justice and peace. This is your one-stop advocacy center for contacting federal and state officials, corporate executives, opinion makers, and media outlets. Don't delay -- Take action today!

Church World Service-  Founded in 1946, Church World Service is the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States. Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works worldwide to meet human needs and foster self-reliance for all whose way is hard.
Within the United States, Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring through participation in CROP WALKS, the TOOLS OF HOPE & BLANKET Program, and the "Gift of the Heart" Kit Program.