The purpose of United Methodist Women is to know God and Jesus Christ, to fellowship, and to support missions. The group is divided into 4 Circles which meet monthly, as well as with the entire group together, for interesting programs and projects.
The Prayer Chain is able to quickly facilitate many people to pray for the concerns of anyone who needs and desires prayers. Requests are held in strictest confidence. To request prayer, call the office at 561-4220.
MISSIONS
In cooperation with seven other Cincinnati churches, we help provide affordable housing for qualified needy families. Together with the families, we help construct the houses, paint, and landscape, provide meals during construction, and raise funds to cover expenses.
This year, Armstrong Chapel is going to align our Habitat efforts with our strategic Missions focus in Madisonville. We are partnering with Redeemer Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, and several other local churches, to build a house for a deserving family in Madisonville. The work will begin very soon so we are asking you to give some thought and prayer to being a part of the team.
There is a wide variety of jobs/roles, so we are seeking volunteers of any skill level (i.e., you do not have to be experienced in construction). For those of you who enjoy construction-related work, this is a great opportunity to learn new skills/techniques from more experienced “pros”. For those w/little experience or physical limitations, there are still a lot of ways to help on the construction site (e.g., painting, cleaning, landscaping, materials prep, etc.). Beyond construction work, there are a lot of other important non-physical/construction roles to play:
• Someone to coordinate Saturday lunches for 20 workers
• Someone to meet/greet workers on Saturday morning and give the opening devotional
• Someone to periodically take photos and provide email/bulletin updates to Armstrong
• Someone to help manage weekly volunteer turnout
Our plan is to have participants from all churches every Saturday (May-October), so we will need a consistent flow of volunteers (5-15 people each Saturday). We encourage people to participate as individuals, as families, and as groups:
- youth who need volunteer/service hours for school (minimum age is 15)
- adult Sunday School classes to come as a class
- adult Small Groups to come as a group
What will you gain from helping on this project?
- build stronger relationships with others in Armstrong, or with your family members
- build new relationships with workers from other churches and members of the Madisonville community
- know the satisfaction that you helped a deserving family achieve the “American Dream” of owning their own home
To offer your services or to get more information, please contact Geoff Smith at geoff.smith@fuse.net or 272-6995. Or contact the church office for details on upcoming work days.
WHIZ KIDS TUTORING
If you would like to make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged child, please consider being a Whiz Kids tutor in the fall. As a tutor, you will work once a week with a child from Madisonville on reading, writing and math. Training is provided along with all of the materials you will need. Last year over 35 people from Armstrong were tutors. Whiz Kids tutoring is a great opportunity to really change a young person's life. It gives us a chance to work one on one with a child and show him/her genuine Christian love. For more information, please contact Steve Martin through the church office.
INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (IHN)
IHN is a servant ministry providing shelter, meals, hospitality, and support to homeless families as they transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Armstrong Chapel hosts families at our facility one week each quarter. During this week volunteers provide meals, serve and clean up for meals, and spend the night in the building to help families as needed during their stay. Contact Wendy in the church office to volunteer. For more information on IHN visit their website: http://www.ihncincinnati.org/
Host Weeks remaining in 2008: June 15, August 3, September 28
INTERPARISH MINISTRIES
Armstrong is one of several churches supporting this agency that helps people overcome poverty through emergency assistance, a food pantry, disaster relief, educational and medical programs and more. Particularly the first Sunday of the month, bring food to church for the IPM pantry. Contributions of food are welcome at any time and can be dropped off at the Jefferson Center office lobby. Please mark your donation "IPM".
NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS NEEDED…for InterParish Ministry’s Food Pantry. Partner with IPM in the 10th Feinstein Foundation Challenge – it’s a $1 Million Giveaway to Fight Hunger! The more you give to IPM in April, the more the Feinstein Challenge will add to your donations. In addition to money donated, food items donated in response to the challenge will be valued at $1.00 per item and included in IPM’s totals. Alan Feinstein believes: “All that will matter to us someday is what we did while we were here to help those who needed us.” IPM served nearly 6000 people in their Food Pantry in 2007 and many more are in need. Your generous support will help us fight hunger in our community.
NAST TRINITY DINNER
Armstrong Chapel works with Nast Trinity UMC to prepare and serve a Thanksgiving feast for the homeless in Cincinnati’s inner city. Contact the church office in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving to sign up.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
This project typically takes place each October. Through this project, you and your family have the opportunity to reach out to needy children ages 2-14 in desperate situations around the world. A list of recommended items is provided including such things as small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, small hard candy, flashlights etc. Items are packed in a shoe box along with money to help cover postage and arranged for delivery. Contact the church office for details.
Picture taken at the renovated Madisonville Police Substation dedication in August 2007. Armstrong participated in this project to establish a stronger police presence in the area that will ultimately reduce crime.
Other groups form periodically. Please contact the church office if you have any questions or are interested in forming a new group.