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| Mission Statement
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"Caring for One Another" |
".. and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving on
another, as God in Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32) |
It has been a joy to serve among such
faithful and giving communities of faith. San Juan and
Henderson truly live into Jesus' call to "feed my sheep" (John
21:17). Both churches are addressing and struggling with poverty.
San Juan, in a collaborative ministry with the Erie City Mission,
holds a five-day a week free lunch program which 50-70 people are
served each day. Henderson sponsors a food pantry that serves 50-70
families every two weeks. We offer monthly food boxes for
senior citizens and a six-week (4 days a week) summer program for
neighborhood children. |
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We are aware that many of the issues we encounter are
symptoms of a deeper, complex problem. Henderson and San Juan are
trying to offer hope. We are trying to create a sense of
community that will foster mutual care, respect, and worth for all
individuals. One of the five areas of focus for our Conference
is Ministering with the Poor. The key word is "with."
Members of Henderson and San Juan are the marginalized and
poor. We struggle with the same concerns as our neighbors;
some of us are stuck in the cultural limitations of poverty.
However, we have hope and joy through our faith in Jesus Christ.
We are passionate about learning what it means to be a disciple.
We want to share the hope and love we have found. The problem
is that we do not always have the resources to reach out effectively
in spreading the Gospel. Therefore, we need the support of the
larger community of believers who can work with us in ministry.
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We have connected with our sister
congregations through Erie United Methodist Collaborative Ministry.
Through this connection, we will be able to do bigger and better
ministry throughout the city. We are looking forward to a New Year's
Eve gathering of worship and fellowship. Early next year we will
join together as we raise money for camping scholarships. We also
connected with our brothers and sisters in Clarendon through worship
and fellowship, first in Clarendon and then in Erie. God is
working to tear down all that divides us! |
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This year has also had its moments of struggle. Both
congregations are feeling the tension between what we feel God is
calling us to do and the reality of dwindling financial and human
resources. Some of our leadership has experienced the loss of
a loved one, some have had significant health issues, while others
are challenged by family issues. In many ways members have
reached out to each other in concern, and I am awed by the love they
have for each other. I pray that we can continue to ".. and be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32) |
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I look forward to the coming year as we grow in our understanding of
God's grace and respond with renewed passion and energy. |
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| Blessings of Grace,
| Pastor Mary
| December 2016
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Henderson United Methodist Church © 2013 - 2017 |