Outreach Ministry
“Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear.” – Isaiah 58:7
At the First United Methodist Church, we give service priority and passion. Service is a central part of our as Christians and is always about meeting others' needs or helping others succeed both inside and outside of the church.
We leverage the inward strength of our congregation to focus both internally through congregational care as well as externally through outreach and mission work. We measure our success by the transforming effects we have on our community, locally and worldwide, through deeds of love.
Want to learn more? Our Outreach team meets at the church on the 2nd Monday of each month and is always looking for new faces! Contact Kim Bromm, Outreach team leader, with any questions or new ideas via email: brommfamily@gmail.com.
Upcoming Opportunities during the Christmas Season:
"The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35
Christmas Outreach shows caring and consistent love during this very special time of the year. The First United Methodist Church offers volunteers many ways to make Christmas a magical and faith-filled Holy Day.
Operation Christmas ChildChurch members pack shoe boxes with small toys and school supplies for impoverished children around the world to help spread the message of God’s love through shoe box gifts. This is a part of the Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse.
Salvation Army Giving Tree
Outreach members make tags to hang on the Giving Tree requesting gifts for 45 boys and girls, which are then distributed through the Salvation Army.
Interfaith Giving TreeTags provided by St. Luke’s Church are hung on our Giving Tree. The tags list specific gifts for children of needy families in the Westborough community.
Worcester State Hospital Adolescent UnitOutreach collects or purchases gifts for approximately 30 teenagers in the adolescent unit at Worcester State Hospital. Church members deliver the gifts and have a Christmas party. We also host a spring party and bring gifts like flip-flops.
Year-round ministries:
Interfaith Hospitality Network
FUMC volunteers provide meals, fellowship and hospitality at the IHN location on June Street in Worcester for 1 week each year in the spring and one week in the fall for 5 families who are temporarily homeless. Our next week to host IHN is during the week of March 27, 2016.
Dismas House
Dismas House is a supportive community that provides transitional housing and services to former prisoners with minor convictions. FUMC team members cook and serve dinner the 4th Monday of every month.
Westborough Food Pantry
Non-perishable food and personal items are collected then delivered to the Westborough Food Pantry. A collection box is located in the lobby of the church.
FIT (Families in Transition)
Our church has provided hope and outreach to several families living in temporary housing in a nearby hotel. We provide rides to the sotre, clothing donations and several fun events throughout the year.
Fundraisers
Members of the church participate in fundraisers for charities: Walks (e.g. CROP Walk), runs (e.g. Relay for Life), bike rides (e.g. Ride for a Reason), etc. Contact the church office if you are interested in connecting with others to participate
Financial Contributions
Monetary support is provided to the following groups: ASP, IHN, Dismas House, Assabet Valley Pastoral Counseling Center, Cooper Center, Abby’s House, Worcester Fellowship, Project Have Hope, and others as needed.
Africa Missions
A group of volunteers travels on a missions trip to Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo in mid-February each year. We welcome your support and ask for your prayers, and pray that this trip might serve to deepen our church’s relationships with our African brothers and sisters.
Pastor Lwabimba’s School in the Congo
Amazing things are happening in Miti! Construction has begun on a new wood and tin-roofed school building for children from Kindergarten through 6th Grade. The school has grown to over 100 children, with many more waiting for a chance to attend. The community has cleared and planted 2 large gardens to help feed the children, all of whom are either orphans or from extremely poor families.
Idjwi Island/Medical Fund
There are many people on Idjwi Island in the Congo who desperately need the medical care that can be provided by Kibogora Methodist Hospital right across the border in Rwanda. But they do not have medical insurance and are unable to afford the small fee charged by the hospital for treatment. Many of them also cannot afford the canoe ride from Idjwi to Kibogora to seek treatment.
Feminine Hygiene Kits
A developing nation cannot develop if half of its population is falling behind. Older girls without proper feminine hygiene miss approximately one week of school each month. Many girls end up dropping out of school altogether since it is so difficult to be constantly trying to catch up to the rest of the class.
Musanze School for the Deaf
For many years, hearing-impaired children were largely rejected by society. Thanks to the efforts of this grassroots school, many of these kids have been able to pursue their studies, learn sign language, and even be integrated into local public schools. Our church has supported this school since 2012, first with the construction of sanitary bathroom facilities for the children, and then later with the establishment of a self-sustaining food program.
Sewing for Hope
This team sews dresses for orphans victims of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. An organization called Tumaini, which means hope in Swahili, was founded 10 years ago to try to improve the conditions under which these orphans struggle. Under the Tumaini umbrella, "Project for Hope" was started in 2009 in Naples, FL, and then in other locations. These efforts came to Westborough and the First United Methodist Church during the fall of 2012 when area women began meeting in Webb Hall the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Other sewers work in their homes or meet in groups to reach out to these children.
Project Have Hope
Since 2011, the First United Methodist Church started sponsoring two youths from an impoverished area of Uganda so they can attend school. The Church Youth Group picked Taban Isaac and Atim Shillah as the sponsored youths. At least twice a year, the youth group writes letters to them.