Tubman University builds chairs with gifts from Community UCC

Posted on by Lisa Bell

During a Mission Moment earlier this year, Elizabeth Davis-Russell, on behalf of the Mission and Social Justice Team, made an appeal for funds to acquire classroom chairs for Tubman University, which is expanding its enrollment.

The congregation raised $1,030, which was sent to Tubman University. Instead of purchasing ready-made chairs, the university administration used its established Wood Technology program to have chairs made, thus expanding the number of chairs it could acquire. Below are pictures of the work being done, making 50 chairs.

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Four weeks of Advent projects

Posted on by Lisa Bell

Each year the Missions and Social Justice Team plans Advent projects for the four Sundays in Advent, beginning this year on Sunday, Dec. 2. The committee picks four organizations that will benefit, and the congregation can bring requested items for each week’s project.

Here are this year’s recipients:

  • Dec. 2 — Cash Donations or gift cards for teens in foster care through Uplift Family Services. Many younger children in foster care receive gifts from things similar to the snowflake tree, but there is usually an age limit and the teens get left out. For this Advent project, bring $10 gift card to anywhere a teen may want to shop — Jamba Juice, McDonald’s, Target, Walmart, Claire’s, stuff like that.
  • Dec. 9 — Snowflake tree to buy gifts for underprivileged elementary-aged children at Robinson Elementary, our neighborhood school. Students have been identified by their teachers. The tree will be up for people to pick a child’s name on Dec. 2, return gifts by the Dec. 9.
  • Dec. 16 — Collecting small gifts for senior residents of Twilight Haven retirement facility, like mittens, socks and scarves to help residents stay warm.
  • Dec. 23 — Cash donations to buy bus passes for residents of  Dakota EcoGarden, a transitional homeless shelter with an environmentally-friendly approach.

For more information, contact Felicia Rocha at flearocha82@gmail.com.

 

Fight hunger at the Crop Walk

Posted on by Lisa Bell

The 2018 CROP Hunger Walk will be on Sunday, October 21st in the Tower District, starting at BBO’s Vintage Boutique 1130 N Wishon Ave Fresno, CA   93728.

Registration begins at 1:30 pm and the walk begins at 2:30pm.  The event will raise money for Church World Service and the Central California Food Bank.

You can register walkers and make donations online by following this link: https://www. crophungerwalk.org/fresnoca.  Or you can get a walker’s envelope from Al Evans, or call him at 435-7439.

Boone Watkins will take part in the walk again, and we invite you to be one of his sponsors.

~ From the Missions and Social Justice Team

A message from Pastor Ara

Posted on by Lisa Bell

It has been my great joy to serve with others throughout the world during 34 years of pastoral ministry. I took my first trip to Armenia in 2003. I thought it would be my one trip, but here I am at trip No. 15.

This one is different: little work and a lot of celebration.

Usually, my group works on a house in the village of Lusaghbyur. We have finished 16 houses in a village destroyed by the earthquake of 1988. There were only four habitable structures remaining, out of 240+ after the ground stopped rolling.

My former congregation established a sister church relationship with a church in Gyumri. Over the years, we purchased chairs, refinished hardwood floors, equipped a computer lab, donated a projector, replaced lighting and purchased a piano.

We have started several businesses. We have purchased cars for pastors. We have encouraged several young people to go to college and pursue advanced degrees, in word and deed ($).

I have done weddings, baptisms, preached, celebrated communion. This trip I celebrate the fruit borne of over a decade of nurture.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, we dedicate a new sanctuary and community center in Gyumri. The following Sunday, we attend the wedding of a young woman we encouraged through college. I have known Anna since she was 8 years old. It will be a great party.

Finally, a bit of work, several Fresnans are sending the resources to buy a delivery van for Grand Hope, a ministry that takes donated goods from the capital to the border villages of Armenia.

Please pray for me and the 11 fellow travelers. See you on Sunday, Oct. 14, in worship at Robinson Park for our congregation’s second annual Blessing of the Animals (more details to come).