The Committee for Mission & Outreach will meet January 21, 2008 at 7 PM in the Fireside Room at the Community Church.
Holiday Candy Sales Paper or Plastic? Habitat for Humanity in Sebastopol
Book Drive for Local Needy Schools
Thanks to you, Habitat Pledge Fulfilled Recycle Inkjet & Laser Cartridges
Thank you for your support in 2007
Thanks go to all of you who participated in our Mitten & Hat Tree and Shoebox Ministry. We delivered more that 300 items from our tree – a variety of socks, gloves, scarves, slippers, hats and underwear and wrapped shoeboxes filled with much needed items. All the men's shoeboxes were delivered to the Homeless Service Center where they distribute them to the homeless shelters in Santa Rosa. The women's and child's shoeboxes were taken to The Living Room, a support center for homeless women and their children. The many hats, scarves, gloves, socks and donated clothing were shared between The Living Room and The Family Support Center. They were all very appreciative of what the members and friends of Community Church have done for them this Christmas season. Thank you for your continued support in our efforts to help those most in need.
Thanks also for the donations of warm blankets, jackets and sleeping bags. The Homeless Task Force distributed these items to the area shelters to help during this especially cold weather.
We have the dates for our Mission & Outreach 2008 New Orleans Work Group! We will be going June 15-21 and we need willing workers to come along. Applications will be available after the first of the year. Participants must be at least 16 years old by the time we go. Mark the dates on your new 2008 calendars and join us for an amazing experience.
A note from the Minister for Disaster Recovery: As of October 17, 2007, the South Central Conference Disaster Ministry has hosted 213 groups with 2,473 people. The groups have come from 36 states and 5 foreign countries to work in disaster relief. They have logged 62,059 hours of work valued at $1,117,062! What a great blessing to the people of New Orleans.
Two of those groups have been from our church! Here's your chance to make a difference in the lives of those in need and it will make a difference in your life as well!
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEE’S CANDY Sales
Due to the success of previous candy sales, Mission & Outreach will be selling See’s Candy again for Christmas. All proceeds will go to support the Community Church’s commitment to the local Habitat for Humanity building projects. On December 2 & 9 you will be able to purchase the one-pound assortment box, gift certificates and novelty boxes. Look for the candy sale tables after church on December 2 & 9 – you can purchase and pick up your candy all at the same time and help support Habitat for Humanity!
Habitat for Humanity, with help from local West County churches, raised enough funds to earn a matching $25,000 grant from the National Habitat organization. Our local Habitat is extremely grateful for the support of this community! Keep up with the Sebastopol build on line by visiting http://www.sonomacountyhabitat.org. You can help provide continued support by purchasing See’s Candy from Mission & Outreach after church on December 2 & 9.
A Word to the Wise from Mission & Outreach
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We cannot all equip our homes With brand new energy stars. For some, a hybrid can’t be bought With salaries like ours. |
And paper ones are not too good. They must be strong and so They’re made of mostly new paper – Recycled content’s low. |
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We cannot quit our jobs ‘cause We commute too many miles. And yet we know the earth is going Through many climate trials. |
And they don’t break down in the dump Cause that takes oxygen. And when they’re covered up with dirt It’s anaerobic then. |
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But hark! There is one little thing - A different grocery sack To make our carbon footprints shrink And put us right on track! |
And in the making of both kinds Pollutants must be used. And then our streams and air and earth Are sorrowfully abused. |
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We can supply ourselves with those Reusable bags we see In every store where we buy food So cheap they’re almost free! |
And both must travel many miles From where they’re made and then We’re back in carbon-laden land And using gas again! |
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Because if we use plastic ones Recycling has a catch. Plastic comes in several types - Their resins have to match! |
So when we’re at the check stand and They ask us whether either We want paper or plastic? Our answer can be “neither!” |
Janet Minton
Mission & Outreach
Book Drive To Benefit Local Schools
Bring your slightly used (in very good condition) or new children’s books and the Committee for Mission & Outreach will see that these books are placed in local schools that have a need for more books. Picture books, literature, story books, paperback or hardback – we can use them all, provided they are in good condition. Our target grades are preschool through 6th grade – just think what a book in the hands of a child can do! Need some suggestions? Call Mary McMillan at 823-2867. Please bring your books to church and look for the collection box in the church entry. Thank you for your help!
October 7 in the Courtyard
Thank you for your support of the International Craft Sale! $3,217.50 was sold and the entire amount returned to Ten Thousand Villages to continue support for Third World artisans. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to our big sale in November 2008!
The Sebastopol builds are up and running! Find out how you can work on site at www.sonomacountyhabitat.org. Volunteers are needed for the Faith Build and the Women’s Build, both on Johnson Street in Sebastopol.
Volunteers are invited to help build, assist in the office, work in the ReStore, serve on committees, and help with special projects that benefit the organization. Time commitments vary; some volunteers dedicate every day of the week and others spend just a few hours each month working on projects or in the ReStore. As a volunteer for Habitat, you can choose to volunteer as little or as often as you would like. All of these positions are a tremendous help that directly or indirectly result in the construction of simple, decent homes
Habitat for Humanity
The Family Resource Committee is looking for speakers for our Family Education Program. Habitat offers classes to new Habitat families as they transition into homeownership. Some suggested topics for classes include: yard care gardening/ landscaping, pet care and decorative painting and wall treatments. If you have expertise in one of these areas, or you have an idea and would like to teach a class, please call Darlene at the Habitat office (707) 578-7707 ext. 104.
Our classes are fun, informative, and a wonderful way to give to your community. This is an opportunity to share your experience with others. We hope you will join our team of mentor teachers.
Restore Needs a Home – Can you help???
Habitat For Humanity of Sonoma County operates a new and used building supply store to raise funds in support of our mission to provide affordable housing here in Sonoma County. We not only keep valuable materials from reaching the waste stream –we raise funds for our affiliate in the process and provide great deals to you, the buying public. Our current landlord has been very supportive but we need a bigger space and our lease is up in January 2008! Do you have warehouse space you can donate, or rent to us at a reduced rate for two years? If you think you might be able to help, please call (707) 578-7707 x110. The space ReStore is looking for must be zoned for retail purposes. It also requires these features:
§ Minimum 10,000 square feet of space
§ High ceilings - 12’ or higher would be great
§ Fenced and paved yard area of about 1,000 sq. ft. for outside storage
§ Concrete floors
§ Roll-up door/s
§ 220/110 volt, water and gas hook-ups (to test appliances)
§ Minimum 10 parking spaces for customers and staff
Please help support Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County and ReStore, in its mission to continue to provide safe, decent, affordable housing here in Sonoma County.
Community Church fulfills $5000 Pledge to Habitat!
Once again, the congregation of the Community Church has stepped up to the plate (or candy dish?) with tremendous support for the Mission & Outreach See’s candy sales to help fund our Habitat for Humanity pledge. The Easter candy was a sell out and we are pleased to announce that with your generous help, the Community Church of Sebastopol has fulfilled our Habitat for Humanity Faith House build pledge of $5000. The faith build Habitat project will begin this summer in Sebastopol and information will be available soon on how you can participate in the actual construction project
Recycle Ink Jet & Laser Cartridges
Recycle your inkjet and laser cartridges at church! Mission & Outreach is now collecting your empty cartridges to help support Habitat for Humanity and their local build in Sebastopol this summer. Bring your empty inkjet and laser cartridges to the church office and help Mission & Outreach recycle and raise funds at the same time! In just over one year we raised $900 for SOL just by collecting empty cartridges – let’s top that as we collect for the Sonoma County Habitat for Humanity.