WEDNESDAY WORDS

FROM METRO MINISTRIES, INC.

June 1,  2022

STRIVE Worldwide's Community Impact Academy

STRIVE Worldwide has discovered a way to bridge communities of young people that would not likely engage with one another otherwise. What started as a concept for a fall break/spring break eco-camp for a single school's middle schoolers has turned into an ongoing inter-community learning and impacting program.

Megan Sharp of STRIVE Worldwide wanted to instill awareness and care for the environment in young people and had been brainstorming with board members and others on how best to start something. After the pandemic cancelled the possibility of fall break eco-camp in Indianapolis, Megan made a connection with a middle school educator in Danville, Indiana and another from Center for Inquiry School 27 in Indianapolis. Together, they envisioned an inter-connected learning experience between these two schools and with a school in Haiti that Megan had already been working with.  This initiative would be directly connected with the individual schools and would ideally become a part of the curriculum eventually. This vision has resulted in the Community Impact Academy.

The first cohort of the Community Impact Academy began this spring semester and had groups of students from these three different middle schools each deciding on an an ecological project, working on their projects independently and gathering together virtually on a regular basis to share about what they were working on and to learn about one another's culture. The Danville and Indianapolis students worked on pronouncing and writing their names in Haitian Creole, and the kids from Haiti worked on learning some English words and phrases.

The students at the National School of Plaine de L'Arbre are planning to complete their Community Impact Academy project at the beginning of school term in August where they will be planting fruit trees on the school grounds and repairing the walls around the school to help protect the trees from wandering goats!

Students from CIS School 27 learned about plastic pollution in our waterways and hosted a river cleanup project in April along the banks of the White River. Students from Danville Middle School hosted a a field trip in May for over 200 third graders as the children visited gardens the middle schoolers had cared for, learning about the importance of native species and ecosystems.

With the existing connections made and more collaboration in the works, Community Impact Academy will bring more students together this fall, to engage with each other, across counties and across nations. Metro Ministries is proud to have walked alongside STRIVE Worldwide this year, and we look forward to what lies ahead for the Community Impact Academy!

Prayers for Lucille Raines Residence

Our prayers are with the residents and staff of Lucille Raines Residence after a fire took the life of Sara, one of the residents on Sunday. Prayers for comfort and healing for all, and prayers for hope in a new day.

Donations to Lucille Raines Residence in memory of Sara may be made on the their website https://lucillerainesresidence.org/support/, or may be mailed directly to Lucille Raines Residence, 947 N. Pennsylvania, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

_{Annual Conference Is Next Week!}

This year's Annual Conference is almost here! The Conference will be held June 9 through June 11 in person at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.

This year, attendees will be able to pick up the first name of one of our Afghan or Ukraine neighbors so that individuals and churches  may be in prayer for them specifically. Connect with Diversity, Missions, and Justice, Exodus Refugee Immigration, and churches who are co-sponsors to learn how to continue to be supportive of our new neighbors. 

Churches have been asked to collect a financial offering for the resettlement organizations. Offering will be collected during worship. Electronic donations during Annual Conference Sessions may also be made in one of these ways:

• Text the word “neighbors” and the amount of your donation to 855-389-1555.
• Online through Securegive at https://app.securegive.com/INUMC/-missional-offering/donate/category.

Metro Ministries, Inc. will have a booth this year! If you are there in person, please stop by and say Hello!

UMCOR School Kit Collections

Metro Ministries will collect assembled school kits through this Sunday, June 5. Please contact Tina McAninch at 317-452-4786 or metrodirector1923@gmail.com to schedule delivery or pickup.

If you are attending the Annual Conference, the kits can be delivered to the Laity Booth at the Conference.

The school kit contents are listed HERE.

On Saturday, June 25, 2022, the Central District is hosting a District ON MISSION Work Day at Scott UMC. This work day is to assist one of the district's historically black United Methodist congregations to "spruce up the place".

There will be all types of jobs for the young, the young and heart, and everyone in between. Some jobs will require specific tools or supplies, such as hardware to repair kitchen drawers and a stripper and wax for stripping and waxing the floors. If you have such supplies, YOU ARE NEEDED! Click HERE for a list of projects to be completed.

If you, your youth group or missions group would like to be a part of the day, please contact the Central District at central.district@inumc.org for more detailed information. 

The Work Day will be 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on June 25th, and the church is located at 2153 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Let us join in service to assist our brothers and sisters at Scott UMC!

Volunteer at Fletcher Place Community Center's Garden Project

Fletcher Place Community Center's Garden Project is in full swing, especially after the sunshine and rain we have had these past several days. Every Saturday morning, weather permitting, volunteers gather between 9am and noon at 1637 Prospect Street on the southeast side of Indianapolis, to help with weeding and planting, and in a few weeks, harvesting and distributing early crops, such as broccoli and cabbage, from the bodega to folks in the neighborhood.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Beth Opell at beth.opell@gmail.com. Volunteers are welcome any Saturday and can stay as long or as little as able. Volunteers should plan to take water, sunscreen, hats, etc. In case of cancellation due to rain, Beth notifies volunteers via email on Friday evenings.

Contact Beth to be added to the weekly email notifications! Note that getting on the email list does not commit you to volunteering every week, it just keeps you in the communication loop. Won't you consider helping out one or more Saturdays during this garden season?

Here are several upcoming events and activities throughout Central Indiana:

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June 5: Night of 1,000 Comics at Epworth UMC

25% of all funds will go to Society of St. Andrew!

Purchase tickets HERE.

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June 6 at 7:00 pm: Worship Concert at Franklin Grace UMC

Grace UMC is hosting the Youth Choir and Ringers from Church of the Savior UMC in Cincinnati, OH. This is the nineteenth summer tour for the singers and ringers Alive worship concert.  This is a free event open to the community.

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June 10: Greenfield Strawberry Festival Hosted by Bradley UMC

The 38th Annual Strawberry Festival will be Friday, June 10, open 11 am - 7 pm. Pre-sale tickets are $6.00, $7.00 at the door. Tickets are available at Bradley UMC and several Greenfield businesses. Proceeds will go to support many Hancock County organizations.

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June 11: Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Community Baby Shower for Dads-To-Be

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June 23 & 24: UMW of Rosedale Hills UMC Rummage Sale

8am - 4pm each day

Did you miss the latest newsletter from Metro Ministries? Is there a specific article you are looking for? You can access past issues at www.indymetroumc.org/communications!