Missions Sunday at Danville UMC

This past Sunday, Danville UMC invited Metro Ministries and five other community organizations to their Missions Sunday. Church attendees had the opportunity to speak with organization representatives, and three of these representatives spoke during services, and I was privileged to tee up these speakers by talking about the significance of missions giving and theways we can all serve.

The speakers were Joel Reichenbach, Foundations, Corporations and Church Relations Officer with Sheltering Wings; Tammy Jessup, former Executive Director and current volunteer with Mental Health America of Hendricks County; and Costeena Weathersby, Executive Director of Project Transformation Indiana. Also attending the Missions Fair were Dawn Barnes, Regional Director of Society of St. Andrew Indiana and Holly McHugh, Volunteer Coordinator with Fletcher Place Community Center. Metro Ministries will provide a brief summary of each of these organizations over the next several weeks, begining with Sheltering Wings.

• Sheltering Wings is celebrating their 20th year of meeting emergent and long-term needs for those experiencing domestic violence. Sheltering Wings provides a 70 bed emergency shelter to survivors of domestic abuse and offers case management, life skills and mental health support to individuals both in the shelter and the community. Crisis intervention services, support groups and classes are also available for the children and youth of Sheltering Wings clients. Earlier this year Sheltering Wings partnered with RealAmerica real estate and Cummins Behavioral Health Systems for permananent affordable housing units for former shelter residents and members of the community who need them. In addition to these services and a 24/7 crisis hotline, Sheltering Wings also focuses on prevention and education by offering training for church staff, youth groups, small groups and Sunday school classes, as well as for businesses and human services organizations. More than 110 churches across Central Indiana partner with Sheltering Wings through gifts of time, talents and treasures. To learn more about this organization, go to shelteringwings.org.

Thank you to Danville UMC's Missions Chair David Buttram and Pastor PT Wilson for inviting me and for providing the opportunity for these organizations to share their missions and their WHY. Next week, we will feature Mental Health America of Hendricks County and other Mental Health America affiliates in the Central District.

ACCEPTING VOTES

THRU FRIDAY 10/28

Thank you to everyone who has voted for an individual and/or organization for Missioner of the Year! The voting ballot will only be open thru this Friday, 10/28. If you have not yet voted, I encourage you to VOTE HERE!

Individual:

• Marcia Black, University UMC
• Wilma Collier, Miracles and Blessings UMC
• Lydia Davis, Barnes UMC & You Feed Them Missional Food Pantry
• Carol Hall, Barnes UMC
• Brenda Myers & Mary Ann Schubert, Castleton UMC
• Bill & Laura Tincher, Bethel UMC

Church/Group/Organization:

• Meridian Street UMC
• You Feed Them Missional Food Pantry

The ballot includes a brief paragraph about each nominee and a very simple way to vote for an individual nominee and a church/organization nominee. We ask that no one vote more than once, but we encourage sharing of the ballot link with others. 

The Missioners of the Year presentations will be made at Metro's 99th Annual Celebration on November 12. So be sure to register for the event and join us in congratulating this year's Missioners of the Year.

Metro's 99th Anniversary Celebration!

The celebration is getting closer!

Join us on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at University United Methodist Church, as we celebrate the ways that Metro Ministries has been making connections and building bridges this year.

The celebration will begin at 3:30 pm with food, fellowship and music by Simply United. Then around 4:15, we will have opening remarks and words from some of our 2022 grant recipients. We are also planning a few opportunities to join in song. After a break for sweet treats, Rev. Dr. Aleze Fulbright will deliver the keynote message.

We encourage and welcome honor and memorial gifts to Metro Ministries, and all those recognized will be named during the program. We will wrap up the evening by announcing the Missioner of the Year awards - from your nominations and votes - and will then close with prayer and song.

You may register online HERE. Be sure to register by November 4 so that we can have an accurate count of attendees. Contact Tina McAninch with any questions about the event at 317-452-4786 or metrodirector1923@gmail.com.

Individual tickets are $40/person. We are also seeking event sponsors at $750, $500 and $250 levels. Sponsorships include up to 8 seats for the event. Sponsors will be recognized during the event.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Metro's Grants Workshop Sessions: Thursday and Friday!

Have you signed up for one of these sessions? Workshop attendance is a pre-requisite to submit an application for the 2023 Spring Grant Cycle.

Two sessions are available: Thursday, October 27, 6:00 - 7:30 pm or Friday, October 28, 2:00 - 3:30 pm. The workshop is FREE, but registration is required. Workshop registration is available HERE. The content will be the same at both sessions, so please register for one session only. Both sessions will be held at St. Andrew UMC at 2560 Villa Avenue, Indianapolis.

Note that draft submissions this year are due December 1, so NOW is the time to consider how a Metro Ministries grant can help your program or project in 2023.

Please review the Request for Proposal, which contains grant criteria and this cycle's timeline. Please reach out to Tina McAninch if you would like to brainstorm on project ideas prior to workshop attendance.

Sock Collections for Pickup?

If your church has collected socks for Lambswear, Inc. and would like us to pick them up and deliver them, please contact Tina McAninch at metrodirector1923@gmail.com BY FRIDAY 10/28 to arrange pick up of your church's sock collection. 

Employment Opportunities

Please see these employment opportunities that have been shared with Metro Ministries.

Outreach Coordinator at Grace United Methodist Church, Franklin

Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin is seeking a part-time Outreach Coordinator. The person selected will work with the staff and Outreach Team to organize and coordinate the many outreach ministries of the church as well as relate to the many community partners. Persons who are lay leaders or lay speakers who are looking for experience in a local church might find this position helpful. Hours are flexible during the week. For more information, please contact Pastor Andy Kinsey at andykinsey@franklingrace.org.

Children & Youth Ministry Director/Coordinator at Lawrence United Methodist Church

Lawrence UMC is seeking a full-time children and youth ministry director who will encourage all children in the congregation and in the community to grow in faith as Christian disciples. This person will work with other church and community leaders to address the needs of children so that all God's children are strong and wise. Other than set service times on Sunday mornings and planned children/youth gatherings and events, this is a flexible schedule position. Starting salary is $15/hour. The full job description is available HERE. To express interest in this position, contact Lisa Egler-Kellems at lisae93@comcast.net with subject line: SPRC-Children and Youth Director Search, or via mail at the address provided in the job description.

INUMC Job Board

The Indiana Conference of United Methodist Churches Job Board is available HERE.  

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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Servants at Work (SAWs)

Multiple Dates 

Volunteering with SAWs is an opportunity to help change someone's life. SAWs is a faith-based nonprofit that builds outdoor ramps for persons living with permanent disabilities in low-income households.

SAWs has multiple ramp building opportunities available this summer. Most opportunities range from 4 to 6 hours and do not require specific skill sets. There are builds planned throughout Central Indiana and beyond. Visit the Volunteer Signup page to view currently available opportunities. You will need to create a username and password if you have not volunteered with SAWs before, or sign in with your previously created sign in information.

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Society of St. Andrew Indiana Gleaning Opportunities

All volunteers must sign a waiver. These are family-friendly events open to children of all ages. Those who are interested should sign up for email notifications by creating a profile HERE. Folks will then receive emails of upcoming gleaning opportunities.

Apple Gleaning in Sheridan!

Apple gleaning in nearby Sheridan on Friday mornings 9 - 11am,  through  October 28. Pantry volunteers are highly encouraged to come out! Pantries that send volunteers are given top priority for distribution. Sign up HERE. 

Trunk or Treat & Other Such Events

Here is a listing in date order of who's doing what, when and where:

10/29: St. Andrew UMC (as part of Bean Creek Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat), 4 - 6pm

10/29: Bradley UMC, 2 - 4pm

10/29: Broadway UMC Halloween Open House, 5 - 8pm

10/29: Faith UMC Chicken Noodle Treat n Eat Fundraiser 5 - 8pm

10/29: Good Shepherd UMC, 3 - 5pm

10/29: New Palestine UMC, 5 - 7pm

10/30: Abundant Vida Nueva UMC, 4 - 7pm

10/30: Castleton UMC 2 locations: McKenzie Center 1 - 2:30pm; Castleton UMC Ministry Center 4 - 4:30pm

10/30: Chapel Hill UMC, 2 - 4pm

10/30: Christ Indy UMC, 4 -6pm

10/30: Faith UMC, 3 - 5pm

10/30: Lawrence UMC, 3 - 5pm

10/30: Meridian St. UMC, 3 - 5pm

10/30: North UMC, 4 - 6pm

10/30:Old Bethel UMC, 3 - 5pm

10/30: Smith Valley UMC, 5 - 6:30pm

10/30: The Branches, Not So Spooky Sunday 10 - 11am

10/31: Acton UMC  6 - 7:30pm

Have Something to Share?

Do you have an event, volunteer need or job posting you would like included in Metro's weekly e-newsletter? Send us an email at metrodirector1923@gmail.com with the details. We will need to receive by Tuesday morning for inclusion in the current week's newsletter.