SUMC Announcements

The United Methodist Women will meet on Sunday, April 10 at 1:15 p.m. in the Library or the Parlor. Carole Ford will present a program on her mission trip to Honduras. You may want to eat lunch prior to the meeting at the Easter Bunny Luncheon in the Simpson room.

May 6 and 7 are the dates for the Spring Rummage Sale. Gently used items may be placed in the potato room in the church basement. We regret that we cannot accept large pieces of furniture or any electronics as these items do not sell well. Volunteers are needed during the week of the sale to price items and set up for the sale. Please call Pat Grossarth to volunteer.

UMCOR, our worldwide relief agency, is ready to respond as needed and is able to have a day-to-day presence throughout the world due to the funds provided through the One Great Hour of Sharing. When we respond to an appeal such as Tsunami Relief for Japan, 100% of the money donated goes directly to that effort. This is only possible because the people of the United Methodist Church have already covered the day-to-day costs of operating UMCOR. Your generous response on April 3rd will help ensure that UMCOR is able to continue making a difference around the world. A special envelope will be in the bulletin on April 3rd or you may mark your donation “One Great Hour” and include with your regular offering.

UMCOR is working with its partners in Japan to aid the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Please mark your donation “Japan” and include with your regular offering.

Bugs love moisture and dirt! Natural disasters provide a terrific environment for bugs – not so good for the affected people. To help prevent bug bites and the sometimes severe reactions from them, UMCOR cleaning kits include insect repellant. 25 insect repellants (6-9 oz. each) are needed to complete the cleaning kits. You may place your donations in the bucket in the back of the sanctuary. Please mark any monetary donations “Cleaning Kits” and include with your regular offering.

Collection of new underwear and socks for the children of Bethany House Academy continues through Easter. Don’t forget the tweens and teens as you select those Easter Undies!

Support the 2011 Honduras Mission Team as the team returns to San Jose in June. Anyone can play Bunko! You may even win a prize or two – if you can go BUNKO as you roll the dice. Refreshments will be served throughout the evening and there will be raffle items, as well. $15/advanced reservation or $20/person at the door. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the fun begins at 7:00 pm. See Martha Boward or any member of the Honduras Mission team to make your reservations.

April 28th is the Fourth Sunday collection. For April, suggested items are toilet paper and protein items (peanut butter, canned tuna, canned chicken, beef stew, etc.). Look for the grocery cart on April 28th or place your donations in the cart in the hallway outside of the Simpson Room.

Please join us on Monday, March 28 at 7pm in the church parlor for typical Afghani desserts and discussion of our latest book “Kabul Beauty School". As always, wear comfy clothes and come even if you’ve not read the book!

Our next book is “Sarah’s Key", and we’ll be discussing that beautifully written and moving book on Wednesday, April 27th.

The Red Bird Mission Team is hosting a pasta dinner on Saturday, March 26 in the Simpson Room. The dinner will be held between 5 – 7 p.m. Takeouts will be available. Pasta with meatballs, salad, garlic breadsticks, and brownies are all on the menu. The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 – 10. Younger children eat for free. Proceeds will go toward the Red Bird Mission Team’s trip to the Red Bird Mission in the heart of Appalachia this August. Please consider joining us.

Thanks for your support!
Your SUMC Red Bird Mission Team
(Kris Swaney, Pam Smith, Pat Grossarth, Pam Hess, Laura Hess, Sydney Lane and Rachel Boward)

The class of 2011 will be honored in one of our June morning worship services. The library committee is currently in search of any graduates in this year‘s class. We have lost contact with many of our former Sunday School students and church families.

If we missed your graduate, please let the library committee or the church office know as soon as possible.

Sunday, June 5, 2011. 12:45 to 1:15 setup/1:30 break bread
This picnic brings our church together with our friends from the St. Matthews AME Zion church. Hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks and paper products will be provided. Please bring your favorite side dish to share. In addition to the fellowship, friendship and food there will be games for the kids and adults. Be sure to pack water shoes, towels and maybe a change of clothes for some exploring in the nearby creek!! Please come join us – there will be a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the back of the church.

Sunday, March 27th - please remember the food pantry as you do your shopping. Look for the cart next Sunday.

You are cordially invited to this evening of fun and fellowship on Saturday, April 16th. Doors open at 6:30 pm - the games begin at 7:00 pm. All ages are welcome - no experience needed! If you can roll dice, you can play! BUNKO 2011 proceeds benefit the Honduras Mission Team. Advanced Reservations are $15/person; $20 at the door - refreshments included. In addition, proceeds from raffle items and a portion of the sales from Just Jewelry will also assist the team with their projects planned for this summer’s trip to San Jose, Honduras. Please see or contact Martha Boward for reservations - 724-457-0708 or maboward@yahoo.com.

If you are able to provide items for the raffle or for prizes, please contact Martha, as well.

For March, Outreach will be collecting 25 bottles (50 oz. each) of laundry detergent and 25 aerosol air fresheners. Please place your donations in the bucket at the information table. If making a monetary donation, mark your check or envelope “cleaning kits” and include with your weekly offering. Thank you for your support.

Donations needed of new underwear and socks for children of varying sizes and ages. Many of the children are tweens and teens, so please consider purchasing some larger children and adult-sized underwear and socks. You may place your items in the bin in the back of the sanctuary.

UMCOR, our United Methodist relief organization is working with our partners in Japan to rush aid to the many affected by this horrific disaster. To help in the effort, you may include your donation with your offering. Please be sure to mark “Japan” on your check or envelope. If you care to donate on-line or read more about UMCOR’s response, please visit umcor.org. As the One Great Hour of Sharing offering provides the funding for the day-to-day operations of UMCOR, 100% of your donation will be directly used to assist those in need.

Congregation Leaders- April sure is a busy month! Please include what you can. I’m sending this in order of importance (but of course it’s all important!). Thanks so much for helping us spread the word.

Car Donations Needed
North Hills Community Outreach needs car donations for its Community Auto program that helps low-income individuals get to work. Cars can be donated in any condition; donors may qualify for the maximum possible tax deduction. Call 724-443-8300.

North Hills Community Outreach Holds 5th Annual Pasta Dinner
North Hills Community Outreach’s Millvale Satellite will host a Pasta Dinner on Friday, April 15, from 4-7 PM, at the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave. Dine in or take out. Tickets are $7 in advance or $9 the day of the event, and include pasta with choice of sauce, bread, salad, beverages and desserts. For tickets, call 412-487-6316, option 2, or visit www.nhco.org for an order form.

Food Donations through April Qualify for Feinstein Funds
All food and financial donations to North Hills Community Outreach’s two food pantries made through April 30 will help NHCO earn its share of The Feinstein Foundation’s annual million dollar campaign to fight hunger. To make a financial donation, mark “Feinstein” on the memo line of your check and mail to 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. For more information, contact Brandi at 412-487-6316, option 1.

Applications Being Accepted for Free Home Repair Projects
For the third consecutive year, North Hills Community Outreach is partnering with Christ Lutheran Church in Millvale to provide minor home repairs to a limited number of qualified seniors and low-income adults with physical disabilities living in northern Allegheny County. Applications are now being accepted for repair projects that will be completed by supervised groups of youth from June 27-July 1. To apply, contact Cathy Pschirer at 412-307-0069.

Miniature Golf Tournament Registration Underway
North Hills Community Outreach’s 10th Annual Mini-Masters Miniature Golf Tournament will take place on Thursday, May 12, at RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island. Entry fee includes a round of miniature golf, buffet dinner, silent auction and prizes. Vince Sims of WPXI-TV will serve as the event emcee. The registration deadline is May 3. For more information, contact Nicole at 412-307-0069 or download a registration form at www.nhco.org.

North Hills Community Outreach’s April 2011 Calendar
· April 7 – Young Widows/Widowers Support Group, 7 PM, Kings in Wexford. Contact Harriet at 412-487-6316, option 2.
· North Hills Community Outreach will hold a one-hour orientation session for interested volunteers on April 7, 1:30 PM, at NHCO North Boroughs, 100 S. Jackson Avenue, Bellevue. Contact Liza Walrath at 412-487-6316, option 2, x3208 to sign up.
· April 13 - Ask the Attorney free legal consultations for qualifying individuals, 7-9 PM, NHCO Millvale, 416 Lincoln Ave. Appointments are required. Contact Harriet Gibbs at 412-487-6316, option 2.
· April 16 – NHCO Allison Park, 1975 Ferguson Road, open 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM to accept donations of nonperishable food, Spring Share donations and other “wish list” items. Donors should drive around back to the food pantry. For more information, call 412-487-6316 or visit www.nhco.org.
· Open Your Heart to a Senior volunteer trainings are held at various times and locations every month. Call 412-307-0071 to learn more about helping a senior remain safe and independent in his own home.


Wendy Gordon
Director of Communications
North Hills Community Outreach
1975 Ferguson Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
412-487-6316, option 1, ext. 3112
www.nhco.org
Spring Share, Pasta Dinner, Mini-Masters, Pittsburgh Marathon, Highmark Walk and Dessert Theatre are all great ways to help your neighbors in need through NHCO. Visit our website for more information.

The United Methodist Church is set to debut an online Bible study March 14, where participants will have an opportunity to explore and discuss contemporary topics and how they relate to the Christian faith in response to the call to Rethink Church. Participants who sign on for the Encounter Faith Bible study, available for free at RethinkChurch.org/encounterfaith, will be looking through a lens of faith at timely issues making headlines and creating conversation, such as the demonstrations in North Africa and the Middle East.

For March, Outreach will be collecting 25 bottles (50 oz. each) of laundry detergent and 25 aerosol air fresheners. Please place your donations in the bucket at the information table. If making a monetary donation, mark your check or envelope “cleaning kits” and include with your weekly offering. Thank you for your support.

From late-March through Easter, we will once again collect new underwear and socks for the children of Bethany House Academy. Look for further details in the bulletin.

March 6 - Special offering to support Conference and Jurisdictional VIM offices and programs. Please use the blue envelopes located in the pews or at the back of the sanctuary.

Sandra Lane will be available after church at both services, this Sunday to schedule your sitting appointment and times are filling up!! If you will not be in church this Sunday, you can call her at 412-741-6724

With your participation in the Church Directory, you will receive a free family or individual size 8 x 10 and you will only have to make one visit to the church, as you will be photographed and view your poses at the same time.

-Picture dates and times will be Monday, March 21, 2:00pm - 9:20pm, Friday, April 1, 2:00pm-9:20pm or Saturday, April 2, 9:30am- 5:10pm

Please see me after church this Sunday to sign up.

Sandra Lane

North Hills Community Outreach and St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Parish are partnering to host Steeltowns, Coalfields and the Unbroken Circle, written and performed by songwriter Tom Breiding. The event will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2 PM, at St. Nicholas Parish, 24 Maryland Avenue in Millvale. The program will also include a guided tour of the elaborate Maxo Vanka murals. The facility is not wheelchair-accessible. Reservations encouraged; call 412-487-6316, option 2, x3219. This presentation is a program of the PA Humanities Council.

Wendy Gordon
Director of Communications
North Hills Community Outreach
1975 Ferguson Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
412-487-6316, option 1, ext. 3112
www.nhco.org
Spring Share, Pasta Dinner, Mini-Masters, Pittsburgh Marathon, Highmark Walk and Dessert Theatre are all great ways to help your neighbors in need through NHCO. Visit our website for more information.

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A special offering will be taken to support Volunteers in Mission (VIM). The funds support the Western Pennsylvania Conference and Jurisdictional VIM offices and programs, with 90% of the offering being used in Western Pennsylvania. The VIM program allows persons to offer physical support, prayer support, and/or financial support to the wide variety of programs that are designed to promote the many opportunites to utilize volunteers’ talents in direct service to the Kingdom of God. Funding for scholarships for volunteers in mission are made possible through this offering. Please consider supporting VIM. ministry through this special offering. You may use the blue envelopes located in the pews or at the back of the sanctuary, marking your envelope or check “VIM".