Sewickley United Methodist Church is not a building, but a people who have gathered to do God's work in the world. We share our talents, our time, and our monetary donations to minister to each other, help those in need, and spread God's word. Our outreach programs serve the Lord locally, nationally, and globally. You may contact Martha Boward, chair of the Outreach Committee, for more information about the missions listed below and other opportunities to serve.
Bethany House Academy Located in Northview Heights, Bethany House is a United Methodist agency serving a poverty-stricken community through after-school activities, meals, and more. SUMC has two members on the BHA board that, with an enthusiastic congregation, support various projects to help BHA throughout the year. For more information about Bethany House, watch the video we put together to help them find other channels of monetary support, and visit their website.
UMC Mission Share Through various giving opportunities, our funds and supplies go to mission programs throughout the world, including World Service Fund, Black College Fund, Ministerial Education, and Africa University.
UNICEF A collection effort to support UNICEF programs is made during the month of October. Children don their costumes for an afternoon stroll through the village of Sewickley, trick-or-treating for UNICEF. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from our annual haunted house are designated for UNICEF.
Honduras Mission Trip Members of our church have made several mission trips to San Jose, El Negrito, Honduras. They have done construction projects; assisted in the medical clinic; taught the importance of hygiene, sanitation, and clean water; and shared their faith through music and Bible study. You can follow the action as it happens on the mission team blog. If you would like more information about how you can help, feel free to contact Alisa Lenhardt at 412.741.6200. If you would like to know more about the organization that runs the clinic there, visit Shoulder to Shoulder. To read details about the trip in 2011, see our feature article.
Red Bird Mission Since 2008, a mission team from SUMC has traveled each summer to serve as the hands and face of Jesus at the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. The Red Bird Mission is in a remote area of Appalachia where poverty is a way of life. The Mission serves its neighboring community in many ways, including running the work camp. Volunteers come from churches far and wide to spend a week working as part of the work camp, doing construction type work throughout the community and on the Red Bird campus. In past years, teams from SUMC have power washed a house and cleaned out the inside to prepare it for painting, installed drywall in a new house, sorted and distributed food, mudded and painted drywall, framed a window and installed trim in a renovated bathroom, installed a floor at a preschool, and painted restrooms and classrooms in the Mission school. Our 2011 team will be building a wheelchair ramp at a home in the local community.
Sewickley Food Bank Collection Monthly food collections are made and given to the Sewickley Food Bank, located at the Sewickley Community Center. Please feel free to leave a food donation any time in our shopping basket, which you will find in the hallway near the church office.
Congregate Feeding Since 1984, the Allegheny Alliance Church, on the North Side, has been serving hot meals to 70+ homeless people 3 days a week, totaling approximately 10,000 meals per year. There are over 25 churches in the greater Pittsburgh area that take a turn providing and serving a meal at AAC, and SUMC serves once a month. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the sanctuary for those interested in participating as a server or contributing items on our grocery list. Any questions may be directed to Donna Sawhill at 412.264.6652.
UMCOR The United Methodist Committee on Relief is a not-for-profit, international, humanitarian aid organization providing relief from hunger and disasters, and teaching peace. Opportunities for giving come throughout the year, as well as whenever a disaster strikes anywhere in the world.
Heifer Project This global giving opportunity provides livestock for milk, eggs, meat, and wool to families in need. Donations are collected during Lent.
Pumpkin Patch Every October, the lawns around SUMC are transformed into a pumpkin patch bursting with pumpkins in every shape, size, color, and texture you can imagine. It starts when a giant tractor trailer pulls up and lines of people snake around the church, passing hundreds of pumpkins and placing them in orderly rows. Volunteers man the patch daily until Halloween. Not only is it one of our biggest fundraisers, but a fun social event with participants ranging from young children to our senior members. It is also a mission project. The pumpkins are grown on a Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico. We raise much needed funds for our many ministries, and we help another organization in the process. To learn more about the pumpkin patch, view photos from past years, and get involved with this year's event, check out our pumpkin page.
