open, affirming,UCC church, Lake Worth, First Congregational Church Lake Worth, Lake Worth, United Church of Christ, Congregational, ucc, FL, Florida, Christ, GOD, church, gay, lesbian, glbt

MISSIONS

Missions Committee Annual Report
-The Missions Committee of Pam Banker, Barbara Forsythe, Janet Lisle, Miriam McIlvaine, Elizabeth O’Donnell, Kay Sayles and Jean Weiman has been involved in many missions this year. The church congregation has supported these endeavors with financial, physical and spiritual support. The following is an accounting of these activities:
-Spear-headed a Missions Dinner, Walk-a-thon, and donation collection to support TEAM
RECOVERY ( Carol Lewis, Karen Lewis, Lindsay LaFrance, Janet Lisle, and Rita Schmidt) for their work in  New Olean’s on a U.C.C. Hurricane Recovery Program.  After a week of pulling rusty nails from studs and painting a future relief site the TEAM was able to, through fund raising and church donations, leave a $300 donation to Little Falls Church and a $900 to the U.C.C. Long Term Hurricane Recovery Program in New Orleans. 
-Sponsored a drive for Summer Camp supplies for C.RO.S. Ministries – congregation 
donated 5+ bags of crafts, cleaning, miscellaneous supplies.
-Sponsored the Thomas Alonso family – donations of $288 for school supplies and  uniforms, gift certificate for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner groceries, toys and clothes for children at Christmas, gifts of CD/DVD player.
-$100 to David Aldrich fund.
-Heifer International – raised $807 to purchase a cow, water buffalo, flock of chickens and honey bees.
-Participated in the C.RO.S. Walk – over twenty members of the congregation walked and raised $ 871.
-Sold Christmas Wreaths to generate $400 for missions projects.
-Collected $200 for the Tool and Blanket Fund.
-Collected $ 55for Neighbors in Need.
-Collected discarded/used cell phones to give to Law Enforcement program for homeless.
-Organized the Salvation Army Angel Tree in which the congregation bought Christmas presents for 52 local children.
-Donated $180 to the U.C.C Christmas Fund.
-Donated $100 to “Cindy” a 17 yr old heart transplant candidate referred by Mirta Signorelli.
-Oganized a collection drive for Palm Beach Posts Season-to-Share candidate Charles Johnson – raised $450.
-Ran a campaign for “Shoes for Ophan Souls” (on-going).
-Organized a Valentine’s Luncheon/Dance to benefit the Samaritan Counseling Center and the church – generated $260 profit.
-Valentine’s Luncheon and Dance generated $135 for Samaritan Counseling Center and $125 for the church