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Missions
Through service to those in need both inside and outside our congregation, we put into practice our Lord's words: "I assure you, whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me."
A wide range of opportunities are available for people seeking a way to help with God's work in the community and the world at large. The Missions Committee coordinates outreach to the hungry, Christmas gifts to children, house repair, mission trip to Honduras, etc. The committee meets the 2nd Monday of each month. For more information contact Missions Committee Chair Ed Brown.
A few of the specific missions that First United Methodist Church Plano are involved with are listed below.
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A project of the United Methodist North Texas Conference. This is a mission to enhance the relationship between suburban churches and the less fortunate inner city churches. Each year we repair a church facility or a home near the church where the owner is incapacitated or unable to pay for the repairs. For more information contact Rick Billings at billings.r@tx.rr.com.
http://www.ntcumc.org/Amigos/
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Food Pantries: God's Food Pantry and Plano Food Pantry
Our church collects both canned and dried food each week which is then delivered to the pantries. God's Pantry is in need of volunteers to pick up donations from local food stores and to deliver food to the homebound. Volunteers are also needed to sort and repackage bulk dried foods at the pantry. For more information contact Pat Jett.
http://www.godsfoodpantry.net/Plano/Home/
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Approximately 10 volunteers donate an estimated 200 hours of their time to pull off the Golf Tournament each year. This great event raises funds benefiting local charities. Last year, over $8,000 was raised which directly benefited Journey of Hope, God's Food Pantry, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Collin County, Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County, Samaritan Inn, Assistance Center of Collin County and C.I.T.Y. Place. For more information contact Marty Rimbey at martyrimbey@yahoo.com.
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Working with Send Hope of Allen Texas, we make an annual trip to La Moskitia coast of Honduras. We support the dental and medical work of Send Hope while also doing construction and working with the women and children. A team of 13 went in 2004 and 15 in 2005. For more information contact Holly Bandel at hbandel@firstmethodistplano.org .
http://www.send-hope.org/
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Kairos Outside
A Christian-based, 3-day weekend for women who have a loved one in prison. This is done by providing a safe environment with Christian people and the opportunity to interact with women in similar situations. Women of the incarcerated are "doing time" right along with their loved ones. Team members must be 18 years of age and completed a 3-day weekend like The Walk to Emmaus. For more information contact Mary Alice Garza.
http://www.emmanuelfullerton.org/Renewal/kairos_outside.htm
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KAIROS Prison Ministry
Addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women and children, to their families and to those who work in the prison environment. A large group of men and women from our church are active in this ministry Team members must be at least 18 years of age and have completed a 3-day weekend like The Walk to Emmaus. For more information contact Larry Rogers.
http://www.kairosprisonministry.org/
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Missions Mania
A hands on mission opportunity for anyone, any age. We meet for service projects both at the church and off site. No need to sign up - just come when you can, bring nothing but your heart. This is a great opportunity for those seeking to answer God's call: "Whom shall I send?" each gathering offers new and wonderful opportunities to serve, from helping seniors in our own church family to sending cards to our armed forces to making and delivering food to the homeless... this is a ministry that is full of love, laughter, joy and fellowship. For more information contact Ed Brown.
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Operation Christmas Child
During October and November we pack shoe boxes with gifts for children the world over. Sturdy shoe boxes are needed with volunteers to purchase the contents and pack them up for either a boy or a girl of a given age. This is a Franklin Graham Ministry. For more information contact Susan Davis.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
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"Seniors Helping Seniors" Provides assistance to seniors and others in need in the Plano community with minor home and yard repairs. Staffed by senior volunteers from local area churches who focus on health and safety issues in the home, these services are provided at no charge to the recipient. For more information contact Bill Downs at wtdowns@waymark.net.
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Plano Santas
This is a city-wide effort to serve up to six hundred disadvantaged families cleared by the Assistance Center of Collin County. Individuals and classes at First United Methodist Church Plano adopt families for Christmas presents. Santa provides thirty days of food. We make deliveries to the families on the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas.
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Project Transformation
A project of the United Methodist North Texas Conference. This program combines the energy of college students who lead activities with children in grades K-5 with reading, language and communication skills, and to experience the love of God. Activities are led by college students (interns) who are interested in the ministry. Our church supports the Summer Camp program (June/July) by providing volunteers to read one-to-one, meals for interns and families, books, snacks and other supplies. For more information contact Karen Pritzker at phillippritzker@tx.rr.com.
http://www.ntcumc.org/ProjTran/
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Quilts for Kids
Group formed in March of 2000. The group has made and given away more than 1,000 quilts, hats and throws to hospitals and clinics. They meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays in the Youth Lounge for quilting and lunch from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. New project: make 100 articles a month for newborn babies at Parkland Hospital (2nd Tuesday). For more information contact Charline Chronister.
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Samaritan Inn
The Samaritan Inn is a homeless shelter located in McKinney. Our church provides the evening meal once each month. We also help provided much needed supplies. For more information contact Martha Hamilton.
http://www.thesamaritaninn.org/
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Seven Plano churches have joined together to provide shoes for disadvantaged children screened for us by The Assistance Center of Collin County. For more information contact Dave Dunbar at ddunbar120@yahoo.com.
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School Supply Project
We support Resurrection Lutheran Church on this worthwhile project of helping disadvantaged children begin school with all their supplies. Supplies and dollars are welcome contributions. For more information contact Elaine Nunez.
http://www.rlc-elca.org/ssp.htm
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Team FUMC
Opportunities are available for our congregation to participate in walks throughout the year such as the Komen Race for the Cure, the Church World Service Crop Walk, the Memory Walk and others. For more information contact Chris Shafer.
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