Glen Avon Presbyterian Church

MISSION OF THE MONTH: May 2010

Mission of the Month for May is Bethany Crisis Shelter. BCS is an early intervention service committed to keeping children safe by providing support services to families and emergency care for children during times of family crisis. This shelter covers a wide array of needs from newborns to young adults. BCS houses Bethany Crisis Nursery, Bethany Crisis Shelter, and a Self-Referral Runaway Program are all housed in this facility. On a recent tour, several Glen Avon members saw first hand the wide array of ages the shelter serves, and were fortunate to meet several very dedicated staff members. Find out more about this comprehensive intervention program during our Second Sunday Mission time between worship services on May 9. Because this shelter serves a variety of ages, we’re including ideas that would help each age group. Items needed include: Baby formula; Orajel; infant Tylenol or Motrin; diapers in sizes 4, 5, or 6; diaper wipes; and baby or children’s clothing. Bethany Shelter also participates in the “Pajamas and Books” program and could use new pajamas for older kids and teens. Every young person should have clean PJ’s available to them and a book that can provide a bit of distraction and enjoyment. Other items are socks and underwear in a variety of sizes (boxers only, not briefs, please) in sizes to fit up to 17 year olds; hygiene products and body sprays and gels which are fun and appealing to teens; movie theater passes; bus passes; movie rentals; gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart or other discount stores. Teens who have taken themselves out of troubled homes, or who are voluntarily placed into shelter while getting their lives back on track, still like to enjoy a movie rental or being able to ride the bus or to get some small item with a gift card. The Center can also use some quilts for single beds since some are sent home with children as they transition home. Put items in blue bin in north narthex. Gift cards can be left in the Church Office with a note that says Bethany Crisis Shelter. Checks can be made to Glen Avon Presbyterian Church with Bethany Crisis Shelter in the Memo line.

GAPW is also collecting old, partially burned candles at their meetings. We would also like the cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towels. These will be donated to “Airpark Products and Services” where people with disabilities use them to make fire starters for fireplaces, grills, etc. These useful items are sold at various stores in our area and the income keeps their programs going. Please bring only the candles, not containers with candles in them.

Another enjoyable Mission opportunity is being an afternoon or evening host at the Seafarers Center. As part of their outreach, the Seafarers Center likes to have local people on hand for an hour or so to chat with these sailors who are far from home and unfamiliar with our area. Please call Rev. Tom Anderson at 218-727-5897 and let him know when you and a friend might be available to provide this low-key outreach. The Center also welcomes baked goods to have on hand for these visitors from around the world. If you like to bake, or have extra banana breads or cookies, the Seafarers would love to have them so they might provide refreshments to their visitors. These ministries are ongoing and busier as the shipping season picks up, so a few baked goods at a time or an hour or two of visiting once a month can make a big difference in the lives of people far from home.

We are also continuing to collect the hygiene kits and baby kits for Haiti.

We are all making a difference by giving of ourselves, our time, our talents, and ministering to others in these small ways. Glen Avon’s Mission of the Month program is becoming known in the area and other groups have been inspired to give because of our example.

Luke 6:38 says, “give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (RSV)