SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERING FOR ALL AGES HELPS HOMELESS

Did you know that the Sioux Falls School District recently shared that, as of October 1, 2009, there have been 458 homeless individuals identified and 236 families without a home in our own community?  The needs of our community are increasing.  Many individuals and families are struggling.  It’s time to take action.

During the months of November and December, the Sunday school program for children, youth and adults will be collecting money and items to be distributed to homeless children through the Sioux Falls Public Schools.  Wendy Giebink, the Homeless Home School Liasion Worker for the school district, has identified items that are most needed by homeless children.  If you would like to be a part of this important project, bring your donations to Sunday school as your offering.  A drop-off box will also be available in the Hospitality Room.

Most needed items: Mittens and Hats of all sizes; Hairbrushes; Toothbrushes; Children’s Toothpaste; Hair ties and accessories

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL BISHOP’S LAITY GATHERING IN RAPID CITY FEBRUARY 12 - 13

Dr. Kent Millard, Keynote Speaker and Author: Passion Driven Congregation and Get Acquainted with Your Christian Faith Study.  Interest groups will be held on poverty, environment and world health.

ADULT

Our Social Creed
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.

We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.

We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.

We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.

We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.

We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.

(It is recommended that this statement of Social Principles be continually available to United Methodist Christians and that it be emphasized regularly in every congregation.
It is further recommended that Our Social Creed be frequently used in Sunday worship.)

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2000.
Copyright 2000 by The United Methodist Publishing House.