Mission Opportunities
United Methodists believe that each of us is called to participate in the outreaching ministry of Jesus Christ. John Wesley described this in simple, practical terms: “Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can.” River Hills has a long history of supporting missions locally, nationally, and globally. Working together in Christ we can make a difference!
Monthly Mission Moment:
The Missions Committee promotes mission involvement locally and globally for the whole congregation. Every month or so, they choose a particular area of mission to focus on.
Our current Mission Moment is Alight: In January, 250 Afghan refugee families began arriving in MN. Alight (formerly the American Refugee Committee) is settling them into their new homes, and we can help! You can make a financial gift (put “Alight” in the memo”) or purchase something from their Amazon wish list, which will automatically be sent where it needs to go.
Miles for Missionaries: Save the planet, support missionaries, get in shape, and save money by simply hanging up your car keys! The Mission Committee will donate $1 for every mile not driven in the month of April up to $500 to support UMC Global Ministries. You can save miles by:
· Walking or riding a bike instead of driving to the store, library or church.
· Missing an ingredient? Don’t make a grocery run; substitute, borrow from a neighbor, or do without.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make the world a better place one mile at a time.
Email your miles saved to Scarlett.
There's still time to buy our Global Recipe book to support UM Global Ministries. Learn about United Methodist missionaries around the world by cooking their favorite local recipes. Pick up a book at church for a suggested donation of $10. Give online or by sending in a church or cash labeled "Cookbook."
Some of our ongoing missions include:
- Drop off items at our Missions Center near the Early Childhood Center entrance: General Mills Box Tops (or use the Box Tops app!), used eyeglasses for the Lions Club, hearing aids for Starkey Hearing Foundation, yarn for Norma Circle, food shelf donations and miscellaneous items for 360 Communities, encouraging notes for Adopt-A-Cop prayer partners
- Coalition for Affordable/Transitional Community Housing (CATCH)
- Simpson Shelter Donations
- The International Rescue Committee is working to bring people to safety in Ukraine.
- Covenant Relations with UM Global Ministries: we are in partnership with Rev. Dan Randall in the Western Jurisdiction and Rev. Daniel Yang in Laos.
- William Byrne Elementary School, ISD 191, and BrainPower in a BackPack to support education
- 360 Communities
- Adopt-A-Cop, prayers and notes for local police
- Feed My Starving Children, packing meals for hungry kids around the world
- Youth Mission Trips
- Norma’s Circle, knitting hats for those experiencing homelessness
- United Methodist Committee on Relief, which serves globally where needed
- Red Bird Missions (through Box Tops for Education)
- Red Cross Blood Drives
- Kits for assisting those asking for help on the street
- Annual Love Offering through the Minnesota Annual Conference
- Our annual Pumpkin Patch, hosted by our Youth Ministries, supports our youth mission trips and a variety of other missions.
Around the Church
You can also get involved within the church with things like worship leadership by checking out our Pitch-In page.
