.png)
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.
Ways to Help During the Government Shut-Down
The federal government shut-down has affected the availability of SNAP benefits and delayed people's paychecks. There are lots of ways to help; here are just a few:
Grocery Gift Cards for William Byrne Elementary
We are collecting grocery gift cards for families at William Byrne Elementary School. Bring gift cards in any amount from any grocery store. We'll collect them at church and bring them to the school on an ongoing basis until benefits are restored and applications catch up. Can't get to the store? Give to the church with "grocery gift cards" in the memo, and we'll get the cards!
The Open Door Pantry: Volunteer
The Open Door Pantry in Eagan urgently needs volunteers for new Saturday distributions on November 1, 8, 15, & 22. This is a great opportunity for groups and supporters who can't always find time to volunteer during the regular workday. Tasks will be simple, and training will be provided on site. Click Here to Sign Up for a Saturday Shift.
The Open Door Pantry: Donate
You can donate financially through the church by putting "Open Door" in the memo line or give directly through the Open Door website.
They're also collecting To-Go Bags with essentials, including 5 Core Items:
- Canned tuna or chicken
- Canned fruit or vegetable
- Canned black or pinto beans
- Fast meal box (e.g., Mac & Cheese)
- Bag of rice (1 lb)
Optional Add-Ons
- Package of pasta (1 lb)
- Jar of pasta sauce
- Box or bag of cereal
Instructions can be found here. Bags can be brought to church or taken directly to The Open Door (3000 Ames Crossing Rd. Suite 100 Eagan).
Some of our ongoing missions include:
- Drop off items at our Missions Center near the Early Childhood Center entrance: oral care waste, egg cartons, and paper bags to recycle; used eyeglasses for the Lions Club; hearing aids for Starkey Hearing Foundation; food shelf and hygiene items for The Open Door Pantry; and old cell phones for the MN Zoo (please remove the SIM card and do a factory reset; learn more here).
- Coalition for Affordable/Transitional Community Housing (CATCH)
- Covenant Relations with UM Global Ministries: we are in partnership with Rev. Collins Etchi Ako, serving in the East Congo Episcopal Area in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- William Byrne Elementary School and ISD 191 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. We pack as a church at least once a year. Watch here for the next date.
- Youth Mission Trips
- United Methodist Committee on Relief, which serves globally where needed
- Red Bird Missions (through Box Tops for Education)
- Red Cross Blood Drives, usually in the spring and fall. Our next drive will be May 16, 2026. Look for sign-ups to volunteer or donate through our pitch-in page.
- 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.
