Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
Why Mission & Social Justice?
The mission & vision statement of Westlake United Methodist Church calls us to be active in social justice awareness and in mission to others as foundational to our identity as a community of faith. As our faith deepens, we seek to be more like Christ; speaking up for the oppressed, being agents of justice and being in service thru acts of compassion.
In support of this, there is a wide range of opportunities for people to become actively involved in social justice and mission, in our homes, in our nearby neighborhoods and around the world. In addition to rolling up our sleeves to help, WUMC targets nearly 10% of our annual expenditures to be used for mission, primarily through United Methodist organizations and agencies.
Learn more about opportunities available to you to live your faith.
Learn about Social Justice with the Justice Ministry Team
Heeding the call of the prophet Micah to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God, we commit to leading Westlake United Methodist Church in actions that transform our world into a more just global community- Mission Statement of the WUMC Justice Ministry Team
The Justice Ministry Team is made up of people who actively seek justice in their own lives and encourage others do the same. This Team meets quarterly to plan actions that accomplish the goals we set. Our focus for this year includes elder/child abuse and the environment. Some of the ways we address these issues are through establishing recycling at church, using coffee mugs at coffee hour instead of paper cups, offering a class on Parenting your Parents, collecting and recycling used cell phones, and writing newsletter articles.
To connect with the Justice Ministry Team, please email Rev. Linda Coatoam
Recycle Your Stuff
Clothing & Household items
Gently used clothing and household items, for the Community Corner resale shop, are always needed. All clothing must be washed and stain free. Place in the large wooden box in Fellowship Hall.
Furniture
"Pass It On", a Christian outreach organization in Lorain County provides furniture and household goods free to families in need http://www.passitonministries.org/content/.
In Cuyahoga County, St. Vincent de Paul sponsors the Furniture Bank, with a similar mission. www.svdpcle.org
Paper
An Abitibi Paper Retriever Bin is located in the church parking lot. By providing this bin we help our community be good environmental stewards. Abitibi provides the bin, empties it monthly and pays the church dividends based on the weight of the paper. The collected paper is manufactured into recycled newsprint, saving an estimated 2.2 million cubic yards of landfill each year.
| We need ALL Your: | Please do NOT include: |
|---|---|
|
|
Other good usable items?
Check out the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District web site for a wealth of ideas about how to recycle and reuse just about anything! www.cuyahogaswd.org
Support Free Trade
Buy Equal Exchange brand free trade coffee, tea, chocolate and other goodies! They are sold by the Mission Team, two Sundays a month during coffee hour in fellowship hall. This is done not as a fund raiser but as a practical way to express our values. and get a great cup of coffee! This is the easiest mission project you'll ever do!
Equal Exchange is a nonprofit group that buys from collectives of small farmers in Central America. By eliminating most of the middlemen, EE insures that much more of your coffee dollar goes directly into local farming communities, greatly improving the quality of life for the farming families. Equal Exchange also encourages ecologically-sound farming practices and community development activities.Volunteers in Mission
The United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministry established Volunteers in Mission so that every person in the church has the opportunity to serve and to live their calling and their lives more faithfully.
Opportunities for mission trips in both the US and internationally are available. Talk to our members who have participated in these amazing mission experiences:
Harry Askin - Russia coordinator
Audrey Walsh - Midwest Mission experience
Nanci Danburg - Midwest Mission experience
Check out the East Ohio Conference website for current trip information and the Volunteers in Mission website.
Youth Work Camp
Our Senior High Youth lead us in Mission as they plan an annual week long mission experience. This year their trip was June 22 - 27 in Grand Rapids, Michigan as part of G.R.A.S.P. (Grand Rapids Area Service Project). The Youth spent their week in the inner city helping those in need. Adult volunteers are always welcome for this awesome experience of encountering God as we build up his kingdom on earth. To read more about our Youth, click here.
Nehemiah Mission
Consider spending a day, a weekend or a week in the great city of Cleveland, Ohio for the glory of God. The Nehemiah Mission (6515 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102), a ministry of the UMC North Coast District, has work for you in homes and churches that need your help!
Work can include building porches or ramps, painting houses, fixing up Sunday School rooms, doing yard work, working in soup kitchens and food pantries, sorting clothes in resale stores and free stores, helping with Vacation Bible Schools, etc. What you will be doing depends on your skills and interests.
Whatever you want to accomplish in the city, Nehemiah Mission can find a place for you to do it! Check out the Nehemiah website for more information: http://www.ncdistrictumc.org/Nehemiah_mission.htm
Still not sure where to serve?
The following organizations will help match you up with health andeducation (or other opportunities) that need your own special gifts andpassions:- Volunteer Center @ Business Volunteers Unlimited (you don'thave to be a "business person" to use this service!): (216) 736-7711 orwww.businessvolunteers.org
- RSVP Cleveland, offers a wide range of opportunities for anyone over 18, but especially for those in retirement: (216)391-9500 or www.rsvpcleveland.org.
- Volunteer Match, a national organization, with links to many local volunteer opportunities, www.volunteermatch.org.
- HandsON Northeast Ohio, organizes hands-on volunteer teams to tackle short-term projects throughout the area. (440)339-2268 or www.handsonneo.org.
Church Outreach Programs
Many UMC churches in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties offer meal programs, child care or after school programs, and other outreach programs in the community. All can use extra hands to help - call the North Coast District office (216) 441-4527 or www.ncdistrictumc.org for suggestions.West Side Community House
West Side Community House, a UMC mission agency, needs volunteers in its Meals on Wheels and other services to seniors, and in day care and tutoring programs for children(216) 771-7297 or www.gbgm-umc.org/westsidecommunityhouseCommunity Corner
Community Corner is an emergency food pantry and resale shop It is located at 8601 Sauer Ave.,Cleveland, OH 44102. Call Lou Keim for more information at (216) 631-6508. Community Corner is one of the ministries of West Side Ecumenical Ministry: www.wsem.orgLearn about Missions with the Mission Team
The people of Westlake UMC are committed to respond to the needs of others through tangible acts of mission, using our God-given time, talents and resources on behalf of others in response to God's love for us.
The Mission Team works to connect all WUMC members to the myriad of opportunities available to serve others. Check out the suggestions below! If you are interested in serving as a team member, speak with Rev. Judy Wismar Claycomb.
WUMC provides significant financial and volunteer support for agencies such as:
- Community Corner emergency food pantry and resale shop
- Sister church relationships with inner-city Cleveland congregations
- "Volunteer in Mission" projects - hands-on work projects locally, nationwide, and in Russia
- Flat Rock Homes and Care Center, a residential care facility for children and young adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities
- Westside Community House, inner-city agency serving low-income neighborhood families with child care, senior programs, meals on wheels, and other programs
- And many other organizations
For more information about mission projects and opportunities for service, watch the Monthly Messenger and weekly bulletin.