It’s been a while!

Brittany Carr, a journalism student at UWF did a story on our ministry! Follow the link below to read it and watch the video!

http://brittanymediaconvergence.blogspot.com/2011/02/buckets-of-love-offers-food-friends.html

On April 2 we will have a cookout complete with hamburgers, hotdogs and all the sides. We’ll even have some live music! a proper sign up sheet will be available this weekend for sides, so think about what you would like to sign up for!

I was overwhelmed with the response to visiting with the homeless on Christmas Day. I was planning on my family being the only ones going downtown that day, but I was pleasantly surprised and blessed with about 11 extra elves!

We only saw a few at City Hall, but it was one of the best times I’ve had with the ministry. We got to really talk with them and hang out rather than just going, giving out food and leaving. We shared pictures, stories and chili that day.

On the way home, we stopped and gave out more chili and jackets on Davis Hwy. to some very deserving people. Jeff, you amaze me with your energy and complete boldness in sharing Jesus’ love!

It was a great Christmas day spent with many different friends!

“The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” (Micah 6:8, CEV)

 

While we can’t really do a whole lot about seeing that justice is done, we can surely be merciful and humble.

I think being merciful and humble go hand in hand. Being merciful means to be kind, compassionate and forgiving. Receiving mercy means getting the good treatment that we don’t deserve. Being humble means to put others before yourself. It is the antonym of pride. It goes to reason that you can’t be kind, compassionate and forgiving if you’re constantly putting yourself first.

This verse in Micah needs to be a reminder to us that in all areas of life, especially serving the homeless and needy, we need to be merciful and humble. We need to forgive those that wrong us. We need to keep ourselves from judging. We need to give help and a kind word even if we don’t think someone deserves it. And, if we do these things, it will help us become humble people. The kind of people that God is proud of. James 4:6 says “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

So, let’s work on being humble and merciful in our homes, with our friends, with our co-workers, with our enemies and with those we serve.

 

**Remember, we will have our October meeting on October 30, at 10:45 am in the Most Room.

It’s already October! It’s hard to believe! It will start cooling off soon and we’ll start bringing out our warm clothes, coffee and soups. Here’s a quick glance at what the rest of the year looks like:

October: collect cold weather supplies such as blankets, hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters, socks, etc.
November: Pass out what cold weather supplies we have. Start bringing soups, chilis and coffee.
December: Continue to pass out cold weather supplies. On Christmas Day, we will head downtown and give out backpacks of supplies and hot meals. We will also serve communion and sing Christmas Carols.

Thanks again to everyone who helps out in ANY way!!

God has done A LOT through our group over the past two years.

We have gone from 3 people timidly going around town handing out food, to a van full of youth and cars of adults going to feed and spend time with the homeless at City Hall, of all places. We’ve started integrating devotions and prayer in our time with the needy and the homeless. More important, we’re there and constant.

While I participate and lead short-term mission trips around South America, I strongly believe that missions, in view of the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandment, is more than a week’s visit and a week’s worth of work.

It’s relationship. It’s reliability.

That’s what we are trying to accomplish with our homeless ministry. Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us, so we ought to never leave nor forsake our neighbors. And, by the way, my neighbor isn’t just my best friend next door. It’s the person that I can’t stand to be around. It’s the person that makes me uncomfortable. It’s the person that I choose not to hang out with. It’s the person society rejects. It’s the person you just don’t understand. It’s every man and every woman.

The more we let Jesus work through us and the more we work outside of our comfort zone, the easier it is. We just need to be willing and pliable vessels for Jesus.

Big “thank you” to Dal 3, Trey & Tracey for making the sandwiches,  Dallam making drinks, Kaylee on the cookies. Dal on the fruit and Mrs. Richards and Jay packing things up . . . awesome job all!  We had a small crew this week (all named above) and didn’t have has many guys as usual show up.  There’s supposed to be a Loaves and Fishes BBQ next week, so may not have as many either.  Got everyone fed in record time, then we went to drop off groceries at Jack’s old camp for Gary and Ernie . . . was sad/happy Jack not there . . . miss his great humor, but so glad he’s near family.  Had a little excitement too . . . while feeding I noticed a black car just sitting on an adjacent corner watching us.  When we went across the street he moved to City Hall parking lot where he could still see us.  Then when we left there, he followed us onto the highway and then exited at Fairfield . . . just had one of those ‘hair stand up on the back of my neck’ moments.  Mrs. Richards said it could be an undercover cop just checking us out . . .  just want you to all be aware of your surroundings!

Have a blessed week . . . Happy Mother’s Day to the moms and remember your moms to the rest of you!–Angela

It’s been a while since our last update and that’s because we have been super busy around the church… spring is in the air!!

God has really blessed us with support here at Pace FUMC and in the most unexpected places. Two weekends ago we meet some new friends from World Changing at City Hall. Combined, we provided a hot meal of fried chicken, fried pork chops, baked beans, potato salad, fruit salad, bread, and drinks. It was a great time of fellowship.

Last weekend we continued to meet new people and solidify new contacts.

Jack, one of the first guys we met, will be leaving us soon for the mid-west! He is going to live with his daughter and grandchildren. He will be missed, but we are glad he is going to be with family. PLEASE PLEASE continue to pray for him and that God touches his heart and opens his eyes like He did with Paul!

Thank you again for ALL of your support! This summer is going to be very busy for many of us. Support and perseverance is going to be a must! This Saturday we’ll leave the church at 11:30.

Jenny

I just want everyone to know how incredibly blessed we are in this ministry. Over the past few weeks we have had scores of volunteers and strangers meet us downtown to give us food. God’s hand is definitely in our ministry.

We need to be sure to keep to our 11:00 meeting time. I LOVE everyone’s enthusiasm, but the people whom we feed downtown and the people that meet us there expect us between 11:45 and 12. We also don’t want to leave anyone here at the church!

One last thing…if you would like to be included in our weekly email, either comment with your email address on this page or email me at jennyann.777@gmail.com

Blessings and love!
Jenny

Here is Angela’s weekend update:

“Wow, we had 8 cars of volunteers . . . great turnout!  We had a Navy girl & her friend, a Navy guy and a Marine who all saw one of our websites/blogs (never got the complete story on that), show up at church to volunteer.  We also had Mary, Roxy, Robbie, Dal, Dallam, Shane, Levi, Tracey & her two kids (sorry I don’t know their names!), me, Jay, Solon,  and Blake. . . seems like I’m forgetting someone!  We served over 50+ people, handed out supplies and had some great fellowship.  Stopped by Jack, Ernie & Gary’s campsite afterwards to drop off food . . .  Jack now has a table and chair and a small camping stove . . . so told him I’d just bring him groceries next week J  We also met two ladies from World Changing Thrift Store, who’s church wants to do a “Hot meal” with us the 2^nd Saturday of April . . . more on that later.”

These past few weeks have been great for fellowship! A few weeks ago, Kaycee Lagarde did a journalism piece on our ministry. She did a great job!! You can check it out here:

For the past two weekends, we have gotten food donations WHILE we were at the park! Thanks to the Waterfront Rescue Mission for giving us tons (literally) of bread. This will last us for about 2 or 3 weeks. Last weekend a lady who catered a breakfast at a local church brought us the leftover bacon, sausage, pancakes, and cinnamon rolls.

Continue to pray that we make a lasting difference in the community and in the lives of those we touch. Pray that GOd keeps us humble and passionate.

Good afternoon everyone!

Last Saturday we had another fantastic day of fellowship. The mardis gras parade was taking place right in front of us (my first ever mardis gras parade and it was CRAZY!) But, we still continued on. We fed and met about 30 people.

This Saturday, we’re going to start the worship aspect. I’ll bring out some songs and my guitar. If you play guitar, bring yours too!

I’ve added some pictures that Michelle has taken to the blog.

Hope to see you all Saturday, and if not then, on Sunday.