In a recent Sunday service, a member of our Stewardship committee delivered a discussion of the “Second Mile Campaign, Missions and the Apportionment Process.” Apportions are where some of your financial contributions go in support of the greater United Methodist Church and God’s works globally.

So what is this thing called Apportionment and what does it mean to you and your giving to NUMC? An excerpt is provided below with a link to the entire document  published sometime ago by the General Council on Finance and Administration on why we apportion.

Why We Apportion

A Theology of Giving

Using apportionments to support annual conference and denominational
benevolences is a distinctive feature of United Methodism. Apportionment
giving financially underwrites United Methodist ministry and mission beyond
the local church. For some local church members, why the use of
apportionments is a vital expression of faithful stewardship is not clear. This
document, based on the report of the 1997-2000 Connectional Ministry
Funding Patterns Task Force, explores the Biblical, theological and historical
basis for apportionments. Its use is commended with:

• Annual conference councils on finance and administration

• Local church administrative councils

• Local church finance committees

• Local church stewardship committees

• Pastors

• Other finance and stewardship leaders

* This document and other financial interpretation information are available on
the Web site of the General Council on Finance and Administration (http://www.gcfa.org).

The entire document can be downloaded: WhyWeApportion.pdf

Still have questions? Feel free to log on, write in a comment with your questions.

Date: 10/18/2009

Walk: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Newtown, CT   Cochran House, Fairfield Hills Campus, Newtown, CT

CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide — and right here in the U.S. — to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some two million CROP Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their hearts and soles in motion, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world — and in their own communities. And you are part of it!

Newtown United Methodist Church Team (click here to JOIN).

Donate online HERE

Our team is made up of individuals and families that are part of the NUMC community. We would like to encourage you to walk with your family, for families around the world who must walk many miles each day to access food and clean water.

If you are not able to join us this year, please consider a donation (HERE) to help our team raise awareness and funds for international relief and development as well as local hunger fighting agancies.

Over 2000 communities take part in this interfaith event each year. Won’t you help us to walk together and take a stand against hunger in our world??

Thanks,
Betsy
Team Leader/Coordinator
Newtown United Methodist Church Team

Bishop Jeremiah J. Park

Please download and read a letter from Bishop Jeremiah J. Park and his invitation to be a “Partner in Mission” with him. We would like to deliver an envelope to Bishop Park at the NY Annual Conference, Saturday June 13th!

Click image to download PDF

As part of the Famine, the teens will have held pie and bake sales at the church and have also concocted an eye opening fundraiser using of all things . . .  a commode, a privy, a throne . . .  okay, it’s a toilet! But a very unusual toilet!

This Throne's for You!

How will they raise funds with a toilet you may ask?  The idea is for “sponsors” to sign up (and make a $5 donation) to have the throne delivered to their “friends” residences, where the thing sits until a number is called for pick-up. The “victim” calls the pick-up number and makes a $10 donation to have it removed. They also have the option of having it delivered somewhere else ($5 donation) or they can “buy” insurance to prevent it from returning ($5 donation).

[These teens are sensitive and understand if someone does not wish to participate in this activity as they spread the word on hunger.]

Obviously this is all done in fun and a creative way for the teens to spread the word on the mission they are doing to raise money in order to save the lives of starving kids. Annually, more than 9 million children under the age of five die from disease and malnutrition as a result of hunger. But world hunger is 100% preventable and teens from Newtown United Methodist Church are ready to be a part of the solution.

This year 31 N.E.W.S. youth will be traveling to Oakland, Maryland where they will join 350 other students from across the country for the week of June 28 through July 4.  These are youth who may have never made a bed or dried a dish at home, yet for a week during their summer break will sleep on the floor of a school and perform needed home repairs for the elderly, the disabled, and the disadvantaged.  Their work will include painting, building, repairing, or replacing porches, wheelchair ramps, steps, and walls. After a long day of this work, they will return to the school covered with paint, dirt, tar, band-aids, and satisfaction in the knowledge that they actually can make a difference ini another person’s life.

On Sunday, March 22, 2009, the N.E.W.S. representatives from NUMC (Tami, Maggie, and Caitlin) will be passing the “hard hat,” requesting your donation(s) to supplement the cost of the mission trip.

The N.E.W.S. team will be having a fundraiser Breakfast on Saturday April 4, 2009 from 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. at Roberto’s Restaurant, 505 Main Street in Monroe.  NUMC is sponsoring a table for the event and you are more than welcome to join us in supporting our Workcamp youth.  For a seat, please call Pastor Mel (426-9998)  or e-mail him via the contact form no later than March 11th.

Checks should be made payable to “NCC WORKCAMP”

On behalf of the Haiti Task Force and the people of Haiti, the NUMC Outreach Committee thanks you for your support of the work being done in Haiti.

As you have seen on the news, if ever help is needed it is now. We will be sending our second medical team to Furcy this Fall. All supplies should be brought to church by OCTOBER 12th. A basket will be in the Narthex. Thank you for your support!!!

NEEDED MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR HAITI

Antifunguals and Topicals:

• fluconazole (100 mg tablets)
• Gyne-lotrimin (clotrimazole) vaginal cream, clotrimazole 1% topical cream
• 1% Hydrocortisone cream
• Triple anti-biotic ointment (i.e. bacitracin, Neosporin, …)
• Betadine solution (antiseptic for wound care)

Gastrointestinal Meds:

• Tums
• Pepcid (20 mg tabs)

Respiratory:

• Dimetapp elixir
• DM cough syrup
• Benadryl (25 mg caps and children’s elixir)

Analgesics:

• Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 325 mg or 500 mg tabs
• Tylenol liquid; infant drops and children’s suspension
• Ibuprofen

Vitamins:

• Adult tabs
• Children’s chewables
• Infant drops
• Vitamin C; Vitamin E

Miscellaneous:

• Ensure; Boost
• Medicated shampoos (contain selenium)
• Hand sized washcloths

PLEASE: NO CLOTHING, SHOES OR TOYS – NO BANDAGES OR BAND-AIDS -NO TOOTH BRUSHES OR TOOTH PASTE

SUPPLIES FOR ORPHANAGE

• Cloth diapers (no pampers or the like)
• Canned food items (tuna, chicken, beef, etc .. )

PLEASE: NO CLOTHING, SHOES OR TOYS – NO BANDAGES OR BAND-AIDS -NO TOOTH BRUSHES OR TOOTH PASTE

United Methodists have had a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti. As part of the NYAC, the Newtown United Methodist Church (NUMC) raises funds to send mission volunteers from our church, our district and our conference to this area of the globe, where poverty abounds.

A desperately needed medical clinic was built with donations received from NUMC and other UMC congregations. Haiti continues to be one of the major Missions for our church.