Mission and Service
God wants us to help one another! The heartbeat of our community is a desire to serve. We are strongly connected to our local neighborhood and believe that serving starts at home. We have active partnerships with University City schools as well as multiple area agencies. Our Tuesday food pantry serves over 5,000 families each year, and both our Missions/Breitmayer and Social Justice teams work hard to build new partnerships and direct our financial support.
We also believe that our service pushes us to support our sisters and brothers across the country and the globe, and we have several events throughout the year that help us build relationships, alleviate food insecurity, and fund emergency relief. As it says in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So, stay prayerful, and let us know what God wants you to do at Grace!
Missions & Breitmayer Community Ministry
The Missions & Breitmayer Community Ministry Team leads the congregation in providing services and funding to assist those who need help in our local community and beyond. It makes decisions as to special offerings and initiatives with respect to solicitations to the congregation for monetary or in-kind donation assistance, and it decides how funds from both the regular Missions budget (available for international or any needs) and the available Breitmayer funds (focusing on needs in the local community) are to be utilized. The team meets several times each year and, in addition to making funding decisions, plans and implements events and activities that provide opportunities for members of the congregation to get involved in volunteering in the community.
Food Pantry
Our food pantry works to serve the surrounding community with love and support. Each week over 200 hours are dedicated by an average of 25 volunteers to serve up to 100 neighbors. We believe this vital ministry helps us fulfill the mission of Christ. “When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat.” (Matthew 25).
Pantry Hours: Tuesday, 9:45 am - 11:45 am
Social Justice
The work of the Social Justice Team is designed to break down societal structures which cause harm to our communities, result in suffering, and necessitate care from groups like Grace UMC’s Missions Team. Inspired by the commitment to “accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves,” the Social Justice Team works to confront the root of injustice and suffering in our world and to renounce the wickedness and repent of the sin that is within us as individuals and as a church. The Social Justice Team is committed to breaking down the walls of silence that are erected within the church, often unintentionally, and which preserve the status quo and stifle the voices of the suffering. They lead the congregation in this work by highlighting different sources of injustice faced by the community each month, as well as actions each person can take to participate in the struggle for justice.
Discipleship
Discipleship can mean several things. Our goal is to figure out what it will mean to us and how it will help us grow as beloved of God. We are thrilled to offer two classes (PreK-2nd and 3rd-5th) on Sunday mornings at 9:30am to help our younger church members to learn how to make wise choices, build stronger relationships, and develop a deeper faith. We have also launched a new series called “Short Course,” consisting of 2-3 week classes on a variety of topics, which will meet Sunday mornings at 9:30 am.
Congregational Care
The Congregational Care Team helps our family feel connected. The team conducts visitations of members of our church community who are not in fellowship with us in person, with a focus on those who are homebound.
Worship
The Worship Team is responsible for planning the worship services at 8:30 and 10:30 on Sunday mornings as well as additional holiday services. This team designs a cohesive worship experience on a weekly basis so that all gathered may experience the grace of God and love of community.
