UCC's Faith, Compassion, & Justice Ministries

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purpose


Our purpose is to seek the transforming power and love of God to :
  1. bring help to the hurting in our world through acts of compassion and
  2. to end the structural reasons for those hurts through acts of restorative justice.
We seek to equip the UCC congregation with the biblical principles to develop ideas, strategies and partnerships for action according to Micah 6:8, "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

For more information, contact Steve Hampton.

If you want to receive Faith, Compassion, and Justice email notices (about once a month) about various ministry opportunities around town and farther afield, contact Steve Hampton.

ministries and service opportunities:

h.e.l.p. ministry (help, encouragement, love and prayer)

This is a ministry for those who face the challenges of a family member or close friend with mental illness. The monthly gatherings (4th Monday of each month) give opportunities to share our concerns and pray for one another in a community where there is understanding and encouragement. It is also a time to learn of current mental health opportunities in Yolo County and Sacramento. For more information, contact Noma Wilken.

grace in action

Grace in Action is a faith-based community ministry serving homeless individuals by providing compassionate care, spiritual companionship, lunches twice a week, and referrals to local agencies. For more information on how to get involved in this ministry and to download the Minister of Hospitality application, please check our web site. You may also contact , Hospitality Coordinator, or call her at 575-2893.

We are currently looking for someone from UCC to be our liaison to Grace in Action. 

Changes in Clothing Donation Program:
We are no longer accepting miscellaneous bags of clothing. Instead, please consign your donated clothing to the Grace in Action account at All Things Right & Relevant (1720 E. Eighth Street). Funds from this consignment account will allow our homeless guests to purchase needed clothing or shoes for a job interview or special occasion.

interfaith rotating weather shelter

In Jan-Feb 2010, UCC hosted two weeks of the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter for the homeless.  This was a great time to get to meet some new friends, serve some hot meals, and provide a warm, dry place for people to sleep during a cold winter.  We will do it again ;in winter 2010-11.

sandwich brigade

This is a fun thing to do one afternoon a month in your own kitchen with a few friends or your small group. Kids enjoy helping. You purchase sandwich makings and fruit, make 25 sandwiches for homeless individuals, and deliver them to the Davis Cold Weather Shelter. You can do this on a one-time basis or every month. Contact .

sponsor a social worker

Our group continues to meet once a month to take "our" Child Protective Services social worker out to lunch or brunch. We provide listening ears and encouragement to her. Those who would like to join us are asked to contact Susan Cosio or Lonna Hampton for more information. We also collect items needed by the families served by our CPS social worker. Current needed items: boys’ new underwear, all sizes, and new boys’ socks, all sizes; new hairbrushes and hair accessories for girls. Snacks and drinks for the visitation area are always needed as well.
Contact or .

summer migrant center outreach

All UCC teens and adults are welcome to join us as we serve the children and moms at the Davis and Madison Migrant Centers.

We are currently looking for someone to coordinate UCC outreach to the migrant centers. 

environmental and social stewardship team

Recognizing that our consumer choices here affect the people and environment on our entire planet, the Environmental and Social Stewardship team seeks to: 1) find ways that UCC can reduce its use of resources and any negative impacts of them; 2) educate the congregation about these issues; and 3) provide ways that the congregation can be better stewards in their individual lives. Projects have included a Sunday school class; improving recycling at the church; and the publication of the Simple Lifestyle Newsletter (past issues are available at the bottom on this page). For more information or to join the Simple Lifestyle Newsletter email list, contact .
 

hopewalks

HopeWalks is a fundraiser with a variety of fun activities for families.  It raises funds for Sahaya, an organization in Davis that supports service projects in India and Kenya (including support for AIDS orphans and handicapped children, and for womens' microfinance groups).  One of the projects that Sahaya supports is a school in Nagaland, northeast India, founded by UCC's own Vennyei Angshing.  This year HopeWalks will be Sunday, October 17, 2-4pm, at Arroyo Park.  For more information, see http://www.sahaya.org/hopewalksdavis.html

vetmerge

VetMerge stands for "merging the love of Christ with veterinary medicine." VetMerge works on three levels: it sponsors mission trips to remote areas (e.g. Mexico, Honduras, American Indian reservations) where veterinarians can serve the local people and where there is a local church to partner with, it works to strengthen the faith and missional understanding of vet students and veterinarians, and it reaches out locally to people in the veterinary profession. Contact .

little flock childrens home

This ministry in India seeks to provide a home for 100 children. Each year UCC members join others in providing medical care, teaching, or other expertise for the home and for the adjacent villages. See their website. Contact .

education:

race, faith & community team 

This team puts on Sunday school classes and programs for the congregation to challenge us to take up the ministry of reconciliation that has been entrusted to us as Christians. If the church is the body of Christ and God's agent of reconciliation in the world, why does racial division and inequality persist in our country, even among Christians? How do racial issues affect the unity, vitality and missional effectiveness of the church? If you would like to be part of a team that is seeking God's heart in answer to these questions, we would love to have you join us. Please contact  Cathy Sacks.

other fcj classes

The Faith, Compassion, and Justice team puts on other classes on an occasional basis. For information or suggestions, contact .  We will be continuing a class in Septemeber, examining some of the Resolutions adopted by the Covenant denomination.  We have looked at resolutions regarding the Kingdom of God, abortion, war, poverty, and immigration, and we will look at more issues in the future.

other resources:

faith & social justice study group

This multi-denominational, Bible-based study group seeks to integrate our faith, politics, and lifestyle by studying, discussing, and taking action on social justice issues both locally and abroad. We meet twice a month for lively discussions of Scripture and contemporary books. We believe that we have been called to care for the earth and all its people with love and justice. We meet the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Potluck at 6pm, discussion afterward. Please contact for location and details.

simple lifestyle newsletters

These one-page newsletters come out every few months and provide tips on how to make consumer choices that don't negatively impact the environment or the poor, especially overseas. They are an outgrowth of a Sunday school class on the topic. To receive the newsletter via email, contact .

Past issues are available here:

    No. 1 Jan 2007
    No. 2 Mar 2007
    No. 3 May 2007
    No. 4 July 2007
    No. 5 Oct 2007
    No. 6 Nov 2007
    No. 7 Apr 2008
    No. 8 Sept 2008
    No. 9 Feb 2009
    No. 10 Sept 2009
    Index of issues 1 thru 10