We believe that faith is more than just believing a certain set of truths - it's also about how we live in the world. James writes, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:14-17)
We want to put our faith into action and serve together to benefit those in need in our community and around our world. Listed below are a sampling of ongoing opportunities. If there's not something in this list that grabs your heart, we encourage you to seek out ways that you can serve that fit with who you are!
ongoing opportunities
child sponsorship
The Summit sponsors a child in India named Vrinda through Compassion International. The $32 per month that we give to support Vrinda helps provide for her physical needs and education. Three ways you can get involved to care for Vrinda: (1) Pray for her. We have prayer cards that you can take home and put by your bed or on your refrigerator to remember to pray. (2) Write her. Send her an encourage-o-gram or write a letter on the stationary by the Summit mailbox in the youth room. (3) Support her financially. Remember to bring a gift to put in the offering can each time you come to Summit.
summer migrant center outreach
All UCC teens and adults are welcome to join us as we serve the children and moms at the Davis Migrant Center, "Ciudad Del Sol."
Kids' Program: In 2010, we are partnering with the Davis school district to serve as instructional aides and volunteer tutors for kids at the migrant center. Please contact Alex for more information.
Women’s Friday Night Program: We are hoping to run a Friday night program of arts & crafts & friendship for the women at the migrant center. An adult leader is needed to oversee this important ministry, so please contact Alex if you have organizational skills and a heart for serving this underserved population.
grace-in-action
We partner with Grace In Action, a local faith-based community ministry serving homeless individuals by providing compassionate care, spiritual companionship, rest and respite, and referrals to local agencies. GIA runs the Grace House on the southwest corner of 5th & D downtown, where homeless individuals can drop in Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from noon to 4 pm. You can help by helping provide for GIA's ongoing needs.
interfaith rotating winter shelter
The Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter of Davis (IRWS) is a community-based effort enabling member congregations to provide cold-weather shelter and hospitality on a rotating basis to persons who are homeless in the Davis community. University Covenant Church hosted the shelter for two weeks during the 09-10 winter season and looks forward to hosting again in January 2011. During these months, there are many ways you can serve, including joining the Summit during our host night. See the IRWS website for more info.
davis community meals (dcm)
DCM's mission is to provide low-income and homeless individuals and families with housing, food and human services to help them rebuild their lives. The organization provides a Resource Center, Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Program, free meals, Supportive Housing Program, and Cold Weather Shelter. There are numerous ways that high school students can get involved in serving with DCM, from serving in the kitchen on Tuesday nights or Saturday mornings, to providing meals for the Cold Weather Shelter. For more information, visit DCM's Davis Wiki page.
loaves and fishes
Loaves & Fishes, based near downtown Sacramento, feeds the hungry and shelters the homeless, providing an oasis of welcome, safety, and cleanliness for homeless men, women and children seeking survival services. Most volunteers serve in the dining room, where more than 500 people are served lunch daily, but there are other opportunities to get involved as well. Check out the Loaves & Fishes website for more info.
annual spring break missions trip
Many students from The Summit choose to use their spring break each year to serve people in need outside of our local community. Most trips in the past have been to Baja California, Mexico, though our 2009 trip went to serve a Navajo community in western New Mexico. Registration for these trips typically takes place in December or January. See the events page for details.
other opportunities
Often, Summit small groups will plan and carry out their own community impact projects, as they feel led. Groups have served hot chocolate to homeless on the streets of San Francisco through YWAM, engaged in a friendship exchange with an inner city youth ministry in Oakland called Samaritan Neighborhood Center, collecting or sorting food for STEAC, serving with Habitat for Humanity to assist in building homes for low-income families, and many, many more. You and your small group are encouraged to check out local volunteer opportunities so you can be giving back to the community all year long. Check out the Davis Wiki volunteer page for more ideas!
summer ideas
Don't want to sit around in Davis all summer, doing nothing? Looking for a summer opportunity? There are all kinds of options for you to use your God-given gifts to serve others! Be in prayer about what God might be calling you to.
frontier ranch leader-in-training program
Spend 4-6 weeks at Frontier Ranch, the Covenant summer camp for kids in the Santa Cruz mountains, learning about servant leadership. You'll receive discipleship training, counselor training, serve cabinfuls of kids with a regular counselor, and have opportunities to serve the camp in other ways as well (yes, kitchen!). The entire program costs about $500, and there are opportunities to raise funds for it. For more info, visit the Frontier Ranch website and scroll down to the bottom.
volunteer vacations
Combine a family vacation with volunteer work and serve some of the needs in another place rather than just serving yourself. Check out the book Volunteer Vacations or talk to , who have done this each summer for the last four years.
breakaway summer day camp
Maybe you've volunteered for a week with Breakaway summer day camp at UCC before, but did you know how much preparation goes into the week? Why not volunteer a few weeks of your time in the preparation phase? Take on some real responsibility by helping organize volunteers, building sets, organizing stories/games/skits, or assisting with graphic design & promotion of the event! The possibilities are endless and your time will make a big difference! Contact for more information.
city of davis recreation
Volunteer or work with the City of Davis Recreation Programs. Opportunities range from working with kids at Camp Putah or Rainbow Summer, an aquatics program, a community garden, junior basketball league, recreation for people with disabilities, and more. Visit the City of Davis Recreation page for more info.
post-graduation ideas
The following are longer-term opportunities for high school students and high school graduates to serve God and serve others in the world. Check them out and be prayerful about where God might be leading you! We'll be adding more opportunities frequently, so keep coming back! (Please note that none of these ministries are directly endorsed by us nor do we necessarily agree with everything they say or do. Some of these are Christian-based organizations; others are not. YOU need to investigate each organization and see if it's a good fit for you. We also HIGHLY encourage you to prayerfully investigate other organizations that aren't listed here!)
mission year
Spend a year in the inner city, loving God and loving your neighbors through acts of service. www.missionyear.org
ventana ministries
Spend three months in discipleship, community building and training at a camp in Northern California, followed by six months serving the poor in Mexico. www.ventanaministries.com
Serve for a year in an area of your giftedness - sports, theater, music, etc. - with underprivileged kids in the UK. www.optimumgapyear.org/
habitat for humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that builds homes for people in need. A variety of positions are available and new opportunities come up every week. www.habitat.org/ivp/opps/
rotary youth exchange
Rotary is an international, non-sectarian service organization with the motto "service above self." It organizes youth exchanges for over 8,000 students each year to a variety of host countries where students have the opportunity to learn the culture and serve locally. This is one opportunity you do not need to have graduated from high school to participate in. www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/RotaryYouthExchange/Pages/ridefault.aspx
americorps vista
Americorps Vista is a national service program specifically designed to fight poverty in the U.S. This is one of the few opportunities that actually pays you to participate. It's hard work, but does a great service to those in need! www.americorps.org/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp
catholic network of volunteer service
A broad directory of service opportunities all over the world. Searchable engine for length of time, country, type of service, etc. Many of these opportunities provide a small stipend or offer free room and board, so if money is an issue this is a great resource! www.cnvs.org/volunteers/response_directory.php
american field service
AFS is like a non-sectarian version of CNVS above. It connects volunteers to service opportunities worldwide. www.afs.org/afs_or/home
Home