Outreach Ministries
We have many opportunities to serve others throughout the year and through various groups.
Takin' it to the Streets on Sunday, May 15
While many of our congregation worshiped as usual on May 15th, a group of 21 from our congregation worshiped the Lord with hammers and paint brushes and trowels. This group used their presence and labor to make God's love real for those who are beneficiaries of the ministry of Jacob's Ladder. We worked on a total of three different homes in the Beltline Community, planting monkey grass, painting and rebuilding a porch.
Music with a Mission Fundraiser and Homemade Pie Auction
On May 21, we gathered together to hear and sing some great music and raise a little money for missions. The music was truly inspired - beautiful and uplifting. Then we moved to the gym for the reception and pie auction, where the entertainment continued with our own Dale Rast as auctioneer. And the best news: we raised $1,658 for missions.
MS Walk
We have supported the Collierville MS Walk for the last several years, with members of our church walking and volunteering the day of the walk. In 2011, our Team CrossRoads, consisting of over 45 children, youth and adults, were proud to represent CrossRoads UMC in the Collierville walk dedicated to the memory of Debbie Keenum. Collins and Debbie Keenum have been previous co-chairs of the annual event and the guiding force behind our involvement over the years. It was a picture perfect day.
We are currently building our team for the 2012 Walk scheduled for March 31, 2012.
United Methodist Neighborhood Centers
For over a century, United Methodist Neighborhood Centers of Memphis, Inc. (UMNC) has been feeding, caring for and empowering the “overlooked or ignored” of Shelby County. CrossRoads Church has had a long history of supporting the ministry of UMNC. The United Methodist Women and especially the Key Women are the back bone of our support of the United Methodist Neighborhood Centers (UMNC). They organize our collection efforts and deliver the collected items to the Centers. We support UMNC with contributions to the UMNC food pantry the first Sunday of each month. We also prepare Thanksgiving food baskets each year. At Christmas, we collect toys for the UNMC toy store. Many of our church members have served or are serving on the Board of Directors. Learn more about the mission and ministry of UMNC here.
Capleville Food Pantry
We support the Capleville UMC Food Pantry with monetary donations the third Sunday of every month. The food pantry serves those in the 38125 &38141 zip codes. The pantry is open on Tuesdays from 11:00 to 1:00. They operate under the guidelines of the Memphis Food Bank with assistance from St. Marks and CrossRoads United Methodist Churches.
Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob's Ladder™ Community Development Corporation is a non-profit corporation founded in 2003 to pursue community building and a neighborhood revitalization agenda in Memphis, Tennessee. They currently are working to revitalize the Beltline community near the University of Memphis. Learn more about Jacob’s Ladder efforts here. We supported Jacob’s Ladder during 2010 and continue our support in 2011. Learn more about CrossRoads involvement here.
QUILTS OF VALOR AT CROSSROADS
In November 2011 we held our first Veteran’s Day Brunch, honoring the Veteran's of CrossRoads UMC. One of our veterans, Jim Wenink, was presented with a Quilt of Valor from his cousin who is a member of the organization.
Jim was so moved by the experience that he starting investigating the possibility of starting a QOV organization in the Memphis area. If enough interest is generated, Jim's cousin, Sue Moats, will come to CrossRoads and do a short seminar to teach those interested how the quilt blocks are assembled. Our immediate goal is to make, for presentation next year, a quilt for all of Crossroad’s veterans. If you are at all interested please contact Jim at 901-414-0178 or call the church office.
For those who have never seen these quilts, the photos are of the quilt Jim received and one that was recently presented to a wounded Marine, by Jim's cousin. Please visit their website at http://qovf.org
Children In Mission
Our children are involved in mission projects throughout the year. Here is a list of current activities.
- The Elementary Class is collecting plastic grocery bags to cut up and turn into "yarn" to be weaved into sleeping mats for the homeless. Please drop off your clean, plastic grocery bags in the Elementary classroom.
- The Preschool Class did a joint project with the New Life Class during the summer of 2011. The children help assemble sack lunches once a month for the homeless.
- The children collected canned goods for Vacation Bible School. The food has been donated to a food pantry.
Youth In Mission
On November 13, the youth (and one youth-to-be) took to the neighborhood across from the church to collect food for the Capleville Food Pantry. We collected 53 non-perishable items in about as many minutes.
From October 23 through Noveber 6, the youth collected change (and paper money) for wells in Africa. Through the generosity of the church, the youth collected $449.22 - enough for more than 4 wells in Uganda!
On September 11, the youth baked cookies then loaded into the church van to take them to the Fire Department around the corner from the church.
On May 15th, the youth went down to the Mississippi River to view the flooding. Then we returned to the church and assembled 3 flood buckets and 12 health kits for the victims of the flood. These items were delivered to First Methodist, Memphis to be given to our neighbors in need.