National and International Missions
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Who should I send? Who will go for Us?” I said: ” Here I am. Send me.”~Isaiah 6:8
We are a people who believe, and moreover, strive to respond to God’s love in our life by showing that love to others. We do that through our support of state and world missions.
The Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) is an ecumenical Christian ministry that feeds the hungry all year-long by saving fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste and giving it to the needy. SoSA’s unique approach is the “Gleaning Network,” a project that coordinates volunteers, growers, and distribution agencies to salvage food for the needy.
Each year, 35,000 volunteers from churches, synagogues, scout troops, senior-citizen groups, and other groups coordinated by Hunger Advocates participate in Society of St. Andrew gleaning activities. They salvage over 11 million pounds of produce for the poor. Monetary gifts for this program are encouraged from October through November. Locally, gleaners are hard at work in the fields from May-October picking a variety of produce for local and state wide food pantries.
Each year our congregation relief packs kits to take to Annual Conference in June. We primarily take school kits and health kits, although a wide variety of kits are needed. These kits are collected and then distributed any place there is a need. Some end up in other countries and others end up close to home when a disaster strikes. These kits are distributed through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Through the Samaritan’s Purse, we participate in packing shoe boxes to offer hope to children everywhere. These boxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies will begin to fill the church in October. We know that Christ’s love is changed through these small boxes and it is joy to be a part. Look for your shoe box coming to church soon! Or use your own.
Local Missions
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ~1 Peter 4:10
It is our hope that everything we do as the church, whether it is outside the church for others, or inside the church, will witness to God’s great love for us. Serving inside the church is an important gift to the body of Christ. Those who are actively responding to God’s love inside of the church help enable us to live out our vision and call to be the people of Christ.
Food Pantry (year round)
We work year round to support the various area Food Pantries. Items or monetary donations can be brought to Crewe UMC at any time.
Crewe Burkeville Linen Closet (year round)
This program collects new or gently used linens, paper items, and toiletries for those who need it. It is housed at Crewe UMC but we are thankful for the support of many other community churches.
Crewe-Burkeville Crisis Fund (year round)
Our congregation helps support the Crewe-Burkeville Crisis fund for those in our community who are in need. Our local church is unable to assist those who find themselves in difficult situations but we join with other churches to try and help those we can with what we have.
Operation Support Our Students (July-August)
Throughout the summer, the Margaret Winfree Circle sponsors the collection of needed school supplies for Nottoway school students who cannot afford them. Please drop off any of the following supplies in the school supply boxes located in the upstairs and downstairs entrance halls: Glue Sticks, Crayons, Pencils, Highlighters, Large Erasers, 70 Sheet Spiral Notebooks, Filler Paper (wide rule), Marble Notebooks, Pens, Colored Pencils, Small Pencil Sharpeners
We also encourage volunteering, This program involves working with a teacher and meeting one-on-one with a child in the first, second, third or fourth grade. In your time together you may spend time listening to the child read to you or help the child in other areas, such as using flash cards for mathematics. Times and dates are flexible. This does require a background check through the Nottoway School Board Office.
Cub Scouts
We are sponsors of Cub Scout Pack 6537. Cub Scouting is for younger boys and their families, to help them learn strong values and to prepare them for Boy Scouts.
Nottoway Mid-Week Religious Education
Nottoway is one of the last counties in the state of Virginia that allows parents to opt-in to sending their children to religious education during the school week. Once a week, elementary aged children are walked across the street to be taught a bible lesson and make a craft. Each year, all second graders are presented with a bible.
Christmas Mother (November-December)
The program is coordinated by the Aldersgate Sunday School Class at Crewe UMC in partnership with the Crewe Junior Women’s Club. In 2015, we provided Christmas presents for 77 children! In addition to the presents the children receive, there is our Christmas Shop set up for the children to come and pick out presents for the adults in their lives. The Crewe elves are on hand to help with the picking out and wrapping. You can help by contributing money to pay for gifts and clothing or by adopting a needy family or child for the season.
Operation Santa Claus for the Piedmont Geriatric Center (December)
PGH is the only facility in Virginia exclusively for persons 65 and older who are in need of inpatient treatment and evaluation for mental illness and/or dementia. The facility is located in Burkeville. Every year in December, we have an annual Christmas Box event. Specific items needed are: Men & Women: Large, 1X and 2X sizes of jogging suits, sweaters, and pajamas. Warm caps and gloves. Men: Aftershave, undershorts, and t-shirts (1X, 2X), belts, handkerchiefs. Women: Keen-hi stockings, cosmetics, nail polish & remover, cologne, emery boards, scented powders. Other suggested gifts are: Sugar-free candy, cookies, and gum. Playing cards, dominos, large print Bibles, yarn, batteries (size AA), watches, calendars, crayons, coloring books, stuffed animals, cassette players with head-phones, billfolds and change purses.
