Missions & Social Concerns

The Missions and Social Concerns Committee is one of the ways Arcata United Methodist Church expresses God’s love in the world. Our goal is to enable the congregation to be the minds, hearts, hands and feet of Christ that respond to those in the world who are victims of natural disaster, poverty, injustice, disease and violence, or who just need a little TLC (tender, loving care). We set the giving agenda for the church’s monthly communion offerings; promote small sustainable farming by making Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate available to the congregation; bring attention to special needs such as UMCOR Advance Specials for disaster response; mentor outreach groups within the church like the Thursday Tiny Tots Play Group; promote responsible use of natural resources by collecting and recycling ink jet printer cartridges; coordinate meals for the homeless and hungry of our community at the Arcata Night Shelter, and lead the church into the community by sponsoring the root beer float booth at the Arcata 4th of July festival on the Plaza.

Some highlights of the work of the Missions and Social Concerns Committee:

The Missions committee coordinates the Communion Sunday offerings at Arcata UMC. These offerings include the six Churchwide Special Sundays in which all Methodist congregations participate, as well as additional Sunday offerings that benefit local, state, national and global organizations such as Arcata House, Eureka Rescue Mission, Fred Finch Youth Center, Heifer International, and the North Coast Resource Center (formerly Arcata Endeavor).

The Missions committee also mentors special programs such as the Thursday morning Tiny Tots Play Group and the Sunday morning Breakfast Ministry, which prepares and delivers breakfast to homeless people.

One of the local ongoing missions of the Arcata UMC is to participate in the Extreme Weather Shelter, a program coordinated by the North Coast Resource Center. Throughout the year, and especially in winter, AUMC along with other churches open our doors to provide shelter to homeless people during extreme weather, such as cold, rain, and wind.