In our ministry as church, we make things happen through our gifts.
Giving is part of our human DNA, and most especially part of our Christian DNA. We give because God gave first the most precious gift of all, Jesus Christ. God gave each of us different gifts and talent to use for God’s glory. They are our spiritual gifts: praying, teaching, healing, preaching, listening, creating crafts, carpentry, and many more.
Each member is encouraged to covenant with God through monetary pledge, an estimated giving for the year, so that the church can responsibly act on God’s call through Salem’s ministries. The pledge does not only respond to the local church’s needs, but also to the “connection.”
Apportionment is another Methodist word that links our local gifts to the worldwide ministry of the United Methodist Church. Apportionment is the connectional giving. It’s as simple as people coming together, combining their money to accomplish something bigger than themselves. United Methodists support apportioned and designated funds through their connectional gifts. By combining several smaller gifts into a larger amount, we can effect change across the world. Individual churches can minister to a small area; however, as a connectional church, we can do big things, all in the name of Jesus Christ.
RAISERIGHT When you purchase a RaiseRight card for your purchases, a percentage of the card will benefit the church. See Mindy Smouse after church or contact her at 857-2066 or e-mail msgmgs@gmail.com. The following RaiseRight gift cards are on hand at church and available for your immediate purchase: Amazon – Applebee’s – Arby’s – Bath & Body Works – BP – Bristol 45 Diner – Buffalo Wild Wings – Burger King – Cabela’s – Chili’s – Chipotle – Tinseltown – Cinemark – Cousin’s Subs – Cracker Barrel – Culvers – Dunkin Donuts – Festival Foods – Gordon Food Service – IHOP – JC Penney – Joann Fabrics – Kohl’s – Kwik Trip – Little Caesars – Lowes – Marathon – Meijer – Menard’s – Mobile – Noodle & Company – Old Navy – Olive Garden – Panera – Papa Murphy’s – Pizza Hut – Red Lobster – Red Robin – Shell – Starbucks – Subway – Taco Bell – Target – Texas Road House – TJ Maxx – Walgreens – Walmart – Wendy’s – Woodman’s
Pennies for Mission is our ongoing project where all of the coins dropped in the collection plate are sent to various missions. Each month a special mission is designated to receive that month’s offering. Begun in 1989, we have measured our pennies in miles with $844.80 in a mile. We have reached our 40th mile and are now “traveling” toward our 41st mile of pennies! That means that since we started Pennies for Mission we have sent over $36,000 to missions all over the world.
Please help support these causes by sending in a check by the end of each month, with a notation in the memo area, and it will be included in our total donation.
Pennies for Missions 2022
January / Shalom Soup Kitchen
February / Feed My Starving Children
March / He Intends Victory
April / Hope Gardens
May / Westosha Senior Center
June / UMCOR
July / Aid Africa’s Children
August / The Sharing Center
September / Literacy Council
October / Operation Smile Train
November / Women’s & Children’s Horizon
December / Goodfellows
The second Sunday of each month the children of the congregation collect a special Noisy Offering with a lively run through the aisles gathering change (and paper money, too!) in tin cans for a loud, boisterous and fun giving experience. Collected coins go to that month’s Pennies for Mission designation.
Impact Community – 8,000 Hour Challenge – We completed 3,971.5 hours of service in 2019. We continue to challenge you in 2020. Our total for 2020 so far is 540 hours. There are many things or acts of kindness you do that would be of service to the community: working on Hope Gardens, working at the Westosha Senior Community Center, supporting a fund-raiser, driving a shut-in to the doctor, grocery store or church, serving at the Soup Kitchen or taking food to a sick friend. Just a few things you may have done and are not aware that these acts of kindness would count towards our community challenge. Please continue to fill out the Impact Community slip and drop it in the collection plate, or email your hours to salemsecretary@gmail.com.