FAIRFIELD GRACE AND JESSE LEE YOUTHS HOST A MIDNIGHT RUN

When nine high-school aged youth staggered in the door at 3:00 AM after a night on the streets, their parents showed no concern.  They didn’t check for slurred speech, blood shot eyes, or signs of mischief.  They knew in fact that their children were roaming the streets of New York City on a mission — A mission to bring assistance and compassion to those in need.

For several months now, the Congregations of both Fairfield Grace and Jesse Lee Methodist Churches have been rallying their Youth in collecting clothing, blankets, toiletries, and food donations in preparation for this Midnight Run.  Hundreds of dollars in monetary contributions, food supplies, and donated items were garnered.

On Thursday, March 28^th, after hours of preparing close to 200 sandwiches, filling lunch bags, making soup, organizing toiletry bags and sorting clothing, the youth loaded in vans and headed to the streets of Manhattan.  Arriving at 10:00 PM, they spent the next four hours combing the streets helping those in need.  They passed out supplies and hot beverages, distributed warm clothing, left lunch bags next to those sleeping on the sidewalks, and most importantly, these youth interacted with dignity and respect to those who have so little.  They understood that respect can reaffirm the humanity of a person at a time when homelessness seems to have stripped it away.  “Hearing their stories and the circumstances which led to their current situation was a real eye opener” stated 15 year old Nick Leppla.

Through this worthwhile endeavor, these youth were able to see the homeless as real people, and the homeless men and women learned that these teenagers have commitments and concerns that go beyond their own lives and families.  These late night relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, understanding and affection.  That human exchange is the essence of the Midnight Run.  And Hunter Rempe felt that “Our homeless brothers and sisters were very appreciative of our efforts.  It felt good to give back to the community”.

So the next time your child states they want to roam the streets of New York City, they just may be up to something good!Midnight Run, headquartered in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., is a nonprofit union of more than 100 churches, schools and communities in the metropolitan area, and throughout the United States. It was established to deliver clothing, blankets, food and toiletries to the homeless and oversees the process of material distribution of volunteers.  For further information, visit www.midnightrun.org.

Join us for a family fun fellowship event!

Saturday, May 18th
Fellowship Hall
5:30pm – 7pm

Family, Friends, and Children welcome!

Please bring coins to mark your card,
and donate them when you’re done!

Event activities include:

• Special message from the Newtown UMC Ministry Team.
• Musical offerings by children’s & adult’s choirs, as well as a steel drum band
• Recognition of new lay servants
• Updates from Race & Religion and Vital Congregations

Car-pooling is recommended.  Churches are invited to bring a finger food to share at the reception.

Contact Heather Sinclair at 203-929-3537 or click on brochure for more information.

 Our very own Pastor Kun Sam Cho will be attending the Ecumenical Korea Peace Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on May 15-17.

The event is being sponsored by key organizations in the Korean faith community: Korean American National Association of the UMC, Committee on the Korean Reunification and Reconciliation, General Board of Global Ministries, UMC, United Methodist Women, Korean Ministry Plan, UMC, National Council of Churches in Korea, National Network of Korean United Methodist women.

Keynote speakers will include

• The Most Rev. Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori (Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, USA), 
• Rev. Syngman Rhee (former President, National Council of Churches USA /former Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCUSA), 
• Dr. Christine Ahn (Executive Director, Korea Policy Institute /Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Global Fund for Women), 
• Rev. Dr. Jaejung Lee (Chair Professor at the Sungkonghoe University, Seoul /former Minister of the Ministry of Unification, Republic of Korea), and 
• Bishop Hee-Soo Jung (Resident Bishop, United Methodist Church Wisconsin Area /Chair, 2013 Ecumenical Korea Peace Conference Planning Committee).

If you are interested in joining, please see attached forms and contact Rev. Cho for more information.

Korea Peace Conference Poster

Korea Peace Conference Brochure

Korea Peace Conference Registration Form

Step right up!  Join us at Fairfield Grace for the 2013 Vacation Bible School, Everywhere Fun Fair:  Where God’s World Comes Together! on Monday, August 19^th through Friday, August 23^rd, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

To register, mail in the attached form: 2013 Vacation Bible School Registration Form

We are bringing a global fair to the kids at our Vacation Bible School, Everywhere Fun Fair:  Where God’s World Comes Together!  Your children will become neighbors at Everywhere Fun Fair as they explore God’s welcoming love and discover how Jesus teaches us to be great neighbors.

After a high-energy opening at Friendship Central, the neighbors make their way to the Bible Bazaar.  Interactive Bible lessons reveal five Friendship Phrases for living as the kind of neighbor Jesus teaches us to be, and your neighbors will discover Scripture Souvenir memory verses that will boost their faith long after VBS.

The children will expand on what they’ve discovered by participating in a variety of activities:  making their own art projects at the Creation Zone, singing new music at the Choral Corner, participating in recreational activities at Global Games, and enjoying tasty snacks at the Eatery Expo.

To find out more about Everywhere Fun Fair, call the church office at 203-374-6528 or email Patty at prj@discala.com.

For those wanting to volunteer their time: 2013 VBS Volunteer Form