Church & Society

MANNA

Bring canned and other non-perishable items to church and place them in any of the grocery carts.

Families and children (even those near our church) are hungry every day. White Oak Ecumenical Outreach Ministries (The HEM) help many who are desperate for food and others who are ‘food insecure’ to obtain assistance at the FOOD BANK of NC distribution in Swansboro.

We are guided by the idea of Biblical MANNA: Exodus 16:16. Manna is God’s food. It is sufficient, abundant, blessed, delicious, and – is necessary EVERY day.

The Second Sunday Food Collections continue to be an important SUMC mission effort. The staff at Silverdale Elementary School sent a note of appreciation to our church. Due to our generosity, more needy student/families have been added to those being helped. As a result, "Manna," our SUMC hunger emphasis committee, is suggesting that our Second Sunday food collections will go regularly to Silverdale.

The food items suggested by the school’s staff, include: instant oatmeal, grits or cereal, peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna or white chicken, apple sauce, granola bars and crackers. Microwaveable beans-wieners, macaroni/cheese, beef ravioli, spaghetti/meat balls, and soups are also listed.

"Manna" is also seeking volunteers for our increasingly busy mission work. Call Susan Del Grande (910.326.3316 or Jim Brewster (910.478.9727) to help.

GET the HABIT! Food will be collected every 2nd SUNDAY.

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Hammock’s Beach Marsh Tour

Our Church/Society Committee sponsored a Hammock’s Beach Marsh Tour arranged especially for our congregation —Thurs., October 27th, 10:00 a.m. It was a beautiful day and most enjoyable trip for about 24 of us on the state park’s comfortable pontoon boat while listening to a guide’s description of the area’s history and wild life. Benefts went to Wounded Warriors.

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Manna's Experience Gleaning Corn

Twenty seven children, youth and adult SUMC folks traveled 65 miles early Monday morning, June 27 to join more than a hundred others from six area churches in gleaning fifteen acres of sweet corn at the Tip Top Farm near Rose Hill, NC.

They picked enough corn to completely fill the back of a pick-up truck. The corn was brought to the Rotary Club center in Swansboro in time for the monthly free food distribution to the needy in our area.

Transportation was furnished by our church bus, Frank Cizerle, driver, Yana Franz (SUV)  and Jim Brewster (van). The pickup truck was driven by Derwin Trigleth.

The gleaning event, the first in a number of years for our church, was sponsored by the Society of Saint Andrew, Derwin Trigleth-representative and “Manna,” our local church hunger-emphasis. Organizers were more than pleased that so many participated, given the characteristic short notice of this sort of opportunity.

Manna was organized a year ago after several SUMC members participated in a hunger awareness seminar in Washington, DC, sponsored by the Church and Society committee. Since then they have helped the congregation to become more aware of hunger issues in the Swansboro area: holding monthly food drives for the Food Bank, the HEM and for the Silverdale Elementary School children; sponsoring worship, a potluck dinner and film; holding a demonstration by local chefs; highlighting local seafood and farm production at the SUMC EnviroFair in May. This fall, Manna will help organize a “Stop Hunger Now” event in our community.  All these activities responding to SUMC’s purpose to “serve the world.”

EnviroFair - 2011

• List of Local Farms, Bakery, Meat Producers
• Recipe for Lentils & List of useful recipe books
• Ideas for using Quinoa
• Chocolate Bundt Cake with a Secret
• Fab-u-less Fiber Balls
• Wholesome Morning Granola & Maple-Almond Granola
  

ORGANIZED BY SUMC’S CHURCH AND SOCIETY COMMITTEE AND MANNA EMPHASIS

Meet the Chefs

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We had our HUNGRY FOR JUSTICE seminar at the United Methodist Building - now a symbol of justice and peace worldwide. SUMC members were the ONLY people at this seminar since they planned it just for us. See a description of our trip and more pictures on our "SUMC Trips" page: http://www.SwansboroUMC.org/Trips.html.

The SUMC group ready to head out for D.C. July 28, 2010.

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Contact Jim Brewster at 910.478.977 or jamesbrew@juno.com for additional information about SUMC Church & Society.

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SUMC and Fair Trade from Equal Exchange

Fair Trade means small farmers get a fair wage with NO slave labor used. Find us after each Sunday service - near the office and anytime the office is open. Need to know more about the coffee roasts/flavors? Go to the Interfaith Equal Exchange.

Click here to view the variety of products available through Swansboro UMC and to order Fair Trade Coffee, Chocolate or Tea.
Please note: Chocolate bars are not available during warm summer months.

In our congregation, a women's group, youth group, mission or peace and justice committee can sponsor an UMCOR Coffee Project tasting event with coffee, tea, chocolate or hot cocoa. Then, as you enjoy this high-quality taste treat, take time to learn more about its impact on the people who grow it. Read about coffee farmers or cacao growers and the ways in which the church is helping people like them. Discuss issues of justice in the global marketplace and take action in the spirit of love. United Methodist Churches have sustained UMCOR's ministries of relief and development for more than 60 years. Being creative, we can also make a difference in this new way.

For more information, blog at www.SmallFarmersBigChange.coop, visit www.EqualExchange.coop, call 212.870.3877 or write to UMCOR Coffee Project, Room #330, 475 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10115.

Equal Exchange is excited to add 6 new organic teas into the mix:
Green, Mint Green, Chai, Chamomile, Vanilla Roobios, & Peppermint 
Black tea can be ordered if SUMC members request it.

All are well below cost of organic teas in area stores. 

Equal Exchange worked hard (with many hours of tasting!)
       to bring you the perfect new products.

BOLD NEW COFFEE BAG: To sell more coffee for their farmer partners, Equal Exchange redesigned their coffee bag. The new design better reflects the connection to small farmers and our bold work in building a more just food system.