MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Faith and Justice Activities in Missoula
Family Promise:
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members volunteer for rotations
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fundraising help
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collaboration with other churches
Poverello Sack Lunches:
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Collaborating with other churches to create 200 sack lunches in our church per week since Fall of 2021
Missoula Interfaith Collaborative (MIC) since 2012:
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Coordinated annual drive to raise funds for Missoula Food Bank
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Volunteer with MIC's Housing Advocate Network
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Helped with fundraising for the Meadowlark Family Center
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Helped found Common Good Missoula
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Host an annual concert fundraiser for MIC
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Request funding from our First UMC Foundation for MIC annually
Safe Parking Program:
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Provide support to another church that has parking spaces
Common Good Missoula (CGM): First UMC is a member organization
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Hosted Table Talks to help engage community members in identifying issues to be addressed through Our Missoula code reform and land use plan revisions
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Advocates for the Neighborways
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Contributing to the work of CGM's Zoning and Housing Action Research team and their recent recommendations for principles to guide code reform and land use planning
Reintegration Simulation:
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Partnered with Parole and Probation, Partners for Reintegration, and Welcome Back to host a "Reintegration Simulation" for community members to experience the barriers for citizens returning from incarceration
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Hosted an Art Show of original work by jail inmates on First Friday Gallery Walk
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Currently offering rehearsal and performance space for the No Joke Theater improvisational troupe of returning citizens
Tzedakah Pocket ministry:
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Raises freewill donations weekly from our church members, specifically to provide emergency funding for people who are houseless or facing the threat of losing housing
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In 2023 we raised and gave away $12,400.
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Coordinate this assistance with other community resources
Reconciling Ministries:
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We are vocal advocates and allies for the LGBTQIA+ and offer safe and inclusive worship space for all
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Annual participants in the Missoula Pride Parade
Environmental Initiatives:
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Have a Green Team that continually identifies activities to improve environmental quality and combat climate change
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Installed 66 solar panels on our roof
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An active recycling program for the church and it's members to use
Other United Methodist Projects:
♥ Angola – pastor’s salary program
♥ Browning United Methodist Parish - BUMP
♥ Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp Website
♥ Intermountain Home - Helena Website
♥ Wesley Campus Ministry – University of Montana
Local Projects:
♥ Family Promise – homeless families with children Website
♥ Healing Communities – welcome returning citizens and support for their families
♥ Missoula County Detention Center Art Show Inside Out
♥ Missoula Food Bank Website
♥ Missoula Interfaith Collaborative Website
♥ Common Good Missoula Advocacy Group
♥ Queergiving Thanksgiving donations
♥ Soft Landings and Refugee Mentor Teams through Missoula IRC Website
♥ YWCA – Health kits for battered women Website
State, National, and International Projects:
♥ Bread for the world – ending world hunger Website
♥ Faith and Climate Action MT
♥ Habitat for Humanity Website
♥ Jubilee - debt reduction for the world Website
♥ Montana Association of Christians - legislative advocacy inspired by Mathew 25
♥ Reconciling Ministries Network - advocating for full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the UMC Website
♥ SERRV – fair wages for craft workers Website
♥ UMCOR – Disaster Relief around the world. Website
♥ United Women of Faith Missions – serving women, children and youth Website