We are strangers called by God to be brothers and sisters - to be a community of people set apart in the world to be faithful to Jesus Christ. We are called in mission to and with our neighbors, especially those searching for a church home in the University community.

Outreach Opportunities
WMUMC participates in a number of local, conference, and international missions.

• Virginia Conference
  May Edition of the Virginia Conference Laity E-News
  This month’s newsletter is posted on the WMUMC hallway bulletin board.  It can also be read on the Conference website: http://www.vaumc.org/repository/Laity/Newsletters/May07.pdf.
  
  2007 Virginia Conference
  School of Christian Mission in Blackstone
  This year’s Conference School is holding a weekend session July 27-29 and a week session July 30-August 2. It is an opportunity to learn about being partners in God’s global mission and to grow spiritually through study, worship, and Christian fellowship. Registration deadline is July 16, and registration forms with a detailed description of the Schools are available on the center table of the sanctuary or in the church office (contact Bill, Administrative Assistant, for a copy). For more information contact the Conference Mission Office at 800-768-6040, or check the flyer on the hallway bulletin board.
   
• Wesley Community Child Care Center
   
• Russian Initiative
   
• Hope House
   
• Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity - We are a Covenant Church with the local unit and regularly participate and co-sponsor houses.
  
  Volunteers Needed at Habitat for
  Humanity Store New
  The Habitat Store, located at 1221 Harris Street in Charlottesville, needs volunteers to help with customer service and processing donations. The Store sells new and used building materials donated by the local community. Proceeds go towards the construction of

  Habitat for Humanity homes in the Charlottesville area. Many vacancies! The Habitat Store relies on volunteers to help with cashiering, answering phones, customer service, donation pick-up and processing, cleaning and maintaining the Store, recycling, marketing and special events. 2-4 hour commitment on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis in a fun, laid-back work environment. Interested? Contact Carla, the new Volunteer Coordinator, at 293-6331 or carla@cvillehabitatstore.org. Or see the pink notice on our Community Notices bulletin board in the hallway.
   

• Buckingham Project - An annual Christmas project to help local families during the holiday season.
   
• People and Congregations Involved in Ministry (PACEM)
  A good meal and a warm safe place to sleep (indoors) is not a lot to ask. It’s something most of us take for granted but is not always a sure thing for everyone in our community.  As a host congregation participating in the PACEM homeless shelter program, WMUMC opened its doors to offer food and shelter to homeless men from March 2—March 16.  It takes many compassionate hearts and hands working together for this ministry to succeed. This year, we were blessed to have three partners sharing responsibility for providing food and volunteers. Folks from Ivy Creek UMC, Christ Episcopal Church and the Church of the New Beginnings all pitched in to help. The Wesley Community Child Care Center and the Wesley Foundation provided support as well.  Careful planning and organization let members of each congregation simply “plug in” wherever their time, talents and comfort level allowed. The number of men staying at WMUMC ranged from 22-33 a night. On March 17, PACEM moved on to the next host—our partner congregation, Ivy Creek. They stepped forward to host when it appeared that PACEM itself was about to become homeless. The PACEM spirit IS contagious! 
  
  Meals on Wheels
   
• Charlottesville Housing Foundation
   
• Piedmont Housing Alliance
   
• Ronald McDonald House
  
  Ronald McDonald House Volunteers Needed!
  Providing dinner for the residents of Ronald McDonald House on the second Sunday evening of each month is a mission activity of Wesley Memorial. Each month one member of the Ministry to the Community and World team will coordinate the dinner. If you personally or a group would like to help, sign the sign-up sheet in the hall or contact any member of the team. Thanks for your support. 

  A Note of Thanks from the Staff of
  Ronald McDonald House
  “To the Good Cooks at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church—Thank you so much for your continued support of our families here at the Ronald McDonald House.  Coming back at the end of the day to a good meal is such a blessing.  Our families are very grateful.  Our community does a wonderful job reaching out to these families and we appreciate the role you play in that outreach.  Thank you!”
   

• The Emergency Food Bank -  The volunteers of the Emergency Food Bank are sincerely grateful for the faithful support of the Wesley congregation and the WCCCC. When clients pick up food from the Emergency Food Bank, they are allowed to choose several items from an "extras shelf". The shelf is stocked with things not included in the regular bag they receive--things like sugar,  baking mixes, coffee, tea and condiments, etc. are very much appreciated. The date of the next food drive will be Communion Sunday, July 1.  The "food of the month" will be "Extras" (any of the items listed above). ANY donation will be greatly appreciated!
   
• IMPACT
  IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together) is a grassroots initiative bringing a diverse group of congregations together to live out our religious traditions' call for justice. Wesley Memorial became involved with IMPACT last year. IMPACT is already making a big difference in Charlottesville (there were 1,600 people at the meeting with public officials a month ago, who shared a commitment to address transportation and housing issues in Charlottesville). It's an exciting ministry to be a part of.

Volunteer Opportunities
The Outreach Committee has put together a list of local organizations that are always seeking volunteers.  Volunteer Opportunities Booklet is a list of organizations and contacts.

WMUMC is a Green Church
Wesley Memorial tries to be a faithful steward of all Creation and, therefore, tries when possible to use only recycled products or products that do the least harm to the environment. You won’t find Styrofoam or bleached paper products in our church cupboards. We hope to set an example and thus invite any and all to join us in our attempts to be caretakers of Creation.