Settlement Houses

This is some more of the article from New World Outlook

The Settlement House Movement in United Methodism

Church Women's Role

   The settlement house movement coincided with the formation of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the 1880 and the Women's Parsonage and Home Mission Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1890.  Soon, hundreds of local home mission societies were organized across both branches of Methodism, African-American Methodist women were also organizing and finding their voice during this time.

   The women's home mission societies were influenced by the Social Gospel movement and a growing awareness of the church's role in society.  Women in both the Northern and Southern United States were concerned about immigration, industrialization, and social change Poverty, child labor, unequal pay, and other social issues were of concern to the growing city mission field.

   As home missions developed, the idea of the settlement houses as a place of mission, spiritual development, and outreach became increasingly attractive.  Leaders of women's societies -- such as Belle Bennett, Lucinda Helm, and Lucy Webb Hayes -- admired the work of Jane Addams and Graham Taylor in Chicago.  While the first Methodist settlement house were in the North, in Boston and Chicago, Wesley Community House, the first settlement house in the South, opened in Nashville in 1901.  It was soon followed by houses in Augusta, Dallas, and Atlanta.  In 1903 Bethlehem Center in Augusta became the first Methodist settlement house focused on the needs of the African-American community.  It was followed by Bethlehem centers established in Chattanooga in 1905 and Nashville in 1914.

This article is from the March/April 2014  New World Outlook

the article is written by Michael Feely, he is the director of Mission Advancement at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky

Interested in this article?  Want to know more about the Settlement House Movement?

then pick up this next book for our April book discussion.

Lifting Up hope, Living Out Justice

by Alice G. Knotts

Soup Supper and Discussion

Tuesday, April 8th 6:00 p.m.

in the Church Parlor

Please let us know if you are coming sign up sheets at Welcome Table between services and copies of the book to check out at the UMW bookshelf in the parlor.

 UMW are hosting a 

Maundy Thursday Breakfast and Service

9:30 in Fellowship Hall

A Continental breakfast will be served followed by our speaker

Rev. Katurah Johnson speaking on Settlement Houses

This event is open to everyone.

Crafting Weekend

Friday April, 25th 5 - 9

Saturday April, 26th 8-3

Join us to fun, fellowship and finishing up projects

It has just been announced that they are opening up one day tickets to assembly for those who can not spend the whole weekend. 

Check it out here.Unitedmethodistwomen.org

Mother Daughter Tea
May 4th 1:30 - 3:30
tickets $5

 On the mission trip I was reading our next book for discussion Lifting Up hope, Living Out Justice. 

by Alice Knotts.  This book also ties into our Lenten Breakfast subject the Stewart house,with speaker, Rev. Katurah Johnson, and a mission project later this spring at the Stewart House in Gary working on a community garden.

 While I was away my copy of New World Outlook came, in this issue there is an article on the settlement house movement in United Methodism.  I will be sharing this article with you on my next few blog post.

The Settlement House Movement in United Methodism

by Mike Feely

In United Methodism we celebrate out connectional system-the way our members are liked together through mission, outreach, and evangelism.  Some of our historical connections are with mission institutions founded in the early 1900s during the settlement house movement.  The include the Bethlehem centers and Wesley houses, along with schools at Henderson Settlement and Red Bird Mission-- institutions that reflect the hard work of the Women's Home Mission societies and the deaconess movement. 

  The settlement house movement began in England as a means of coping with societal changes stemming form the Industrial Revolution, which caused a large population shift from rural to urban areas.  British social reformers were increasingly concerned about the desperate need for social services among the masses of people living in industrialized urban areas.  Settlement houses emerged as community centers to help solve these problems.

Early Settlement Houses

 One of the first settlement houses was Toynbee Hall, established in the East End of London in 1884.  It offered adult education classes, legal clinics, and family support.  Similar houses soon sprang up across Britain and other parts of Europe.  Settlement house workers lived in the neighborhoods where they worked, which brought them into regular contact with the poor.

  In the 1880s, the settlement house movement crossed the Atlantic to the United States, where settlement houses were first established in Boston.  Then, Jane Addams and Ellen Starr founded Hull House in Chicago, Modeled  in part on Toynbee Hall, Hull House was designed to reach out to the new immigrants communities in Chicago's 19th Ward with a range of classes and services.  Addams saw every immigrant as "either a citizen or a potential citizen" and designed her programs accordingly.  By 1916, there were more than 500 social settlement houses modeled on Hull House in the United States.

I will post more of this article next week, if you would like read more now it can be found in the New World Outlook March/April 2014.

This article was by Michael Feely who is the director of Mission Advancement at Henderson Settlement ,in Frakes, Kentucky.

Book Discussion

April 8th   6:00 p.m.

Church Parlor

Sign up sheets at Welcome Table
please sign up so we have an idea of how much food to have ready. 

Lifting Up hope, Living Out Justice

by Alice G. Knotts 

Our Lenten Breakfast is Maundy Thursday 

April 17th, at 9:30 in Fellowship Hall

This year our speaker is Rev. Katurah Johnson

This event is open to everyone.

Before flying off to a tropical paradise for Spring Break, stop in at The Shop for all your spring vacation apparel.  The Shop is now full stocked with clothing, shoes, and jewelry that showcase the fresh new color of Spring.

Crafting Weekend
Our crafting weekend was a success, so we decided to have a weekend each month. 
 Our next weekend will be April 25th 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
April 26th 8 a.m. to 3p.m.
Sign up sheets will be a the Welcome Table between services.

Save the Date
May 4th  1:30 - 3:30
Mother - Daughter Tea
$5.00 Tickets will go on sale April 6th

Business Meeting

March 5th, 1:00 p.m. in the Parlor

Bag Sale ends at Noon on March 5th.

The Shop will close at noon on March 5th and re-open on Friday, March, 7th with our spring apparel. 

Ash Wednesday Service

March 5th, at 7:00 p.m.

Daylight Saving Time

Saturday, March, 8th

Don't forget to Spring your clock forward!

Karen Johnson Ujereh

Karen Johnson Ujereh is the missionary who connected us with this program so we could support 4 women this year.
Opportunity:
 Give Through UMC Microfinance Program

Around the globe, more than 3 billion people live on less that $2.50 per day.  Many depend on self-employment for their income.  Weather by managing a simple store, a home-operated bakery, selling goats or providing seamstress services, people use their God given ability to provide for their families.  But often they are unable to grow their businesses due to the lack of capital and basic financial services.

The United Methodist Church is partnering with the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) to bring financial services opportunities to low-income communities in places where Methodist churches already are hard at work, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

One such place is the Malawi Provisional Annual Conference, where Karen Johnson Ujereh, Global Ministeries' missionary, serves as director of the United Methodist Malawi Microfinance Program in Blantyre, Malawi's second-largest city and commercial capital.  The Malawi mocrofinance program is a pilot joint venture of Global Ministries, the Large Church Mission Connection in the United States and the Malawi Provisional Annual Conference.

Read more about the United Methodist Microfinance Connection at www.umcmicrofinance.org  

Book Discussion

April 8th

Lifting Up hope, Living Out Justice

by: Alice G. Knotts

4 copies can be found in the UMW bookcase in the Parlor

Saturday was a very productive day!  

We packed 61,640 meals, and 100 Spring Break Bags!

To see a video of the day by Trent Albert go to 

www.valpofumcomissions.blogspot.com 

click on the video at the bottom of the post.

Resale Shops Bi-Annual Bag Sale starts today and continues until March 5th.

On March 5th the shop will close at noon, at which time the change over to Spring merchandise begins.  The Shop will re-open on Friday March 7th.

Craft Weekend Fellowship

This Friday 2/28 and Saturday 3/1

Come join us Fri. 5 to 9pm and Sat. 8am - 3pm.

Finish those projects that have been sitting around or start a new one.  If you come Friday evening you do not have to clean off that table at home for a meal just let it be and come back on Saturday and start working on it again.  On Friday bring a snack to share and on Saturday we will be sending out for a meal or bring your own.  Just let us know if you are going to join us so we can make sure that you have a work space.   email: cmstewart4@comcast.net or 219 364 8072

Hope to see you Friday.

UMW Business Meeting

March 5th @ 1:00 in Church Parlor

Saturday February 22nd

Shift 1 - 8:30        Shift 2 -12 noon

You can still sign up to be involved in this wonderful mission.  

contact FUMC for information  219 465 1661

If you can not participate in this event you can still help out.

We are collecting items for a Spring Break Food Bag that will be passed out at the Christian Food Pantry to families with children during spring break.  

The children that are helping during the pack a thon will be sorting and pack the following items:

these items should be in single serving size

Canned Pasta

Chicken Noodle soup

Easy Mac - N - Cheese

Noodle Bowls

Granola or Cereal Bars  no nuts

Individual bowls or boxes of cereal

Crackers/ Cookies/Chips

Fruit cups/ Applesauce

Juice with vitamin C

We are hoping with all the snow days this winter you have had the time to go thought your closets and find items for The Resale Shop.

Donations are always welcome.

There is still time to sign up for the nation wide event that only happens every four years. 

Join Us For This Huge Event

Saturday, February 22

Shift 1  8:30 am    Shift 2  12 noon

Childcare provided for those under 10 yrs.

Questions?

Contact,  Bonnie Albert @ 464-1447 or 241-7250

or Mike Strayer @ 462-2354

If you have not signed up please do so, we had a great time last year.

During the Pack a thon, our children will be packing bags for the Christian Food Pantry.  These bags will be handed out during Spring Break to families with children.

Bags include easy-open/self serve foods.  We are in need of the following items:

Canned Pasta- pull top can

Chicken Noodle Soup - pull top can

Easy Mac-N-Cheese  individual serving/ microwaveable

Granola Bars  - no nuts

Individual bowls/boxes of Cereal

Crackers/Cookies/Chips- individual serving size

Fruit Cups/Applesauce - individual serving size

Juice with Vitamin C - individual serving size

Your donations are greatly appreciated.  Please bring them to the welcome Table next Sunday, February 16th, or drop them off at the Welcome Desk during this coming week.

Craft Workshop

February, 28th 5 pm. to 9 pm.

March, 1st 8 am. to 3 pm.

You are invited to come and enjoy a 2 day workshop in the Fellowship Hall.    Bring your knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking...any unfinished project... and enjoy a great time of fellowship.  Bring a snack to share. On Saturday, you can bring a lunch or bring some money to order lunch with us form a local restaurant.  If you plan to attend, please let us know either by signing up in between services at the welcome table, or at umwvalpofumc@gmail.com

Save the Dates:

April, 8th 6:00 p.m. Book Discussion

Lifting Up Hope Living Out Justice

by Alice G. Knotts

April, 17th Maundy Thursday Breakfast 

May 4th  Mother Daughter Tea

No Photos again this week

Kids Against Hunger

Once again our Church will be sponsoring a meal packing event.  Sign up between services.

The event is February 22nd. 

Shift will be at 8:30 and 12:00

There will be a packing event for Children under 10 at the first shift and childcare will be provided the 2nd shift.

Save the Date!

Tuesday, February 25th

4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Hilltop Neighborhood House

15th Annual Soup Dinner

to will be held at

Christ Lutheran Church

2610 N. Campbell St.

(across from Valpo High School, access through Door #14)

Book Discussion

April 8th 6:00 p.m.

Lifting Up Hope  Living Out Justice

by Alice G. Knotts

There are 4 copies in the UMW library in the parlor.

The Christian thinking and faith of the five women in this book inspire us to reach higher, dig deeper, and go farther than we dreamed possible toward making this world a better place.  By recognizing that they were children of  God, and that their highest calling to serve was by helping others, they surmounted amazing obstacles to bring a sense of human dignity, respect and justice to the world around them.

Our UMW Unit has awarded a scholarship to Jatuta Pambi Yuseh to attend Africa University.

The Following are letters sent to Bonnie from Pambi and her Father.

Dear Bonnie,

Myself and my emotions of any kind family could not hearing our feeling on hearing the good news of the new year about Pambi my daughter on the issue of her fees at the Africa University.  We woke up with the news from Jarama and Pambi herself when she called.  Our devotion on Wednesday morning was full of gratitude to God and to you and all the Indiana UMC area.  What a miracle.

When Pambi could not secure the church scholarship which is highly competitive, we were all thrown into confusion and worries on what next to be done.  My mum even suggested that we should advise her to get married.  But that has never been our plan for Pambi.  Pambi is very intelligent and can coop up with academic condition of any kind.  Just like my other children.

I have five children - Simeon a lecturer with a college, Thophilus doing his Master degree in Malasia, Fibi( married after her degree program, has a child) Patience, (also married with three children, had Diploma education only.  Pambi is our last born. due to financial handicap she could not proceed to college after graduation at the JSS 4 years ago.  Her classmates have all gone ahead of her.  When she secured admission at the Africa University our first concern was the sponsorship.  We had to sell our pieces of land to raise up funds for her tuition fees and other needs at the AU.  Our worries continued when we were struggling to meet up again with the next semester's fees when this good news came.  I have today paid to AU the $1,000.

I will now have concentrate on the 4 orphans I am taking care of Michael and Mommy are still in Secondary school, while Artimos is still in Primary school.  Abigail has also finished her Higher Diploma she is now doing her one year compulsory service.

You may wish to know that I am only doing an Evangelism work especially in the rural areas.  I special in Rural Development Programs which include Agriculture/Gardening, Health care, carpentry and husbandry.  My wife is a Health worker helping the women especially in maternity and antenatal care.  She also does knitting of hand bags for women and other domestic knittings.

Please extend the sincere heartfelt gratitude to the Indiana UMC congregation.  I am sorry it has taken me long to get to you.  This is due to my inability to check on mails especially in the village in Sibre.  I am grateful to Jarama for updating me with information.

Na godeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sosai

Yusuf Simon Jatutu

Pambi's letter

Hello Mum (Bonnie)

I have had a lot about you from Kenneth, I am so grateful for your love, care and concern for my education here in Zimbabwe.  May God in his infinite mercy bless you, your church and the conference at large.  As you know my names are Pambi Yusuf jatutu, I am 21 years old, I am a full member of the United Methodist church, born on the 5th day of may.  I love singing and being with children, I help them with the school work and teach them songs my favorite colour is Sky Blue and Pink.  I am a very Jovial person, I love making friend, I have passion to help and be a blessing to others, However I am a church Sunday school teacher because of the passion I have for children and Also among my church activities I am a member of the youth and young adult fellowship in my local church, because of my hard work I am an executive.

I served as the secretary general for my youth group.  Both of my parents are church worker with the united Methodist church, my Dad is the director Rural health program Sibre. Jalingo Taraba state.  I started my education at UMC Nursery and primary school Jalingo Taraba state and then proceeded to the UMC Junior seminary Jalingo for my high school, I graduated in the year 2010.

I really appreciate my new Academic life now at AU.  its really a nice place to be..a wonderful environment for learning. for me it is a dream come true for me because I am majoring in psychology and by the special grace of God I will graduate in the year 2017.  I hope to return to my community and church to serve and be a blessing to my generation and share the love of Christ.

Once more I am very thankful for kind love you've showed me.  We never met.  you just heard about me and developed the love for me.  My prayer is for the lord to bless you and you conference for assisting me in my education here at Africa University.  I will send you a friend re-guest on Facebook.

Pambi