The purpose of the Missions Ministry is to encourage the people of Harmony UMC to contribute to missionary service under the direction of God. The Missions Committee will work to make the greatest use of the Lord’s resources for mission efforts by supporting donations/collections and outreach/Mission Trips in three areas: Local, Domestic US, and International.
Harmony UMC has a passion for leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We are committed to serve inside and outside of our church walls. We believe when people engage in service, it leads new friendships, life changing experiences and growth in your relationship with Jesus.
The Missions Committee maintains mission policy, plans for mission opportunities and projects, develops and promotes means for involvement in missions, monitors activities of missionaries, and manages the mission’s budget. The work of the Missions Committee supports Harmony Church and coordinates with other ministries and committees within the church.
Mission Committee Members
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- Joann Ballard
- Tracy Cody
- Sharon Evick
- Will Frankovich
- Judy Fry
- Marsha Keim
- Pam McAfee
- Michelle McCann
- Will McCann (youth member)
- Mary Preston
- Roxanne Tipton – Chairperson
Harmony Mission Policy and Proposal Application process
In an effort to better communicate and coordinate mission initiatives/activities in the church, we have put together a process to bring forth new mission opportunities.
LOUDOUN HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER – COLD WEATHER SHELTER (CWS)
Harmony UMC is once again supporting the Loudoun Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) by providing hot meals for up to 25 adults each Wednesday night from 11/15/17 through 3/31/18. Our first meal is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20th. Our support is for the homeless adults (age 18 and older) who come to the shelter for an overnight stay during winter months and for the 9:00 pm meal. The shelter is managed by Volunteers of America Chesapeake and is located off Sycolin Road near the airport. The CWS is back in its original, but newly renovated building! The address for food delivery is: 19520 Meadowview Court, Leesburg, VA 20175. The shelter asks that we provide a hot meal and that all food be dropped off no later than 7:00 pm every Wednesday. The meals should be prepared (or store bought – i.e., COSTCO) and pre-cooked. We have been asked to label our meals with the following information: “CWS from HUMC,” the date the meal is provided for, and heating instructions unless the package itself provides the instructions. Bring food in disposable containers.
SPECIAL NOTE: Many who come to the shelter for assistance have dental concerns. We have been asked to consider this with the type of food we provide. For example, instead of apples, please consider fruit cups as an alternative.
This is a wonderful mission opportunity that helps individuals during very troubled times in their lives. We hope everyone will prayerfully consider offering their time. This can be an opportunity for individual Harmony families or for families to join together; for Sunday School classes; committees/circles; or to even consider asking neighbors to join you in providing a meal.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to sign up to provide a meal, please click on the link below.
Information regarding Volunteers of America-Chesapeake and the Loudoun Homeless Services Center/Cold Weather Shelter can be found at: https://www.voachesapeake.org/about and https://www.voachesapeake.org/lhsc. Copies of information sheets have been placed on the table in the breezeway. Please feel free to take one.
Danville, VA Hurricane Relief Trip Update
Harmony team on District Danville Disaster Trip Update
A great long weekend helping two families in Danville since last years hurricane. The Harmony team was at the main house working on laying hard wood floors throughout the house. We put down plywood, black felt paper and then the floors-lots of measuring, cutting and securing! We worked hard with individuals from 4 other UMC churches from the Winchester district. The homeowner had a boy and girl ages 9 and 5 who had been displaced from the home for a year. They had a lot of water damage in the basement from bad rain a week before hurricane Michael hit which caused an 18 inch city water pipe in their basement to burst. They were trying to ride out the hurricane but when water came up through the heat vents in the floor they moved to their second floor. Water continued to come down so when the first floor appliances were floating around the house and a large tree in their back yard came down, they decided to leave. The homeowner said it was terrifying driving out with trees down everywhere-he had to go off road to escape with his family. They were so thankful we were there. They hope to move back in as soon as the flooring is done. The homeowner worked with us and is currently only working full time on his house. He hopes to work for UMCOR when the house is done as he wants to give back and help others.
Harmony team members – Sandy Bruner, Marcey Kellogg, Joann and Larry Ballard – departed for Danville, VA on October 11th and joined another 10 individuals from the district to help finish homes affected by the hurricane last year. Please pray for our team’s safety, work and outreach to those in need. They will return on October 14th.
Great day helping others in Danville VA that are still affected by hurricane Michael a year ago! Harmony team joined the Winchester district team…making progress!!☺️
OCTOBER MISSION EVENTS
Have you “liked” Harmony’s Facebook page? Be sure you do. Missions has started posting information about our ministries and events and this is a fabulous way to share with our friends and community.
ONGOING:
LOUDOUN HUNGER RELIEF – fourth Sunday – October 27th
This is one of our many missions to provide food for the hungry. Escalating costs of housing, health care, food, transportation and utilities provide challenges for more and more families to make ends meet. The working poor, senior citizens, the ill or disabled, the homeless, and children are helped every year by Loudoun Hunger Relief. The collection bin for donations is in Driscoll Hall. Although Harmony designates the fourth Sunday of each month for food collection, donations are welcome anytime. Please see the list farther down this page.
Harmony has a designated Sunday for collecting donations for Loudoun Hunger Relief. Have you ever considered skipping one meal to get a glimpse of what our hungry neighbors regularly experience. Pray for the people in our immediate area who cannot provide their own next meal. Thank you for setting aside a small amount of money to further the Society of St. Andrew’s work to help put healthy food on the tables of hungry people.
UPCOMING NOVEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
Cold Weather Shelter (CWS)
We will once again be providing hot meals each Wednesday night from November 20, 2019 through March 25, 2020 to the CWS. The Loudoun County Homeless Services Center has reopened after a 9 month renovation project and is providing all of its normal services. This is a great service opportunity for families, friends, and committees to help those experiencing homelessness within our community. Be on the lookout for more information in the upcoming weeks.
Gleaning
Our next Gleaning event is scheduled for November 2nd at Macintosh Fruit Farm in Berryville, VA. This will be our first visit with this orchard and it is an opportunity for the entire congregation. We had a fun day gleaning apples at Marker Miller Farm in Winchester on Saturday, October 12th so we hope you’ll consider joining in this time!! You can either meet us at Harmony Church at 8:15 a.m. and caravan to the farm or meet us there. Gleaning is from 9 to 11 a.m. Come glean for whatever time period works for you or your family! After gleaning, you can continue to have more fun. Visit their website at https://www.mackintoshfruitfarm.com/ Please let Roxanne Tipton know if you will be joining us by emailing her at tipton04@aol.com or at 540-338-2946. We hope you’ll plan to join us!! The farm is located at 1608 Russell Road, Berryville, VA.
as 1 Peter 4:10 says: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Emergency Contact Numbers
Have you ever had anyone ask you where they can find food or shelter for the night? Maybe you’ve seen a person with a sign on a street corner or someone has asked you for money to help with food. Here is a list of phone numbers of organizations that offer assistance to individuals/families — safe shelter, warm meals, gas/utility money, etc.
- Cold Weather Shelter, 571-258-3033
- Good Shepherd Alliance, 703-724-1555
- Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS), 703-777-6552; (Spanish – 703-443-2810)
- Youth & Children Services (LAWS), 703-771-3973
- Loudoun Cares, 703-669-4636
- Loudoun County Youth Shelter (behavioral), 703-771-5300
- Loudoun Drop-In Shelter, 571-258-3033
- Loudoun Emergency Homeless Shelter, 571-258-3033
- Loudoun Hunger Relief, 703-777-5911
- Mobile Hope, 703-771-1400
- Salvation Army, 703-771-3371
- Tree of Life, 540-441-7920
Loudoun Hunger Relief
Harmony continues to collect donations to help Loudoun Hunger Relief. It is one of our many missions to provide food for the hungry. Following is a list of food items needed. The collection bin is in the social hall.
- Dry beans
- Whole grain pasta, rice
- Fresh fruits & vegetables
- Cereal
- Canned meats (tuna or chicken)
- Mac and Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Hearty soups
- Cooking oil
Loudoun Caregivers
Volunteers are always needed for providing transportation for those in need. Do you have a little time in your week to help with transportation? Click on this link for information about this organization and for a contact number if you’re interested in volunteering.
Listing of Mission Organizations
Click on this link to see a listing of mission organizations we work with along with Mission opportunities. Look for the links throughout the document for more information.
Harmony’s Missionary – Meet Lisa Nichols
Click on the following link for more information about our Missionary: LisaNicholsWriteup