Geneva church packs hygiene kits for kids at the border
Concerned with reports about the treatment of children at the border, 20 people gathered at the United Methodist Church of Geneva to pack hygiene kits Wednesday, July 3.
Sharon Anderson organized the effort and led volunteers as they packed 100 hygiene kits, each consisting of a hand towel, washcloth, toothbrush, soap, nail clippers, comb, and several bandages inside a large zippered plastic bag.
The kits will be sent to United Methodist Committee on Relief and distributed to transitional sites at the U.S. border.
The group opened their session with a reading and meditation about social justice and taking action, discussing it as they worked.
Jack Amick, director of Global Migration for Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, wrote about the denominational UMC response to the situation in his article, released June 25.
Amick says UMCOR has delivered more than 46,000 hygiene kits to six church-run transitional shelters along the border, as well as contributing more than $290,000 to these shelters. You can read his story at www.umcmission.org.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief connects the people and congregations of the United Methodist Church in partnering with others for God's work in a variety of settings around the globe.
Find out more at www.umcmission.org/umcor.
United Methodist Church of Geneva, 211 Hamilton St., offers worship at 8 and 9 a.m. Sundays.
In July, the church is continuing the summer worship series "Songs of Community," with songs about the church, the world of nations and creation itself as forms of community. They will wrap up worship in late July with an all-church hymn sing.
On July 14, the Rev. Esther Lee will preach "Celebrating the World of Nations Genesis," 12:1-4; Psalm 67; John 3:16. The verses in Genesis 12 and John 3 remind us that God's intent is to love and bless all the nations of the world. Psalm 67 is a song of response to God's loving intent and encourages "the nations to be glad and sing for joy; let all the peoples praise you."
On July 20, it will be the third Saturday evening worship at 5 p.m. Join this casual worship service, followed by hot dogs and fellowship.
On July 21, the Rev. Richard Darr will preach on "Celebrating Creation," Psalm 148. Reminiscent of the creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2, Psalm 148 tells us that all of creation is to sing praise to God, from the heavens above to the earth below, in all spheres of creation both animate and inanimate.
On July 28, the pastors and music staff will lead the Hymn Sing.
For information, call (630) 232-7120 or visit genevaumc.org.