Announcements Concerning Union Park United Methodist Church, Des Moines, IA

Mitchellville Women's Prison Needs
Mitchellville Women's Prison Needs
by Darci Hartman

Many of you know that I have been volunteering at the Mitchellville Women's prison for several months now. During those months I have talked with several women about their dreams upon release and during those discussions found that they have an immediate need. They have a need for basic clothing. When released they are allowed to wear their "blues" uniform out, but they have to purchase it, along with the deck-style tennis shoes they wear while incarcer-ated. They are not even provided a winter coat and gloves. Many go to job interviews weeks after their release wearing their "blues" because it is all they have.

I'm starting a clothing "closet" with the help of my church and Pastor Arnette Pint from Women at the Well, and am calling it "Stepping Out in Style". Each woman who re-quests it will receive a box with basic clothing in it - a pair of jeans, a sweater or t-shirt, shoes, socks, undergarments, purse and billfold, towel, washcloth and winter coat and gloves. Just ba-sic clothing so they can step out of the prison and look and feel like a "normal" person.

I took an "audit" of my closet at home and I'm guessing I'm not the only one whose closet has something brand new or something that has only been worn 1-2 times and forgotten, an extra purse that just sits on a shelf or a winter coat that used to fit and doesn't anymore. If you are so inclined and would like to "audit" your closet, I would love to collect your new or like new items to give to the women. I need everything from size 2 - size 26, and rarely worn shoes of all sizes also. The women's ages range from 20 to 40 if that in-formation is helpful.

For those of you who travel frequently, there is a need for sample or hotel size soaps, lotions, shampoos and condition-ers. A volunteer group uses these for Christmas baskets for the women. If you have an overabundance of these, I will gladly take them to the prison to include in the baskets.

I know I can't do this alone and realize that it takes a village, so anything you would be willing to donate would be greatly appreciated.

With Thanks and Bless-ings, Darci Hartman Communi-cations Assistant 515.974-8907 or darci.hartman@iaumc.org
Important Dates For The Youth
Dec 1 Hope Ministries 9-11 am. Shopping for Christmas family with lunch, wrapping and youth Christmas party at Lander's fol-lowing Hope Ministries. Please bring a $15-20 gift (no gift cards) for gift exchange.
Dec 2 No Devotions>BR> Dec 8 or 9 Neighborhood Christmas at Church - Details to come.
Dec 9 No Devotions
Dec 16 Christmas Caroling - time TBA No evening devotions
Dec 23 No devotions
CHILDREN & FAMILY URBAN MINISTRIES
Looking for a simple gift with meaning? CFUM may have something just right...

A Star for Your Pocket is a pocket-sized wooden star, ac-companied by a poem written by CFUM Executive Director, Carmen Lampe Zeitler, re-minding children of their beauty and value. Suggested donation is $5.

Kidz Kardz are packets of eight cards drawn by children in CFUM programs. Suggested donation: $5.

Making a contribution to CFUM in the name of those being gifted is a meaningful way to honor the season.

For more ideas, check out the CFUM Christmas Wish List on the CFUM web site (www.cfum.org) or in the latest CFUM newsletter. To make one of these gifts of meaning, please contact Laura Fuller at laura@cfum.org or at 282.3242.
Volunteer Group for Homework Help
Volunteer Group Needed for Homework Help. The Forest Avenue Library is seeking volunteer groups to tutor children at least one afternoon per month. Please contact Amy McDowell at 248-6260 or aemcdowell@desmoineslibrary.com
United Methodist Women
Teh Leadership Team continues to meet to plan for UMW activities for teh 2007-2008 year. The Leadership Team members are: Roberta Peters - Co-Chair, Nancy Ross - Co-Chair, Karen Christensen - Secretary, Kathy Hillman - Treasurer, Marcia Fox - Program Coordinator, Sandy Adams - Publicity Coordinator

Upcoming UMW Meetings are:
December 6 12:00 - Progressive Lunch

December Mission Focus
In December, the Advent Offer-ing will be collected for the Prison Ministry at Mitchellville and to finish off some of our Rainbow Covenant areas if needed. We are almost complete in the fulfillment of being a Rainbow Covenant church!! We would like to be a Third Mile giving church and we can be with some financial support of missionaries. It isn't too late to contribute to the wonderful work we are doing!!!
UP Kids
It officeally has an name! As many of you know, we are starting an after school program here at Union Park. The program will be beginning after the first of the year (January 2008), taking place directly after school, including early dismissals, on Wednesdays.
Up Kids program will include activities for the childern, time for lessons and homework, and a meal.
UP Kids is open to all children in teh community grades kindergarten through 5th.
If you are interested in having your children participate OR if you are interested in volunteering, including but not limited to working with teh children, teaching a lesson, or helping with meals, please contact Children’s Ministry Director, Erica Shannon at 262-2875 or at erica-upumc@hotmail.com
Grace and Peace,
Erica
Mission News
Saturday December 15
Bidwell Riverside Center, a national mission of the United Methodist Church,is planning its Annual Christmas Sharing Day. It will be held at Wakonda Christian Church on Fleur Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This is a day when families who have registered at Bidwell receive toys and clothig for their children plus food for a holiday meal.
Individuals, families, or groups may sponsor a family by supplying the same items. Last year 797 families registered. Of that number 396 families were sponsored and 401 families were served by Bidwell Riverside.
This event would not be possible without volunteers. Please volunteer in several of teh following ways: help sort clothing and toys on Thursday and Friday, Dec 13 & 14, help distribute gifts Saturday, Dec 15, buy toys & gifts for newborns to 16 year olds, buy socks, underwear, mittens and hats for teh same ages
People are already registering for Christmas Sharing Day. You can begin preparing for the day by buying items, contributing money and calling or e-mailing Masmine Miller to volunteer. Phone 255-6251 or e-mail jmiller@bidwellriverside.org now.
Bidwell builds hope, We can help do that by helpong people have a better Christmas celebration.

DMARC Food Pantry
In December, we will focus on prepared and packaged meals. DMARC can also really use canned fruit and peanut butter. In November Union Park UMC collected $165 & 27 food items. We will focus on soups in Janu-ary

Ingathering Report
Roberta Peters took $424 dollars in cash, 56 kits and 30 baby jackets to the Ingathering! The value of the kits were $798. We sent money for the purchase of one PET. More money is being collected for the PET project that we are doing in honor of Roberta and memory of Dick Peters. Thank you for your support and generosity!!
Christmas Giving Projects
NO, it’s not too early to start thinking about Christmas - the stores have been for months!! We have several projects for you to consider for special Christmas giving. Watch for special sales and as you start your christmas shopping remember those that can use our help for a special Christmas!

Prayer Chain
If you would like to be put on the prayer chain please call the church office at (515) 262-2875.
Attention Everyone!
If you are in the building at night, please make sure all the doors are closed inside the building that normally are before leaving. Quite often someone is called because the alarm has not set due to a door being left open. We appreciate your help!
From the Secretary
Committee members - remember to check your mail box in the office.
Remember to call the office if someone is in the hospital.
Be sure and check with the office if you schedule events of any kind to see if we already have something scheduled for a specific date. Thank you!
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