Our Missions
THE MISSIONS AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square, Plymouth, MA 02360
UCC Southern New England Website: sneucc.org
HONORING THE CONCERNS OF OUR CONGREGATION AND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES
11% percent of your pledged dollars goes to Missions.
The committee uses this share in the following ways:
75% to support our Church of the Pilgrimage Missions work
25% sent to The United Church of Christ to support
“Our Church’s Wider Mission.”
We look to Matthew 25:35 to keep our path true to the teachings of Jesus:
For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you gave me clothing; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me. Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these . . . You did it to me
Mission & Outreach Committee Meetings: Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Assisted by members of the congregation and other friends in the community, we collaborate to give support locally, nationally, and internationally in ways that will bring the most benefit to those in need. There are nine Mission members.
Missions & Outreach Vision Statement:
Vision: In response to the healing ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, we envision a world where all life is valued equally and the basic rights of health, education and freedom from hunger are available to all.
Mission: The Missions and Outreach Committee of the Church of the Pilgrimage, based on Christian values, is dedicated to support programs that enhance the lives of the poorest of the poor with dignity, compassion and social justice.
We will accomplish our mission by:
1. Educating the congregation about our supported missions.
2. Striving to get the congregation engaged in missions by providing opportunities for volunteers to participate in local and global mission work.
3. Forming relationships with churches, communities and organizations that represent the poorest of the poor and underserved locally, in the US and internationally.
4. Supporting programs in health care, nutrition, education, conservation and programs that support self-sustainability of communities.
5. Responsibly forming relationships with organizations that share our Christian values and can assist us in our mission.
THE POWER OF YOUR PLEDGED MISSION DOLLARS AT WORK
75% of your pledged Missions dollars support Church of the Pilgrimage Missions work: Locally, Nationally & Internationally
Local
Monday Meals– Through our church volunteers, Missions funds and individual donations, hot and cold meals are provided for the homeless, the unemployed, and others in need on Mondays from September through April. Many take home a bagged lunch and extra dinner. The Monday Meals team provides food for 20-40 food insecure people weekly.
The Good Samaritan Fund – The Good Samaritan Fund is used to provide temporary and limited assistance to any Plymouth individual or family in need, at the discretion of the Pastor and Head of the Deacons. Special offerings replenish the fund each month. The Mission Committee budgets an annual supplement to the Good Samaritan Fund.
Plymouth Food Warehouse – Food donated to the Greater Plymouth Food Distribution Center Warehouse (part of the South Shore Community Action Council of Plymouth-sscac.org) is distributed to area food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, the councils on aging, Head Start programs, low-income housing developments, boys and girls clubs, and adult day care programs, and schools. The Food Distribution Center was formed in 2002 with the goal of getting more nutritious food to more hungry people in the most cost-effective way through coordinated food pick-up, transport, storage and distribution. The church makes yearly donations to this Center and Food Drives supported by Missions.
Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org) – Missions makes an annual pledge to our local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. Dedicated members of our church volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth (hfhplymouth.org) to build or repair homes and serve on the Board.
The Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness (plymouth-taskforce-homeless.org) is dedicated to ending homelessness in the Plymouth (MA) area. Their primary areas of focus are finding permanent housing with supportive services and providing emergency sheltering during the winter months. They work with individuals, local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to meet the needs of our homeless individuals and families. Mission & Outreach supports and donates to this program.
Overnights of Hospitality – an Inter-faith sponsored program providing winter shelter to the homeless in Plymouth. The Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness and Father Bill’s Mainspring, a social services organization, formed a partnership, relying on volunteers from congregations and the community to serve dinners and stay overnight as hosts. The two churches offering the sites for the shelter are Christ Church Episcopal and the First Baptist. The Church of the Pilgrimage has been called upon at times to provide financial help and/or food to support this Taskforce. Please see the website plymouth-taskforce-homeless.org to volunteer.
Mission Trips & Youth Mission Sponsorship – The Missions Committee budgets support for mission trips for the youth and adults in our church. The Church of the Pilgrimage performs mission work related to disaster recovery, education and service learning trips with Church volunteers.
Manomet Inc. for Conservation Sciences (manomet.org) – Missions has been making annual financial contributions to support this organization’s programs. Using science as a basis, the Manomet Inc. works to help people from all walks of life balance environmental, economic, and social needs. We all can work for a sustainable future in harmony with our environment
MLK in Service Day in January- Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, "Everyone can be great because everybody can serve." It begins each year with a commitment to making our community a better place. The MLK Day encourages all types of service, particularly projects that have a lasting impact and connect participants to ongoing service. The most successful projects connect to the life and teaching of Dr. King, meet a pressing community need, and include time to reflect on his teachings.
National & International Aid
Heifer International (heifer.org) - Ending poverty begins with agriculture . . Heifer International’s Mission is to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities while caring for the Earth. Our Church has been a generous supporter of Heifer since the 1960s. Every year a major fundraising event is held. Heifer’s unique program provides over 20 species of farm animals that provide milk, eggs and meat for families; offspring and products are sold to provide other necessities e.g. for school fees for children. Since 1944 Heifer has worked in 125 countries and helped 32 million families.
Kenya Educational Fund – Working with leaders in Esabalu, Kenya, Missions sends money to aid specific students with educational expenses. Active communication between Missions, the student, and an adult program supervisor keeps us up-to-date on the progress of the students we support.
St. Rock Haiti (saintrock.org) – Missions makes a financial contribution to this nonprofit agency providing health care and programs that promote self-sufficiency and education for children in Haiti.
Disaster Relief – Missions also provides relief funds for extreme emergencies or disasters that may arise. This money supplements our commitment to Our Church’s Wider Mission contributions.
The Missions Committee sells Equal Exchange (equalexchange.coop) fair trade products (coffee, tea, chocolate,) during coffee hour (post Sunday Service) and periodically throughout the year to help limited resource farmers and refugees.
In November and December, the Missions Committee sponsors an Alternative Gift Market featuring Equal Exchange fair trade products (coffee, cocoa and chocolate), Heifer International, Habitat for Humanity, The Beautiful Day Granola Project (beautifuldayri.org) and Artisan Crafts.
We often have the blessing to be asked What can I do? How can I help? Here’s how:
-Prepare, cook or serve for the Monday Meals for food insecure.
-Donate toiletries, clothing, food for the homeless and food insecure.
-Help with Mission programs such as Habitat, Mission trips, serve on the Mission Committee
-Donate food to the Plymouth Food Warehouse food drives and to Missions sponsored food drives for local food pantrys, places in need.
-Let us know of other important work that our congregation should support and generate ideas.
ABOVE AND BEYOND YOUR PLEDGE
The Missions Committee Oversees Four United Church of Christ Special Offerings:
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING: Giving Help, Hope and Life.
Supports partners in more than 70 countries with ministries that fund development projects, feed the victims of famine, provide services for displaced people, and respond to natural disasters, both international and domestic. The Mission Committee budgets a yearly donation to ‘OGHS’; generally in the month of April, the congregation is asked to donate. The total amount is sent to ‘OGHS’ which supplements our commitment to Our Church’s Wider Mission contributions.
UCC STRENGTHEN OUR CHURCH: Faithfully Building the Body of Christ.
Largely supports youth ministries, developing leadership skills for the church of the future. Funds also support full-time leaders for new UCC churches in parts of the country In lieu of asking for donations from the congregation the Church’s Mission Committee budgets a yearly donation to ‘Strengthen the Church’, which supplements our commitment to Our Church’s Wider Mission contributions.
NEIGHBORS IN NEED: Justice and Compassion Like A Mighty Stream.
Supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, including ministry carried out by the Council for American Indians Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Witness projects.
THE CHRISTMAS FUND: Remembering Those Who Served Our Church.
Provides financial aid to retired and active ministers and their surviving spouses and children who face overwhelming financial demands, in a ministry carried out by the Pension Boards.
Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) Fund
25% of your pledged Missions dollars are sent to this United Church of Christ (UCC) Fund for distribution by the UCC as follows:
Through UCC conferences and local church ministries:
-Train and equip leaders for youth ministries
-Teach best practices for pastors and congregations
-Aid pastoral search committees in local churches
-Provide financing for new churches
-Support ordained and lay ministers in their vocation
Through the Church’s Wider Ministries:
-Feed the hungry
-Care for children in need
-Respond to emergencies and disasters
Through the Justice Ministries
-Celebrate diversity
-Promote justice and peace
-Provide justice leadership training for church members
Through the Office of General Ministries
-Manage the UCC publishing bodies
-Plan the General Synod
-Plan the future of the UCC Mission
-Nurture ecumenical and interfaith relationships
-Care for retired UCC clergy and spouses
Beatrice Biira
A Reflection by Rosalee Sinn
Heifer International staff person for 39 years
and a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage since 1971
Revised September 18, 2023
I first met Beatrice in 1997 when she was 11 years old. She was a student at The Molly and Paul School in Kampala and I was leading a Study Tour to Uganda. Page McBrier, writer, and Lori Lohstoeter, illustrator, were part of the tour. We were enchanted by the shy, yet poised young girl. Her English was excellent and the group enjoyed visiting with her as we traveled together to Kisinga.
We felt we already knew Beatrice, a little girl in a red dress that had been cut to grow with her as it was her only dress. As we watched “The Promise” a video about Beatrice and Heifer, she won our hearts as she looked into the classroom in Kisinga, wishing she could be among the students.
She entered Primary 1 at age 9 but quickly made up for lost time and jumped to the head of her class and moved quickly through primary school.
Beatrice told her story in this way in 2001. Click here for Beatrice’s story.