Hands-On Opportunities:
February Communion Offering
Our February offering will be going to Shelterinc, an organization started in 1986 located in Concord, CA. Their mission is to partner with unhoused community members and in collaboration provide them with a variety of services in hopes to keep them in or return them to permanent housing. Click here to donate.
We will be cooking and serving dinner to the individuals and families of SHELTER, Inc.’s Martinez shelter on Tuesday, February 28th from 4-6pm. No kitchen skills required, COVID guidelines are in place. Interested? Contact Kate Steffy to secure your spot. Space is limited!
East Bay Missions Project
Join us for the renovation of the parsonage at Pittsburg UMC. It needs an update to serve as the home of the appointed pastor. All volunteers are welcome. There is work for everyone! You can also donate to this project by clicking here.
Schedule – January 30th thru Saturday, February 4th, 9am to 4pm
Saturday Workdays – February 18th, March 4th & 18th, April 1st & 15th, 9am-4pm
Join us for whatever days or part days you have available. Let us know you are coming by emailing Steve Elliott.
The Work – Prep and demo, painting, install flooring and baseboards, new kitchen, light carpentry, minor electrical and plumbing. All tools and supplies provided.
What to Bring – Water, lunch, snacks, masks recommended, but optional
Location – 3345 Crestview, Pittsburg, CA. Just off Highway 4 at the Railroad Avenue Exit. Park at the Pittsburg church next door.
Questions? Contact Steve Elliott
Learn Your Way Around the AV Loft!
SRVUMC’s Audio and Visual Group (“AV Group”) is looking for volunteers to take on one of the primary roles necessary to conduct both in-person and livestreamed services each week. No previous experience necessary. We will train you!
Take your turn filling 1 or more of the 3 primary roles the AV Group performs each week:
· Slide Presenter. If you know how to do slide presentations in either PowerPoint or ProPresenter you’d fit right-in here. The role includes advancing a slideshow created by other members of the AV group to deliver the screen visuals for in-person and online worshipers.
· Producer. This volunteer and the slide presenter (above) work together side-by-side coordinating the slide presentation with remote-controlled camera views using a “television studio” controller. The controller consists of a joystick and some buttons you would be trained to use. Together, they create a seamless view of what is happening inside the Sanctuary for those watching online.
· Audio Technician. The audio technician controls the audio systems for both in-person and online services to make each sound just right. This role also involves learning how to set up microphones for different scenarios, control performer voice and instrument levels, and control the recording stream levels which get streamed. This role does require some extra mobility because literally running between the balcony and the stage is quite common.
Volunteers rotate every few Sundays on a predictable schedule. Arrive by 9 a.m. and be free to go about the rest of your day by 11 a.m. or so. Contact Sam Hawk or Jeff Lang with questions or to express interest in training.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
Looking to help all those affected by this week’s earthquake in Humboldt County? The California-Nevada Conference is preparing to offer immediate and long-term assistance as the clean-up and rebuilding begin. Please donate to the Disaster Relief fund here.
DISASTER RELIEF FUND
We would appreciate your help in replenishing our Disaster Response Fund. Donations can be made here or by mailing a check payable to the California-Nevada Annual Conference (PO Box 980250, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0250) and noting Disaster Response Fund on the memo line.
HURRICANE IAN RELIEF
Our hearts and prayers and support go out to all harmed by Hurricane Ian. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is already on the ground meeting immediate needs and will continue to do so for all the years needed.
If you are looking for a way to help, please consider making a donation by clicking here. There is a tab for Hurricane Ian at top of the page.
Previous Opportunities:
CONTRA COSTA FOOD BANK
The Food Bank of Contra Costa provides ongoing nutritional support throughout the region. It was a bit warm sorting breads from bins to pallets, and then bagging onions, potatoes, and apples into bags, or crating the completed bags. We handled with care about 7,300 pounds of bread and produce. Thanks to our church mission team for organizing this opportunity to serve!
MISSION TRIP TO ASSIST RECOVERY FROM THE CAMP FIRE
The Camp Fire in November 2018, was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history.
We helped rebuild. We worked in the town of Paradise alongside Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN).
BACKPACK DRIVE
San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church helped at-risk students start the school year off right by donating 50 backpacks with $800 worth of supplies! Donations benefited Monument Crisis Center, a family resource center in Concord that provides food, and education to individuals, families, and children in need.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
On June 25th, volunteers served at the affordable housing project called Esperanza Place with Habitat for Humanity! Despite the blistering sun, volunteers wired rebar together for the concrete foundation. That’s teamwork!
MONUMENT CRISIS CENTER
On April 20th 2022, a group of 5 volunteers helped assemble packages of food for over 120 Monument Crisis Center (MCC) clients in Concord, CA. Our church supports MCC’s work via volunteer opportunities and monetary donations. Join us for further opportunities as they become available.
HOPE UMC MISSION PROJECT
Hope UMC has been serving Sacramento for nearly 100 years. With a modest sized congregation it needs some help with maintenance. The proposed work is to remodel several Sunday School rooms – painting and new flooring, plus a few other things. All tools and supplies will be provided. All you need to do is show up ready to paint.
EARLY RESPONSE TEAM VIRTUAL TRAINING
Early Response Teams (ERTs) provide assistance after the “first
responders” and before recovery and rebuilding. ERTs are assigned various tasks; usually relating to safety, mitigation of further property damage and cleanup tasks. ERTs also serve in Local Assistance Centers providing comfort and items such as wildfire buckets to survivors.
BLOOD DRIVE 2022
The February Red Cross Blood Drive was a HUGE success! Thank you to all our awesome volunteers, donors, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for hosting!
NOMAD MISSION
NOMADS (Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service) are individuals and couples with Recreational Vehicles (RVs) who travel to places that need volunteer repairs and construction.
ALTERNATIVE GIFT CATALOG Give two gifts in one this Christmas with our Alternative Gift Catalog!
This catalog offers 10 ministries that are making a difference locally and globally. Simply fill out the form in the catalog, total your donation, and write one check payable to San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church. Mail your form and your check or drop them off at the church office. SRVUMC will send your donations to the ministries of your choice.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PLAYHOUSE BUILD PROJECT is an aspect of Habitat for Humanity that invites groups to build and donate playhouses to charities or individual families. The money raised goes towards the building of homes by Habitat For Humanity. To sponsor a playhouse, a group raises $2000 per playhouse, and then builds the playhouse themselves. The playhouses to be constructed are prefabricated, meaning most of the measuring and cutting has already been done. SRVUMC’s effort will focus on painting the playhouse and final assembly. Creative and artistic volunteers love this project! The theme of the playhouse is selected by the child or children who will be receiving the playhouse. Once a playhouse is designed, decorated, and assembled, it’s donated to the local children who requested the house’s theme. That moment—seeing children run in and out of their new, custom-designed playhouse—is the most memorable part of volunteering with the Playhouse program.
MEALS WITH GRACE is our own home-grown program created to deliver meals to people both inside and outside of the church to make the COVID-19 crisis just a little bit better.