Missions and Outreach Programs

ILLUMINATOR

A Publication of

Lewistown United Ministries In Neighborhood Action

PO Box 1243, 18 E. Third Street

Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: 242-2888

Email: lumina@acsworld.com

Website: www.luminacenter.org

MARCH & APRIL 2010 EDITION

LUMINA IS A COMMUNITY CENTER WHICH OFFERS THE “LIGHT” OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE “TO,” “FOR,” AND “WITH” THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES OF MIFFLIN COUNTY IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.

TALENT SHOW

Our annual Talent Show was held on February 25 in the gym. AND we got to use our new sound system for the first time! It worked wonderfully and was such a plus for the show. The show consisted of 15 different acts that included 20 youth performing. Relatives and friends supported the participants wonderfully—there were at least 80-90 people in attendance to encourage these young people in their respective talents. Refreshments enjoyed by all rounded out a great evening of fun. Mandie Nace and April Foltz did a magnificent job organizing the show and working with the youth to create a perfect evening. Thank you to all who helped to make this show a success.

KIDS CAFE AFTERSCHOOL & DROP-IN

Kids Cafe attendees continue to work on homework and are concentrating on earning their incentive points for prizes. They are responding well to the change in routine during afterschool, which now includes gym-time before the meal and homework. Because of the change, we are observing a better, more controlled atmosphere for homework completion. Overall, the activity has been going very well and many kids are reaching their 300 point mark for their restaurant meal.

Drop-In continues to be well attended. On Friday, March 26 we will be having the annual All-Night event for attendees of the center who wish to participate. Pre-registration is required and is restricted to the youth who attend the center on a regular basis. The event will begin at 9 PM Friday evening and end at 7 AM Saturday morning. There will be lots of fun activities including games, prizes, food and movies. In the past, it has been a very fun night for both youth and chaperones alike and we’re expecting the same this year.

Just a reminder that we’re always grateful for new chaperones for Drop-In and would be glad to talk to anyone interested in helping in this position.

SONSHINE CLUB

Every Tuesday evening, SONshine Club is held from 6:30-8 PM. This is a fun time for children ages 6 and older to hear a Bible story, sing songs, play in the gym, do a craft and have a snack. Please feel free to send your child to a great midweek club that will nurture him/her spiritually, physically and emotionally. Sonshine Club will be meeting each Tuesday evening for at least the first half of 2010. The weekly meetings have seen a definite increase in attendance, very possibly due to the consistent every week schedule.

GENERATION GUTZ

Generation Gutz continues to meet the second Thursday of each month from 6:30-8 PM. Teens ages 12-18 are welcome to attend and participate in games, discussions and special programs pertaining to teen life. A snack with pizza is also served and as with all our activities, Generation Gutz is offered free of charge. Call the center office for more details.

RAINBOW SUMMER

Spring is just around the corner, folks, and with spring comes the enthusiasm for Rainbow Summer in June. It seems like such a long way off—partly because of the cold and snowy winter we’ve had—but in reality, it will be here before we know it. We are voicing an appeal for funds for Rainbow Summer, because as you know, we depend very heavily on the community to support this activity coupled with the United Way funds we receive. We’re looking to serve approximately 130-140 kids during Rainbow Summer at a coat of about $120 per child, which is an increase of $5 per child since last year. Our average attendance during Rainbow Summer is usually 120-125 per day, which requires at least 35 teen counselors for proper supervision. Please consider sponsoring a child for Rainbow Summer—or more children if you wish. This free activity provides a great two weeks for kids ages 6-11 and includes a snack and lunch provided through the State Summer Food Service Program, a special program each day, crafts, Bible stories, and swimming each day—weather dependent. The kids just love Rainbow Summer and look forward to coming back each year until they’re 11 when sadly, they experience their last year. Please help make summer a little brighter for a child by donating to this cause.

In addition, each group of 10-12 kids is closely supervised by at least two teen counselors, and of course the adult staff who are always present. If you have/know of a responsible teen who would be interested in becoming a teen counselor, please contact the office.

BENEFIT AUCTION

We will be having our second benefit auction—this year to benefit the ongoing LUMINA programming—on Saturday,

May 15 at 10 AM in the LUMINA Center gym. LUMINA will be doing the lunch stand. Preview times will be Friday,

May 14 from 1-8 PM and Saturday morning from 8-10 AM. We will be accepting donations of articles from individuals—no clothing—from April 26 through the auction date at the LUMINA Center. Articles will be received during regular office hours unless special arrangements are made. Pick-up of larger items can be arranged if necessary. Please keep the LUMINA Center in mind when you’re doing your spring cleaning because those items you no longer want may be just what someone else may consider a treasure. Furniture items, handmade items/crafts are welcome along with household items, tools, guns, dishes, etc.—both new and used. However, we do request that all items be in good condition. We would greatly appreciate your support of the auction so that we may better serve the youth and families of Mifflin County. Last year was a great success, thanks to the wonderful support of the community, and we trust this year to be even bigger and better. Let’s do our very best to make this happen!

FUNDRAISING FOR 2010

Following is a list of the remaining fundraising activities for the remainder of the year.

Please post these on your calendar as they are very important to the continuing work of the center.

Ham Sandwich Sales: March 12, April 9—Cost $2.50: will deliver 10 or more.

Benefit Auction: May 15

WISH LIST

Postage stamps; copy paper; Wal-Mart, Giant, & Dollar Tree gift cards; foam dodge balls; Pinnies (for team games); 33 gal. trash bags, tissues, tri-fold towels (Lewistown Paper), good sturdy brooms (for playing broom ball); blank CD’s; plastic grocery bags (Giant, WalMart, etc.) CHAPERONES FOR DROP-IN;

MEETINGS: LUMINA Board of Directors: Monday, March 22 @ 7 PM

Auction Committee: Monday, March 15 @ 7 PM

NOTICE TO ALL CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REPRODUCE/COPY THIS NEWSLETTER IN WHOLE OR PART FOR DISTRIBUTION TO YOUR MEMBERS. POSTED 3/11/2010

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HAITI RELIEF THRU UMCOR ( posted 1/29/2010)

Mission Central is being asked to provide health kits. Eric DeWalt, Director of Mission Central, informs us that we will ship about 13,500 kits or about 27 pallets of health kits sometime next week. More are needed. **

Each health kit should contain:

1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”)
1 wash cloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz and up)
1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper; no child-sized brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer in advance of the date of shipment)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

All items should be placed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. No money, notes, religious or political literature, or other items should be placed in the kits.

Completed kits may be delivered to Mission Central as well as any of these supplies which will then be assembled by volunteers. They may also be delivered to your district Mission Central HUB (First UMC, Lewistown). **

If you would like to make a donation (checks payable to RMUMC) or donate kits, please bring to Rhodes Memorial UMC

and we will get them to First UMC. Your help is greatly appreciated.

**excerpts of a letter from:

STATE COLLEGE DISTRICT OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Rev. Dr. Pamela H. Ford, District Superintendent dated Jan. 14, 2010

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Remember: We have a food pantry that often needs donations. Please continue to give for those in need of food.

Thank you for your consideration!

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Missions/Evangelism Committee

The quarterly mission projects for 2010 are:

1) January/February/March: Heifer Project. Rhodes’ goal is $2,500. We will partner with Yeagertown UMC ($2,500) to fill a $5,000 Ark.

2) April/May/June: Conference Camping Initiative

3) July/August/September: will be Disaster Relief through UMCOR

4) October/November/December: The Lumina Center and the Lewistown Shelter Services

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REPORT FROM MISSIONS/EVANGELISM COMMITTEE

Mission/Evangelism Report from

January 4, 2010 Meeting

From Mission Fund:

1) $500.00 will be sent to the Meat Canning Project.

2) $500.00 will be sent in the name of Jonathan Morningstar to Eastern Mennonite Seminary where Jonathan is studying for the ministry.

Heifer Project – This is the 15^th year Rhodes and Yeagertown United Methodist churches will fill an “Ark.” The first quarter (Jan., Feb., March) mission project goal is to contribute $2,500.00 toward the $5,000.00 required to fill the “Ark.”

Contribution may be given in the Banks – available from the church.

An offering plate was placed last Sunday, January 3^rd, at the back of the sanctuary for a Heifer offering. $41.00 was collected. Thanks for giving.

March 30 – Auction for Missions:

Items for the auction may be brought to the church at any time and placed on the stage in the Sunday School area.

More information will be forth coming.

Food and drink items will be available for money donations beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Food and drinks will be available throughout the auction.

Auction will begin at 6:00 p.m. There will be a “Silent Auction” for baskets. Individuals and Sunday School classes are encouraged to contribute.

Plan to come and have fun.