Northwest District HUB of the Eastern PA Conference at Cleona: Immanuel UMC
Immanuel United Methodist Church HUB29 East Maple Street, Cleona, PA 17042
Phone : 717-272-8663
cleonaumc@comcast.net
Pastor : Gary Jacabella
www.immanuelumc.com
HUB Coordinator :
Jeanne Earnshaw
jjearnshaw@comcast.net
Phone: 717-270-5445
IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST HUB
IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST HUB – 2nd Quarter, 2010
In our second quarter of operation the HUB at Immanuel became part of the Northwest District HUB which includes Covenant / Pathfinder UMC in Lebanon. We had the chance to have organized work sessions and to work with more congregations and groups in the UMC community. We have learned more about being part of the connectional church.
On May 23, we celebrated our HUB with a District-wide Open House in which we worked with Covenant / Pathfinder and other churches in our district. Attendees were encouraged to bring items for Layette Kits from which we assembled 23 kits. Representatives from at least 6 other UM churches attended with over 40 people attending. At this session, the covenant with Mission Central, the two churches, and the District Superintendent was signed creating the Northwest District HUB.
May 23 was Pentecost and our HUB celebrated by assembling Birthing Kits. We had learned that Mission Central and UMCOR were in need of Birthing Kits, so our congregation gathered supplies for them during Eastertide. We had several work sessions preparing the materials. One member of our congregation was able to supply rolls of plastic that were 20 feet x 100 feet and we worked to cut this into 1 yard squares. We also spent time cutting flannel fabric into 1 yard squares. With the materials ready, on Pentetcost Sunday during our worship service, we assembled 55 Birthing Kits. The service was especially meaningful because we worked in prayer groups of 5 to 6 people. Our pastor had prepared prayers that we prayed for each item in the kit. It was very moving as we prayed for string, razor blades, and soap that they could be used to do God’s will in places where there was a need.
During June, July, and August, the HUB has scheduled working sessions on the third Monday of each week. The June session was used to assemble Friendship Kits for the community. As a result, we were able to deliver 46 Friendship kits to Jubilee Ministries for distribution to people being released from prison; 45 Friendship kits to the Lebanon Rescue Mission for their residents; and 5 Friendship kits and 2 Layette kits for residents of Agape House. At each drop off, people thanked the church and said “God Bless You” to the congregation. Our children’s Sunday School classes were involved in making friendship cards to accompany the packages and to let them know that Immanuel Church was thinking of them.
Work sessions have been held on alternate Friday mornings since May. These sessions usually verify Health Kits, but also do much of the preparation work for the materials used in other kits.
Additional opportunities came in June when a Youth night was held at the request of the Youth group from St. Luke’s UMC in Lebanon. Immanuel youth and friends joined in. At the end of June, the HUB hosted “Mission Possible” a group of 18 youth and leaders from Gretna Glen Camp, who spent their week doing mission projects. They verified and helped to pack and label Health Kits for the day.
Northwest District HUB at Immanuel is looking forward to taking the HUB on the road during the next quarter. In August, we will be at Lebanon Valley College helping with mission work as part of freshman orientation. We’ll be working with youth in verifying health kits. During October, we will work with other churches in our district as they hold their Charge Conferences in clusters. Groups will rotate between several activities, one of them being assembling of kits.
