SHARED MINISTRY

**A long-needed directory of social services offered in Alliance has been compiled by a committee on the Shared Ministries Team and about 5,000 copies are ready to be distributed to area churches, schools, the SPARK program, the Alliance Municipal Court, the hospital, government offices, and social agencies listed within the directory.  This has been a huge undertaking led by Cynthia Carlin of Christ UMC and Heather Schafer, a Mount Union student who worked through an AmeriCorps grant.** 

Plans also are under way to publicize the need for volunteers at the Stark County Family Court and for adult mentors for youth at the Juvenile Attention Center and for the Court’s Ad Litem program. 

The task force is planning classes that were suggested by the combined churches at the February meeting at First Christian. They include classes on marriage, on finance, and on nutrition.

Recently, the task force came up with a list of possible space requirements for ministries and activities that could be available in a new church facility. Some of those recommendations include: a commercial size kitchen and a dining hall with seating for 300-400 people; facilities for expanded music ministries; room for prayer and meditation; classrooms for small-group ministries; pre-school and/or day care with indoor and outdoor play areas; multipurpose facility for sports and gym activities, and a stage with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology; overnight facilities with dorms, showers and activity areas; a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing sanctuary suited for both traditional and contemporary services; church-wide technology with WiFi available throughout, and computers for staff, and sound and video equipment in every classroom; areas for Sunday school; a staff/office hospitality area; a library and history room; an area for Scouting; and adequate storage for all activities.  Several other ministries are being considered and the task force welcomes comments or suggestions.

Members of the Shared Ministries Task Force are chair Jim Williams, Cynthia Carlin, John Benincasa, Peg Rodefer, Judy Kingan, Lucy Ward, Kathy Kramer and Libby Patterson.

Members of the Building and Site Ministry Task Force are chair Susan Bowman, John Christian, Lynda Slack, Marilyn Ruff, Tom West, Arnie Hirvela, Connie Pyers, Tiffany Gravlee and Don VanFossen.

Task force members were nominated and elected by the larger Vital Merger Ministry Team and report to that body.  The total effort is advisory to each Administrative Council and ultimately to the Church Conferences, who have final say on the future and present status of the churches. 

 SHARED MINISTRY TEAM NEWS - JULY, AUGUST 2009

    Following the joint congregational meeting in February, the Shared Ministries Team of Christ UMC and Union Avenue UMC has continued researching areas where our congregations can make a positive impact on the community.

    Those efforts led to the Stark County Family Court, and the multitude of programs they conduct to assist families and their children.

    Committee members and others met with Judge Michael Howard and other employees of the Stark County Court to hear about programs conducted by the court, how needs are identified, and the vital role played by volunteers.  They outlined the need for volunteers in two programs where positive role models are desperately needed.

    -- The Volunteer Mentor Program is a new effort by the court which needs mature, caring adults to work one-on-one with at-risk youths who, as a result of delinquency, are currently at the Juvenile Multi-Court Attention system. The mentor must be a good listener, trustworthy, honest, have a sense of humor, be enthusiastic, and have a positive attitude. They will provide emotional support, guidance, advice and help solve problems.

    It requires a commitment to regular interaction, to flexibility, to focus on the needs and interests of the youth, and the willingness to accept the challenges of working with a "tough kid." The reward, Howard said, is that volunteers will make a positive difference in the life of a youngster who needs help and guidance.

   -- Another opportunity to serve is to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL).  Here, volunteers investigate the true circumstances related to a child, report the findings to the court, and serve as the advocate for the child’s best interests.

     An event is being planned in the fall to provide more details on how members of both congregations can become involved. It also will be an opportunity to be more informed about what is being done and what needs to be done to make our community a healthy and safer place for children.

The merger of The Coalition of Churches and Alliance Area Council of Churches in 1987 resulted in the community outreach program, The Alliance of Churches.  Christ United Methodist Church and other area congregations support the Alliance of Churches.  Their outreach includes helping individuals in need, sponsoring the Lenten Luncheons, the Calvary Walk on Palm Sunday, the community Good Friday service, as well as the annual Ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Service in an area church.  Alliance of Churches is now located on Linden Avenue in the Neighborhood Center, 405 South Linden Avenue, phone number 330-829-9294, Monday-Friday, 9a-12p.

Christ United has a mission outreach for the Food Pantry at the Salvation Army.  Each Sunday of the month canned goods, paper products and monetary donations are brought and placed on a table in the Reception Hall, with the third Sunday designated as "Food Pantry Sunday."  The Children’s Department participates by taking the "Chuck Wagon” around to the Sunday School classes to collect canned goods and money for the Food Pantry.  Volunteers count the food and money after the third Sunday, and take them to the Salvation Army.
 

The Children's Rights Council, in conjunction with the Stark County Family Court and Christ United Methodist Church, provides a Safe Haven for children of divorced/separated parents.  The children can enjoy a 'supervised visit' or 'exchange' for a weekend visit with their non-custodial parent without having to endure a confrontation between their parents.  Congregation members provide supervision for these visitations or exchanges on alternating weekends at the Church.  All cases are referred from the Stark County Family Court.

Inter-Faith Child Development Center became accredited in 2002, and is located on the first floor on the west side of the church.  Formerly called Inter-Faith Day Care, it was originally founded in 1968 by a group of Christ Church women who saw a need in our community for safe, quality care for children from low to moderate income working families.  As a result, the center is a unique combination of faiths, races, cultures, and socio-economic circumstances.  The center is licensed by the State of Ohio and serves approximately 45-50 children and their families each year.  All children are welcome.

The director, Laurie Porter, is applying for re-accreditation for NAEYC.  It improves the quality of the program.  Other news is the increased allocation IFCDC received from United Way.  They  were able to hire a teacher with a degree for every classroom.  Quality teachers make a quality program!  Interfaith achieved a Step 3 Star rating (in a three Star Quality Rating System) with Step Up to Quality November, 2008, the first daycare in Stark County to receive the Step 3 rating under the state guidelines.  They thank you for supporting Interfaith for all these years and will try to make you proud.

The Inter-Faith classrooms are each taking one month to display their "masterpieces" in the first floor display case near the elevator.  Come and see their work.  They have had gymnastics instruction at the YMCA and 6 weeks of soccer, due to collaboration with the Early Childhood Education Alliance.

There have been many changes at Interfaith beginning with our name.  Last summer, a delightful man named Art Stuckey visited our center.  Art Stuckey is a good friend of Jack and Madge Peters.  We discussed the challenges of helping lower-income families while trying to pay and retain quality staff.  Jokingly, I said if I just had a million dollars I could enjoy running the center.  Amazingly, the Stuckey family thought that Interfaith was a wonderful center and wanted to ensure our future.  The Stuckey Family did indeed leave an endowment of one million dollars which may be used only for operations of the center.  We will receive 5 per cent yearly upon Art Stuckey's passing.  The only thing the Stuckey Family asked in return was to have their name associated with our center.  We dedicated the new name and sign on August 9, 2008. 

2009 - September **News from the Stuckey Family Interfaith Child Development Center

This fall was supposed to be a time to celebrate all the hard work we did over the year achieving a 3 Star Rating and NAEYC accreditation.  Instead it has turned into a very stressful time.  The state budget cuts have really been tough not only for our agency, but for the majority of programs.  Our ELI program which funded 40 of our 60 children was eliminated.  At a Sisters of Charity meeting, many people said it has sent early childhood education back 10 years.  The last three years we have been filled to capacity with a waiting list, this year we have 39 children enrolled and financially in the red by a significant amount.

The mission of Interfaith has always been to help the poor and working poor have access to a quality preschool experience.  The problem is the government puts many limitations on funding and the working poor cannot pay enough tuition to pay teachers.  It is my belief that your center is only as good as your teachers, but it is a constant struggle to figure how to pay them.

If anyone would like to donate paper towels, soft soap, tissues and napkins, it would really help!  Just keep sending your prayers and thank you for sharing your church.

Laurie Porter, Director

The Stuckey Family Interfaith Child Development Center

Adopt-A-Reader 2009 is the nineteenth consecutive year for this Christian Outreach sponsored program for the community.  Dates June 9-July 9, 2009 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., one session was decided for 2009.  This is for children in grades 1-6 needing assistance in reading, and they are paired with a volunteer.  A nutritious snack is provided for all children.  Rodman Public Library provides books for this summer program.

As of August, 2009, the Christian Outreach Committee has recommended that after nineteen wonderful years, the Adopt-A-Reader program should not continue in 2010.  Even with advertising only 25 children participated, and not all of them attended on a regular basis.  We thank the many people who promoted and helped in any way with this wonderful reading program! 

        Boy Scout Troop 50 is an active part of Christ United Methodist Church and has been since June, 1930.  Troop 50 has been sponsored by the church for over 78 years.  Over the years, 114 young men have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and 94 have earned Religious Awards, including 89 God & Country, 2 Pro Deo et Patria (Protestant), 2 Ad Altare Dei (Catholic) and 1 Ner Tamid (Jewish).

        The troop actively participates in the outdoor program, with camping opportunities seven to eight weekends each year.  One week during the summer is spent at Seven Ranges Scout Reservation.  Hiking and other outdoor activities are regularly a part of the Troop schedule.

        The Troop meets every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. under the leadership of Scoutmaster, Keith Crewson.  Visitors are always welcome.

        Cub Scout Pack 50 is for boys in the first through fifth grades.  The Cub Scout Dens meet Mondays during the school year from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church.  The first den meetings for 2009 (fall) will start September 21, 7:00 p.m.  Pack meetings are held when called, to recognize advancement and share family fellowship.  Beginning Tiger Cubs first meet September 28, 6:30 P.M. and tour the Bell Tower!  There is a Pack meeting Monday, October 19, 2009 at 6:30 P.M. for all Cubs and parents.

        Big events each year include the Pinewood Derby, a Christmas Pack meeting, a Blue-Gold Dinner, Cub Scout Day Camp and Webelos Resident Camp.

        Potential Cub Scouts are always welcome to visit.  Go to the Links page and open Troop 50 news.

SUMMER CAMP JULY, 2006   F: Devin Weatherspoon, Thomas Molesky, Camden Marian, Gaston Marian 2: Patty Rickard, Keith Crewson, Chris Kuhaneck, Jake Thompson, Jeremy Springer, Zack Finucane, Brian Packey, Mark Crewson 3: Brent Packey, Vince Kuhaneck, Ben Thompson