Reflect Jesus
People see Jesus in us as we work together in Missions and Community Outreach
Ramps of Hope
Ramps of Hope Armstrong County had a busy 2023 season. The team installed 31 ramps and recovered several previously installed ramps. Sections of those recovered ramps can be reused in new builds, which can greatly cut down the cost of a new ramp. There are about 19 steady workers on the team and we will have anywhere from 4 to 14 on any project. Pretty great for a group that is all volunteers!
We are blessed! Most of the team comes from within the 4 churches of our Allegheny River Charge of the UMC and we are pleased to have a few members from other area churches.
The team enjoys building the ramps and is greatly rewarded when a ramp recipient comes out on their new, safe and easy access to their home and expresses their gratitude to the builders.
It always reminds us that we are doing God’s work in loving our neighbors by meeting a need for them.
2024 building season has started. 2 ramps retrieved, 1 built!
SIFT
SIFT – Seniors in Fellowship Together is a community outreach program normally meeting the third Thursday of each month from September to May. It is open to all Senior citizens of the area, no fee is charged but donations are accepted. Each month there is a luncheon and a program of interest to Seniors.
Reservations (by name) can be made from the 1st of the month thru noon on Monday the week of SIFT
(724-548-4312)
Phone reservations only will be accepted and will be limited to 75. You will need to give a name for each reservation made along with a contact phone number. Please call to cancel as there may be a waiting list.
Doors will open at 11:30 AM. Please use the parking lot door.
Upcoming Sift Programs and Menu
- Program: “How to Put Your Garden To Bed. for Winter” will be presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners
- Menu: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Tossed Salad, and Italian Bread. Cookies will be served for dessert.
Rainbow Road (Preschool)
Rainbow Road Preschool is a non-profit outreach program of the First United Methodist Church in Kittanning.
It is designed to serve interested families in and around Armstrong County.
The purpose of Rainbow Road is to promote social and emotional awareness, cognitive growth, and the creative expression of thoughts and feelings within a Christian environment.
The Preschool is in the Covenant Center across the alley from the church (332 N. Water St., Kittanning)
and is staffed by 3 experienced loving, caring Christian teachers.
Rainbow Road Preschool is currently taking applications for a head teacher and a teacher’s aide.
Send cover letter to 301 N. Jefferson St by October 11.
Now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year! See the Rainbow Road website above for details!
Monthly Missions
Each month we focus on a different “special” mission focus. Over the past couple years we have donated an “ark” of animals to Heifer International, rang the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, gathered supplies for local Blessings in a Backpack, donated underwear (and money) to House of the Carpenter, Hosted as well as participated in many Rise Against Hunger packaging events, Local Food Bank, Ruth M Smith Center, and many other local, country and global projects.
OCTOBER MISSION
Our October mission is for Caring Friends, a card outreach from First Church. We are collecting cards (holiday, birthday, thinking of you, etc), stamps and donations to help cover the cost of this mission. Please use the basket on the rail to drop off cards and stamp donations. Monetary donations can be marked and dropped in the offering plate.
MISSION UPDATE
Our September mission was Rise Against Hunger. We had a group of 9 from First Church go to help pack meals on September 14th. Our church also contributed $1059 to this mission. Overall, the churches donated $9838.39 to Rise Against Hunger, sponsoring more than 20,000 meals.
VBS & Habitat for Humanity
28 years ago, our Vacation Bible School started collecting aluminum cans for recycling. Our “can man” counts the collected cans and takes them for recycling, giving all the money to Armstrong County Habitat For Humanity.
Each year during VBS, for every 1000 cans collected during the year, the “can man” adds a can to our chimney. At the end of the week, we have a visual of how any cans we have collected since the prior VBS year. The chimney now nearly reaches the ceiling of our sanctuary.
We accept Aluminum Cans ALL YEAR long at the church ramp in the alley behind our church. Anyone can drop their empty cans off ANYTIME during the year and they will be counted toward the upcoming VBS year
The Can Man recently counted the MILLIONTH can! Over the years we have donated about $16,000 to Habitat for Humanity and still counting!
VBS 2025 will be held in June. Bring your cans to the church anytime to be counted for this year!