Sponsoring World Relief Food Pantry

First Congregational Church will sponsor the food pantry at World Relief of Quad Cities in July.  Our Outreach and Missions committee, along with the Youth Group and the church Garden growers will work together on this effort.

“First Congregational Church has been a wonderful partner in our food pantry and we are grateful that you will be helping again this summer.”

Laura Fontaine, director of World Relief

World Relief has a monthly food pantry especially targeted World Relief has a monthly food pantry especially targeted for the needs refugees and immigrants from other countries who choose foods that remind them of home.  Folks from other nations include more fresh vegetables in their meals than many in the United States.  Last summer the church garden featured eggplants common to Burma that got an enthusiastic response.  The planting was done with the World Relief constituents in mind.  Steve Schippers, who is coordinating the garden this summer, already has plans to feature this and other plants with the tastes of our new neighbors in mind.  We pray that some will be available already by July.

Outreach and Mission is inviting money contributions to help purchase food for the pantry for July.  The target is $850.00.  Make your check payable to the church and put “WR food pantry” in the memo line.  

The Youth Group plans to support our churches efforts by stocking purchased food at the World Relief food pantry and giving other support where needed in the process…many youth hands make light work.

More information will be forthcoming, but we wanted to “plant” this idea now.

If you are putting in a garden at your home and have a spot for some exotic plant to benefit the World Relief get in touch with Steve Schippers (Schippersstevenc@gmail.com).  We will have seedlings available and the plants are pretty hardy. 

Sewing Masks

Church of Peace UCC in Rock Island set a goal of collecting 200 masks for inmates and sheriff’s deputies working at the facility to keep them safe. People who sew at First Congregational Moline contributed about 30 masks.  The goal was met.  

Oh friends, you are fantastic! You have heard me say this before, but one of the problems with the criminal justice system is that it becomes all too easy for those of us on the outside to forget those who are on the inside. Well, Church of Peace (and some phenomenal friends of Church of Peace) refuse to let this happen! You made more than 200 masks for the people locked up in the Rock Island County Jail. Every mask is a tangible sign of God’s love. I am so deeply grateful to you!

Pastor Mariah of Church of Peace