Joy of Doing

Opportunity to Serve

We're looking for someone who can make a big difference in all of of our ministries at First Church.

We're looking for someone who want to help us meet our vision of Serving the Children in our Midst, the Mission at Our Doorstep, and being a Place of Hospitality and Grace.

We're looking for someone who can help us match the many opportunities we have to serve First Church with people who want to be of service.

We're looking for a Volunteer Coordinator for First Church. We need help in many areas, and a lot of the time people don't even know that we have a need, or that there's an even a fulfilling opportunity that matches their interests and skills.

This position is vital to our ongoing ministry. Are you the person who can fill this important role?

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Servers and Greeters Needed - Breaking Bread Monday Meal

Can you spare just 3 hours a month to serve as a server or greeter at the Breaking Bread Monday Meal?

Every Monday night our church, in cooperation with the Innvision, hosts a meal in our Kohlstedt Hall for the homeless in our community. This meal is part of Innvisoin's Breaking Bread program.

Breaking Bread currently offers a free hot meals every day of the week, six in Palo Alto and one in Menlo Park. The meals are at the same church on the same day each week, and are intentionally spread out among various locations so that people with transportation issues will always have at least some services near their home.

Their staff members deliver food for each meal from various food storage areas. There, a team of volunteers prepares the meal, then serves it and cleans up. Each of the meals has five teams of volunteers that rotate, so that each team cooks and serves once every five weeks.

The Outreach committee of First Palo Alto provides two volunteers to monitor the our building during a time when the building would otherwise be closed, and also a team to help serve meals.

We are asking you to volunteer just 1 Monday a month from 4pm to 7pm.

For more information, please contact the Church Office 650-323-6167

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D'vora Deeds

On Saturday, July 23, the D'vora United Methodist Women's circle volunteered at the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Carlos. Afterwards, we headed downtown to enjoy a delicious brunch together.

Second Harvest is one of the largest food banks in the nation, feeding an average of nearly one quarter of a million people each month. Volunteers are an integral part of the success of Second Harvest's ability to help provide food to people in need in our community. Individual and group volunteer opportunities are available for those who are 14 years of age or older. If you would like to learn more about ways you can support Second Harvest or volunteer your time, please visit their website at www.shfb.org.

D’vora is a United Methodist Women’s cicle that meets once a month for dinner, fellowship and to plan activities that will enrich our church and community. D'vora's next gathering will be on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm. If you would like more details about our September meeting or would like to be added to our D'vora e-mail list, please contact Valorie at valorie@hamachek.com.

We hope to see you there!

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The Joy Of Doing

At First Palo Alto we show our committment to the Joy of Doing every day by volunteering around our community, around our church and around the world.

We invite you to join us. Roll up your sleeves and help us and/or help a worthy organization. Your valuable time and valuable skills can be put to great use.

Below are just a few ideas on how you can be of service.

Thanks for being a part of The Joy Of Doing

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Haiti Earthquake - How You Can Help

A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and thousands are feared dead. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and is responding to the devastating earthquake with funding, material resources and prayers.

UMCOR executive, Melissa Crutchfield says, “We are working with our partners on the ground to provide immediate relief to the people in Haiti. UMCOR has worked in Haiti for many years. We anticipate that there will be years of rebuilding needed and are prepared to work with the people to help them through that process.”

Working with partners, Action by Churches Together, Church World Service, Global Medic and the Methodist Church, UMCOR is channeling its resources to respond effectively to the people most in need.

How You Can Help
Gifts to support UMCOR's Haiti Relief efforts can be online. Go to http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760 to donate.

You can also donate by check. Checks can be made to UMCOR with Advance #418325 Haiti Emergency in the memo line. Checks can be put in the church offering plate this Sunday or mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087.

UMCOR Sager Brown is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/.

Please pray for all of the people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Thank you for your faithful support for all of God’s children. 100% of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.

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Campbell Soup Labels - UPC Codes

Please collect the UPC (bar codes) from Campbell products (including Pepperidge Farms) for a UMW mission project at McCurdy School.

A container is in the lobby of the Education building with a poster showing various products that qualify. It will be greatly appreciated if you cut or tear off only the section with the UPC code - please do not submit the entire label. This will be a great time saver.

Thank you for your help.

Nancy Olson, UMW President

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Old Medicine Disposal

JUST WHAT MEDICATION CAN I DISPOSE OF AT CHURCH ?????????

Are old and outdated medicines gathering dust in your medicine cabinet? Safely dispose of them at church.

Gather your unwanted medications. Leave items in the original container. Mark out any personal information, if you wish.

Bring items to church and deposit into the locked medication barrel in the Education Building lobby.

THINGS TO BRING
• Prescription medications
• Over the Counter medications
• Medical samples
• Medications for pets
• Vitamins
• Medicated ointments/lotions
• Inhalers
• Liquid medications in glass or leakproof containers

PLEASE DO NOT BRING
• Needles/sharps
• Thermometers
• Controlled substances/narcotics
• IV bags
• Bloody or infectious waste
• Personal care products
• Business waste
• Empty containers
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Aerosol cans

Your participation in this program helps keep toxic and cumulative substances out of our water supply and prevents land pollution.

And remember to also bring your used batteries and computer ink cartridges to recycle in the containers in the church office.

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Volunteer Opportunities

There are many different ways that you can help out at FirstPaloAlto.

What are your interests?

What are your skills?

Got a little time to spare? Got a lot of time to spare? It doesn't matter!

We need you!

Volunteers help the church:
     be of service to others
     run smoothly
     look beautiful
     be a place of hospitality and grace
     and much, much more

Contact the Church Office at 650-323-6167 to find a volunteer opportunity that's perfect for you.

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Volunteers in Mission (VIM)

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission brings together thousands of volunteers to serve in various mission service around the World.

Both lay and clergy serve together in annual conference projects such as community centers children's centers, camps and vacation Bible schools.

They may serve nationally or internationally in projects ranging from construction to evangelizing to social outreach and medical assistance.

How Can You Help? Anyone who can spend some time, a few hours for some projects to several days for other projects. RV'ers traveling to other areas can make scheduled stops to work on projects. Expenses are paid by the volunteers. Contributions from the congregation help to pay for the materials that are used on the projects.

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