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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Blood Drive

The Stanford Blood Center is in a very critical need of all blood types mostly O's and A's negative. They are not able to purchase any blood throughout the Western region, due to the fact that all blood centers have low inventory. Our local hospitals are heavily using all blood types at this time requesting more then they have in inventory. If they don't collect the blood needed soon the hospitals will have to start canceling surgeries.

On Monday July 21, 2008 the Stanford Blood Center Mobile Van be will be in our Webster Street parking lot from 11:30am to 3:30pm. The donation process takes about one hour from start to finish. After a mini physical and medical history, donors give one unit of blood, then spend a few minutes in the canteen where they’ll enjoy juice and cookies.

To make an appointment click here. Then click on "July 21, 2008" Alain Pinel Realtors, and follow the prompts to schedule your appointment.

Any questions, please call Mary at (650) 543-1005, or e-mail her at mmaclaughlin@apr.com.

The need for blood never take a vacation, holiday or day off. We never know when it will be a loved one in the hospital waiting for that precious lifesaving gift.

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More Volunteers Needed - Hotel de Zink

Hotel De Zink is extending their stay for another week, so we need more volunteers. In addition to staying at First Church for the month of June, their stay has just been extended until July 6th.

Hotel De Zink returns to First Church in June! This emergency shelter rotates monthly among faith-based organizations in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Between 13 and 18 men and women stay at Hotel de Zink up to 90 days and receive a hot meal at night and breakfast in the morning. During their stay they meet regularly with case managers and develop a plan to deal with issues that have led to their homelessness. The goal is to move clients into transitional housing within 90 days.

First Church hosts Hotel de Zink every June. Sign up to bring a hot meal, or supply breakfast or lunch food. Check your calendars and sign up on the patio during May.

We need your help! If you are willing to be a volunteer and provide one of the evening meals during the month of June, please contact Trish Riley at 650-856-6419, or sign-up on the patio after worship.

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Ravenswood English

A group of dedicated volunteers from First Church is providing a valuable local outreach service to Ravenswood English. This program provides one-on-one help to K through 4th grade children from Spanish-speaking households become more proficient in speaking and reading English.

The program was created by Professor Guadalupe Valdes of the Stanford Department of Education, and is coordinated by Prof. Valdes and Stanford graduate student Sarah Capitelli. We are working with students from the Green Oaks Academy in East Palo Alto.

Participating from our church, on a weekly or twice-weekly basis are Ellen Haffner, Florence Jensen, Ruth Letts, MaryAnn Michel, Carol Mosher, Marylee Sheffer and Archer Summers. Congratulations to you all for reaching out!

Interested in helping a child learn English? Contact Ted Dolton 650-321-5950.

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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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Greeters Needed - Urban Ministry Monday Meal

Can you spare just 3 hours a year to serve as a greeter at the Urban Ministry Monday Meal?

Every Monday night our church, in cooperation with the Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, hosts a meal in our Fellowship Hall for the homeless in our community. This meal is part of Urban Ministries' 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.

Urban Ministry 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.

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

To volunteer, please contact Ann Robar, 650-961-3739.

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Living Out Our Vision

Our Mission Statement:

• The children in our midst

• The mission at our doorstep

• A place of hospitality and grace

Be a part of living out our vision by joining First Church’s Council on Ministries.

Program Ministry areas include:
• Christian Education Council • Communications • Inclusiveness • Outreach • Welcome & Nurture • Worship Team • Library.

We have a new format this year! All of these meet on the 2nd Sunday of the month after worship. Our aim is to provide a forum where all the program ministries can work together efficiently and cooperatively to achieve our common goals. All are welcome.

During worship on September 24, 2006, Council of Ministries chair Laura Norris spoke about the new format. Listen to her message here.

If one of these ministries sparks your interest, come on up to Fellowship Hall for lunch and planning. Childcare will be provided.

This is an exciting time for our church. The hope is that this new format will enable us to support one another and help the church continue to grow in a positive direction.

For more information contact Laura Norris.

See you there!

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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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Gifts and Talents Survey

We would like to know what talents and special interests you have that you might share in our church.

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your input matters! (Use one survey form per person)

Click here to download the survey

Please email your completed survey to : valorie@hamachek.com

If you would prefer to mail it, send it to

Valorie Hamachek
The First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto
625 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Or you can fax it to the church office at 650-323-3923. Please mark it Attention: Valorie.

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Chuck's Mission 2006 Trip To Kenya & Rwanda

Our own Chuck recently took a mission trip to Kenya and Rwanda with Church World Service. During his trip he visited the Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. This is the same hospital that our youth will be visiting during their 2007 Mission Trip.

Chuck kept us up-to-date on his activites by email. Read his trip reports.

Chuck's Trip Reports
Trip Reports 1 & 2
Trip Reports 3 & 4
Trip Report 5
Trip Report 6
Church World Service Helping Aids Orphans

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EPA CAN DO Outreach Opportunity

There are local outreach opportunities at EPA CAN DO, a non-profit organization in East Palo Alto whose mission is creating and maintaining affordable housing and in providing homebuyer education. Our church has supported EPA CAN DO with Joy of Giving gifts, and with Centennial Endowment gifts that have provided security cameras for one of their largest, and relatively new housing facilities, Nugent Square.

The Need: EPA CAN DO has needs in publishing or writing articles for newsletters at several of their housing projects. Also help is needed in researching foundations for possible grants. Another opportunity is to help in their Next Step Assistance Center, which provides home loan information to prospective home buyers. Contact: Ted Dolton, tdolton@comcast.net or 650-321-5950.

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Youth Group Raises $1200+ for Heifer Project

The Senior High Youth Group raised almost $1,300 for Heifer Project, an organization that helps alleviate poverty and hunger by providing livestock and training to people throughout the world. The amount the group raised will go to purchasing heifers and honeybees.

The youth raised this money by fasting for 30 hours during a lock-in at the church over Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Thanks to the youth and all of you who contributed to their efforts.

Check out www.heifer.org for more information about Heifer International.

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VSP (Very Special People) Visitation Ministry

Pat Yowell started the VSP Program at FUMC many years ago. Volunteers visit those in our family who cannot get to church on Sundays.

Interested in learning more?

Contact Valorie Hamachek, 650-324-4265 for more information.

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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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