RVCC Missions

Missions At RVCC

Our United Church of Christ Statement of Faith affirms that we are called to be Christ’s servants “in the service of others” and to respond to Jesus’ call to minister to the poor and the powerless throughout the world. Our projects focus on providing the foundation for economic and cultural sustainability to men, women, and children locally, nationally, and globally. In addition, we encourage our members to begin new mission initiatives that reflect their particular interests and passions.

Here is what Missions looks like at the Raymond Village Community Church:

Mission projects diagram

CURRENT MISSION PROJECTS

United Church of Christ Mission Offerings

We are committed to participating in Our Church's Wider Mission and the four United Church of Christ (UCC) Special Offerings, which are Neighbors in Need (traditionally received in October), The Christmas Fund (December), One Great Hour of Sharing (March), and Strengthen the Church (May). In recent years, the Maine Conference UCC has recognized the Raymond Village Community Church for its commitment to these mission offerings.

Honduras Partnership

We are working with the Honduras Partnership of the Maine Conference UCC and will be sending a work crew of youth and adults to El Progreso, Honduras in August of 2008. We will be working side-by-side with the local folks to build a wing of Sunday School classrooms at Colonia Sinai Church. We also plan to participate in the CEVER program and will be sponsoring a student at CEVER, a vocational technical high school in Yoro. For more information on CEVER, go to www.theceverproject.org.

Project Linus

We sew handmade blankets and quilts that are donated to Maine Medical Center and given to seriously ill or traumatized children. Our goal is to provide love, security, comfort, and warmth to children in distress. Over the past few years, we have made dozens of quilts. For more information, see www.projectlinus.org

Cherish a Child

Inspired by the example of caring and love to a local child set by Neeltje Dunham, a parishioner, our congregation has continued her tradition by adopting a neighborhood child. We currently provide groceries, clothes, and other essential to this boy who is being raised solely by his grandmother.

Heifer Project

Our Sunday School participates annually in the Heifer Ark Project. The children raise money for farm animals for needy families in the US and globally. Each year they choose the type of animal they would like to purchase and learn about the importance of focusing their mission efforts on economic sustainability. For more information, see www.heifer.org.

Health and School Kits

We work with Church World Service each year to provide health items and school supplies for needy children and families throughout the world as well as though facing disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. We typically put together about 40 kits. The kits are a wonderful example how many hands can make a great impact!

Fairly Traded Coffee

We voted to become a "Fairly Traded Coffee Congregation" in November, 2005, and so we serve only fairly traded coffee at all church functions. In addition, we have a small congregational buying cooperative, so we can all enjoy fairly traded coffee at home and support this mission effort at church. For more information, see www.equalexchange.com.

Good Friday Hunger Walk

For many years, we have coordinated this mission project with the nearby Casco Village Church. Youth and adults from both churches together walk about 8 miles from one church to the other and raise money through pledges for local food pantries. A simple soup and bread lunch awaits the walkers at the finish.Each year, a few hardy souls begin at 5:30 A.M. and walk both ways for a total of 16 miles!

Thanksgiving Food Baskets

We team with the Town of Raymond and together provide between 60-70 Thanksgiving baskets for needy local families. Our baskets include a turkey and all the fixins' as well as additional canned and fresh food. The congregation donates needed items throughout the month, culminating in an inspiring worship service on Thanksgiving Sunday.

Christmas Mitten Tree

Our congregation adopts a needy local family with children each Advent. We provide gifts for each family member as well as vouchers for food and heating oil.

For more information on Missions at the Raymond Village Community Church please e-mail us at office@rvccme.org