The Mission Committee (Donna DuPont, Lori Shoup and Julie Whalen) is excited to report that Rehoboth will be sponsoring a “Mission Project” each month.

April 29th is the kick-off for all mission projects with Global Sunday. We will begin selling Fair Trade coffees and teas on a monthly basis. During the Fellowship hour after church, you can now enjoy these delicious coffees.

The Lutheran World Relief Global Market will visit Rehoboth on April 29 after the 10:30 service. Here you will be able to purchase handmade items from around the world – all of which are fairly-traded items.

Fair Trade purchasing removes the middle man; therefore, ensuring that the farmers and artisans around the world who produce them earn a fair price for their labor.

Here are our monthly projects and how you can help Rehoboth reach out to those in other countries and to people in our own backyards:

MAY:     The Heifer Project     www.heifer.org

We will be collecting donations for the Heifer Project. You may purchase your own animal or donate to a general fund. Envelopes and order forms are available in this newsletter and in the bulletins throughout May. Heifer’s strategy is to “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe. The Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Their history is a simple idea – giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief. This has continued for over 60 years. Today millions of families in 128 countries have been given hope. The entire Sunday School will be studying the Heifer Curriculum in May. During fellowship after church, each Sunday in May the children can meet downstairs for “international” crafts, music and fun.

JUNE:     Raymond Penfield fundraiser

Ray is the brother to Joe & Linda Penfield. He lost his house to a fire in April. Rehoboth will be joining together to offer Ray and his family a “Shower of Blessings”. We will collecting donations to help Ray furnish his “new” home. He will be registering at area stores and more information will follow in next month’s newsletter and bulletins. We are awaiting approval for “matching funds” from Thrivent for this endeavor. Please keep this family in your prayers.

JULY:     CAST (Churches Are Serving Together)

We will be collecting back-to-school donations for Beaver County children. A listing of needed supplies can be found on “The Giving Tree” closer to the date. More info to follow.

AUGUST:     A Child’s Place

2007 Designated Outreach Project- for SWPA Women of the ELCA is A Childs Place at Mercy. A Childs Place provides a service to the community to allegations of child abuse and neglect. They are advocates for the rights of children. There is an Ingathering of the following items needed: backpacks and supplies for children 3 – 18 years. Also needed are toiletries, games, cards and toys.

SEPTEMBER:     LWR Layettes

The Mission:Action ladies have been providing quilts and layettes to Lutheran World Relief for many years. Each layette is required to have two sleepers, two onesies, one receiving blanket, one sweater and six cloth diapers with a set of diaper pins. These items can also be gently used.

OCTOBER:     A Mother’s Voice     www.lydiasplace.org

This is a mission sponsored by Lydia’s Place. This organization offers long term support to female offenders and children of incarcerated parents, targeting their specific needs. A Mother’s Voice needs new or gently used children’s books and blank cassette tapes. A recording of a mother reading the book will be given to her child along with the book. This helps the separation between the mother and children.

NOVEMBER:     Global Market

The Global Market will once again visit Rehoboth. What a great way to help people from around the world, by purchasing fairly traded items. Join us as we kick-off the Christmas shopping season. The “Market” will be open on Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18.

DECEMBER:     Sunday School Christmas project

The Sunday School will once again be collecting for a specific organization to help make Christmas a little merrier for those in need. Watch for more information in November.

We continually collect food donations for CAST. These are non-perishable items that are not opened or out-dated. There is a basket located in the narthex.

The Mission:Action ladies also accept sheets and blankets any time of the year. They have been sewing and assembling quilts for many years. Look for the Mission:Action basket.

Rehoboth also supports the Yellow Ribbon Girls. This organization sends “treats” to our service men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Each month a different snack is requested. See the bulletin or newsletter for details.

Donna DuPont continues to collect soap and aluminum cans for our Senegal missionary friends. The can are recycled and the money collect is used for children’s immunizations. The soap is given to the refugees.

Thanks to the many people who so willingly give to our mission projects. We are making a difference.

Rehoboth Evangelical Lutheran Church 2800 Conway Wallrose Road Baden, PA 15005 724.869.2806 church-office@rehobothlutheran.com