Missions

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has approved more than $17 million so far to help the people of Ukraine cope with the invasion by Russia, said its top executive during the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ fall board meeting.

At the meeting, held virtually Oct. 18-21, the agency announced plans for additional assistance for partners working in Ukraine and a $2 million increase in funding for U.S. conference disaster ministry programs in 2023. The last day’s agenda was devoted to reports to the board from various committees.  

A name change for National Justice for Our Neighbors also was revealed and participants heard passionate speeches touting the global mission of The United Methodist Church. 

“The response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (including) funding from the UMC and other donors has been phenomenal,” said Roland Fernandes, top executive of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Through the end of August, he said, $23.2 million had been received.

Water Mission, one of the missions Church of the Palms supports, has been responding to the crisis in Ukraine since the conflict started in February. This August, we produced nearly 800,000 gallons (3 million liters) of safe water for impacted people in Ukraine.

Shipments of emergency water treatment equipment and water purification supplies over the past several months have allowed the continuous flow of clean, safe water in multiple cities throughout Ukraine. We have installed 30 safe water systems in four different cities. We plan to install another ten systems by December. 

“Recently, a city of 40,000 people had its municipal water system destroyed,” reported Josh Burns, Water MIssion’s disaster response team lead. “Within 48 hours, our team had safe water flowing for those in need.” 

In Mykolaiv, two reverse osmosis (RO) systems provide nearly 800 gallons (3,000 liters) of safe water per hour. The Ukrainian Red Cross Society relies on these systems to fill water trucks and deliver safe water throughout the city. Smaller RO systems are located at public access points, such as churches and healthcare facilities, where men, women, and children can retrieve clean, safe water day and night. 

“Each system provides people with a source of hope and consistency in a time of chaos,” Josh shared. 

Our teams have also assembled and distributed hygiene kits for refugees fleeing the conflict and those displaced inside Ukraine. These kits are stocked with sanitary supplies to help people stay healthy.  

In partnership with local churches and organizations, Water Mission has printed bibles and trauma healing materials in Ukrainian. These resources help ministry leaders share God’s love with those experiencing tremendous loss. 

About the Mosqueira Family: The dedication of the Mosqueira home is on October 27 at 4:30 p.m. Cynthia Mosqueira is a single mother of a beautiful teenage girl.  Cynthia’s a hard worker and pet lover.  She works at the Evergreen Pet Lodge and previously at the Heritage Animal Hospital.  Cynthia is excited to give her daughter a safe, stable place to call home so that she may grow up having the opportunities to be successful.     About the Fund for Humanity: When our homebuyers purchase their home, they take on a mortgage payment that is affordable to their family (less than 30% of their income).  These mortgage payments are made to Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity and go into the Fund for Humanity.  When the fund reaches a certain level, money is then transferred to build a new home.  This is another way that our family partners pay it forward.

This home was made possible by the generosity of 47 volunteers who contributed approximately 1550 hours to make this home a reality.

The dedication of the Mosqueira home is on October 27 at 4:30 p.m.

Last month Dick and Ann Tullie completed a Kentucky relief mission trip, with Samaritan’s Purse, to assist the flood victims in that terrible disaster.  It appears that Dick and Ann have heard the calling again and are considering going to Florida in early December to assist the victims of that disaster.

If you would like more information or also might be hearing the call to volunteer for a week to assist the hurricane victims in Florida, then please contact Dick or Ann Tullie at dicktullie@gmail.com, 843-298-4251, or tullieann@gmail.com,  843-298-3311.

The 2022 Pumpkin Patch is open daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m (noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.)  All proceeds benefit children in the Lowcountry.

The 2022 Pumpkin Patch is open daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m (noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.)  All proceeds benefit children in the Lowcountry.

Family Promise Update 

Church of the Palms’ Family Promise helpers are excited to host the current four families on Sunday, October 16 at the Pumpkin Patch. During this event, only approved helpers can interact with families. However, there is an additional way all can be involved in this outreach mission. Even though we are not hosting families overnight in our church building in 2022, we can still provide food items for our families to enjoy in their hotel room. 

During the week of October 30 – November 5, Church of the Palms will work with St. Gregory the Great and Campbell Chapel AME to cover all the families’ dinner meals. 

In addition, Church of the Palms would like to provide individual breakfast food items and prepare a hot breakfast on Saturday. Instructions are available for what to prepare, when and where to deliver items and quantities needed. 

Please consider signing up in the Green Book located at the back portico entrance or on SignUpGenius. Direct any questions to Susan Hazlett, hazletted40@gmail.com or 301-606-3530.

Sign up to: Provide Breakfast Food

Sign up to: Provide a Meal

Sign up to: Provide an Egg Casserole

A multitude of folk showed up for a Beach walk today to raise awareness and support for NAMI. That is the National Alliance on Mental Illness.  All sorts of groups showed up and even the dogs could sign up. Our Church of the Palms participated in the three mile walk on Coligny Beach, Hilton Head today.

A pleasant walk on a beautiful sunny morning at the water’s edge – healthy, meaningful and for a good cause.  A dozen or so bottleneck dolphins were frolicking and jumping beside us in the waves to the delight of the walkers. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization providing support, education, advocacy and public awareness so that individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.  So far $47,000 was raised at the event.  

After singing the Star Spangled Banner we headed for the sand and shells with a mild 65 F degrees.

Lee vR

(pictured above is the “Caring Friends” team from Church of the Palms)

The pumpkins are currently schedule to arrive in their new home at Church of the Palms on Thursday, October 6. Material and supplies will be staged starting on Monday and continuing until Tuesday.  Decoration of the Pumpkin Patch will start on Tuesday night with the Scouts of BSA present to add some energy and expertise. The pumpkins are still expected to arrive on Thursday, subject to delays due to recovery efforts caused by the hurricane. Latest schedules will be posted and updated on the webpage. Contact Mark Reed, our Pumpkin Champion, or Pastor Pete with any questions.

Hear what Water Mission is doing to help the people in Pakistan.

“At Water Mission, we are living out our value of love (loving God and our neighbors in need) by responding to meet these most basic water needs.Our team recently shipped out three Living Water Treatment Systems (LWTS), water bladders and tap stands to distribute water, and 200,000 P&G water purification packets (each packet capable of treating 2.5 gallons of water). Each LWTS can produce 10,000 gallons of safe water per day by filtering contaminated flood water and distributing it on site. On the ground, we’re working with an established partner to provide this vital safe water resource.”

Church of the Palms supports Water Mission.

Please continue to bring your canned and packaged food donations plus unopened toiletries to the containers in the narthex for The Mercy Mission Pantry, one of our Cornerstone Missions. Please remember food items need to be in bags or boxes. Your support will help supply the food pantry in Hardeeville. The pantry collects items such as: cereal, canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, dried beans, pasta sauce, small bags of rice, pork and beans, canned fruit and bottled water along with personal care items including individually wrapped toothbrushes and toothpaste. Special needs at this time: canned fruit, peas, green beans, pasta sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, small bottled waters, toilet paper. Please contact Sylvia Kaufman for additional information: 843-705-5306.

Our community is saddened and prayerful concerned for those affected by the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For those wishing to support the United Methodist Church’s humanitarian efforts, we encourage you to do so through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief.)

The Church Council has authorized a $10,000 contribution to this UMCOR relief.

Gifts through UMCOR provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries. Donations can be made in one of the following ways:

Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450