Alcoholics Anonymous - Mondays at 7:30PM
Brandon Care Pregnancy Center
Ministers to girls and women in the midst of an unexpected pregnancy. The CPC staff and trained volunteers provide free pregnancy testing, counseling, referrals for government services, support groups and training for teens to help reduce the number of unexpected pregnancies. In addition, trained lay speakers go to area schools to give presentations on abstinence.
Call the Center at 654-0491 for more information.
Dominican Republic Mission
I am so excited to be able to share with you a new Dominican Republic Outreach program that First United Methodist Church of Brandon has become involved with! Our church has been a long-time sponsor of Connie DiLeo, a Methodist missionary in the Domincan Republic. With Connie's help, we will be working through C.O.P.A. (Community Partners Association), to help with two villages in the southwestern corner of the D.R. These two villages, Bobita and LaHoya, are on the Haitian border and our first summer mission work trip is scheduled for July 14-22, 2008.
We will be staying at the school there and helping with whatever work is needed - in addition to praise & worship and playing with the children in the villages. By January, I should know exactly what our work orders are and what kind of camp we will be having for the children. Because of the severe poverty in these villages, they are extremely excited about our coming to help them. A deposit of $100 will hold your spot on the mission team. The cost of the trip is not confirmed yet, but we hope to keep it at about $850 - which will include airfare, room and board, bus rental, and bottled water. Teenagers, who have completed at least the 9th grade, will need a parent to accompany them. This is an amazing opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and do hands-on missionary work.
The Dominican Republic mission work that our church has done over the last 15 years has changed not only my life, but countless others, too. If you would like more information about C.O.P.A., visit www.copa.org.uk/ or call me with further questions. - Frankie Cross, Dominican Republic Missions Outreach Coordinator
Home Touch Ministry
Works with those persons who are homebound to give them rides to doctor appointments. Volunteer drivers provide transportation to doctor appointments. Call the Church office at least two weeks in advance of your doctor appointment if you are homebound and need a ride to the appointment. To volunteer to drive, contact Carole Valdespino at 685-2491.
L.I.S.T.
Volunteers provide no or low cost minor home and auto repairs to those who are on a limited income, for example oil changes or repair of faucet leaks. The Limited Income Service Team also provides referrals to outside organizations that can assist with larger or special needs that are beyond the capabilities of the volunteers. Call the Church Office at 689-4161 for more information.
Meals on Wheels
Provides meals to the homebound in our area on Fridays each week, in cooperation with other area churches. Volunteers prepare and deliver meals. Call Elaine Christopher at 689-3275 regarding cooking meals. Call Earlene Combs at 689-2615 regarding meal delivery.
Nursing Home Visits
Sponsored by the Brandon Christian Ministerial Association. About once a month, Brandon First is responsible for providing a worship service at an area nursing home or assisted living facility. Call the Church office at 689-4161 for more information or to volunteer to do or participate in one of the Worship Services.
S.H.A.R.E.
SHARE participants, who come from all walks of life, are committed to perform voluntary acts of kindness. They may, for instance, tutor their neighbor’s child, serve meals to the homeless or homebound, mow the single mother’s lawn, package SHARE food, or teach English to new immigrants. Then one day each month, this common bond of service is celebrated at our monthly SHARE food distribution. Saving money on groceries and stretching the family budget is the tangible benefit that SHARE offers. Serving others brings to us the intangible reward of a life well lived. Won’t you join us at SHARE this month? For more information call Jim or Sue at (813) 672-4814 or E-mail fumcshare@verizon.net