January

Blood Drive:  44 people signed up; 38 units of blood were received.

March

Heifer Project Collection:
The Heifer Project provides families around the world with a hand-up, not a hand-out, by helping them become self sufficient through the purchase of livestock. These chickens, calves and pigs then become a source of income and pride over many months. Be looking for a special game with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in your Sunday School class or bring by your loose change to services. Remember, through the Heifer Project, every little bit makes a difference.  In 2002, this was one of our more successful projects and was done for Lent.  The Heifer Project provided the opportunity for church members to collect money in "Ark" banks for four weeks before Lent.  $1,030.83 was collected for a Milk Menagerie which consists of a heifer, two goats, and a water buffalo to help families struggling in poverty.  Our total collections toward a $5,000 goal of contributing an entire ark are $3,985.00.

April

Food collection for Skyline Urban Ministries' Community Pantry: 
2005:  Skyline Food Drive A Success!
Our congregation donated 162 sacks of groceries and $2,304 to be used to purchase food from the Food Bank. Church and Society and Skyline clients would like to thank everyone for their generosity.

2004: 
Congratulations on meeting the goal by donating 195 sacks of groceries and $1,980 to be used to purchase food from the Food Bank. Skyline can purchase food for about $.16 per pound so this church has bought approximately 12,375 pounds of food with the money donated. If you still want to donate, we will always take the food or money to Skyline. Church and Society and Skyline’s clients thank you for helping them to have food in the time of need. A special thanks goes to John Gorrell for faithfully collecting the food in his white truck and delivering the food to Skyline.

Blood Drive:  42 people signed up; 39 units of blood were received

June

Socks and Undies Collection for Skyline Urban Ministries "Back to School":
Each year our congregation participates in the Skyline Urban Ministries project to meet the needs of Edmond's children as they prepare for the upcoming school year.  Members bring school clothes and supplies to either the Skyline Offices north of Edmond or can place them in the wood box in the southeast corner of the East wing of the Sanctuary.  (Items for Skyline can be placed here year round.)

July

Native American Sunday

September

Food collection for HOPE Center of Edmond

October

Blood Drive

November

Edmond Community Thanksgiving Dinner:
The annual Edmond Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at Peace Lutheran Church on November 25, 2004. We are responsible for the following food/items:

10 Turkeys, Uncooked 10-15 lb; 5 Hams 10 lbs; Brown Sugar 5 lbs; Butter 13 lbs; Dinner Rolls 13 doz.; Green Beans 5 cans (commercial size); Corn, commercial size 5 cans; Pepper, large container 1; Stick Margarine 8 lbs.; Potatoes 50 lbs; Sweet Potatoes 50 lbs; Pepperidge Stuffing Mix 3pkgs; Bread 5 loaves; Fruit Cocktail 4 cans (commercial size); Sour Cream 5 lbs.; Cool Whip 5 lg. cartons; Min. Marshmallows 12 bags; Onions 5 lbs.; Celery 5 bunches; Carrots 5 lbs.; Eggs 13 doz.; Pitted Olives 5 cans; Cranberry Sauce 17 cans; Pies and other desserts.

Volunteer sign-up sheets are available in the church office. Cash donations should be made to First United Methodist Church and earmarked Thanksgiving Dinner. 100% of this money is used for the Thanksgiving Dinner.

December

Giving Tree:
Cards are placed on our Christmas Tree for families who need assistance this Christmas.  Church members take the cards and fulfill the needs.  2004 was the 11th year our congregation has participated in this project.  

These are the agencies we will be helping with the Giving Tree:
Cookson Hills Center is a United Methodist mission started in 1948. The Center serves rural low-income people in Northeastern Oklahoma with the primary target group being Native American people, mainly of the Cherokee Tribe. One of the services is the Christmas store. Gift items are donated and families are allowed to shop for one gift item per family member with children allowed one clothing item and a toy. Each family also receives a food box and a turkey.

Heifer Project International was founded in 1944 and has helped over 4 million struggling families become self-reliant by providing food and income-producing animals along with training in their care. Every family who received livestock agrees to pass on one or more of its animal’s offspring to another neighbor in need. At present Heifer project is at work in 20 states in the United States and 47 countries. More information can be found at www.heifer.org.

2004 Giving Tree A Success!
Church and Society would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support of the Giving Tree. Cookson Hills was thrilled at the over 150 gifts delivered to them. We also sent $1,995 to Heifer International for them to buy many animals that will change the lives of many families worldwide. Mrs. Claus really does appreciate everyone who helped make The Giving Tree such a success and for the concern of everyone. May the spirit of Christmas be with you and your family.