Community Connections

Ministry Area

The ministries in the Community Connections Ministry Area help us reach out beyond our doors to welcome newcomers and minister to a hurting world. Some of the L.I.G.H.T. (linked in helping & giving) Teams that serve in this ministry area call for short-term commitment (e.g. Arctic Adventure Team) and others call for a year round ministry (e.g. Visitor Welcome or OCWM Education) All of these ministries help us become a community that "lives Christ's compassion and promotes justice, healing and wholeness of life.."

Arctic Adventure Team -- The purpose of this LIGHT Team is to serve God by reaching out to children and adults in one or more of the homeless shelters in the area that need to be uplifted by celebrating the birth of Christ during the holiday season.

Emergency Food Assistance -- The purpose of this LIGHT Team is to serve God by preparing bag lunch type emergency meals for church office staff to give individuals who come in need of food.

Food Pantry-- This team will serve God by receiving and sorting food at the Plainfield Area Food Pantry on the Saturdays designated for our church. They also keep members informed as to the needs of the pantry.

Foods Resource Bank -- Foods Resource Bank is a Christian-based program that promotes self-sufficiency by providing food, seed, education, supplies and tools for hungry people and poorly equipped farmers in underdeveloped nations. Our niche is helping people to help themselves through a sustainable system of producing their own food. There are many areas from providing food for the celebration to publicity in which to become involved. If you sign-up for this team the coordinator will contact you about your specific area of interest and expertise.

Justice and Peace -- The purpose of this Light Team is to serve God by promoting various Justice and Peace initiatives advocated by the denomination within the congregation via church newsletter and mission moments. To create awareness in the congregation of the hot topics being advocated and to get involved where the Light team determines involvement is necessary.

Meals on Wheels -- The purpose of this Light Team is to serve God by delivering meals to persons who are unable to leave their homes in Plainfield Township and village. It is a once a week, one month commitment

OCWM-- The purpose of this Light Team is to serve God by promoting the yearly special and on-going offerings that support the work of Our Church's Wider Mission.

Visitor Welcome -- The purpose of this Team is to serve God by providing opportunities for newcomers to feel embraced by God's love when they come to worship with our church family. There are a variety of tasks that team members accomplish. . If you sign-up for this team the coordinator will contact you about your specific area of interest and expertise.

Morningstar Mission -- The purpose of this Team is to serve God by preparing and serving the noon meal one Saturday a month at the Morningstar Shelter in Joliet. It takes about 6 people each month. Sign up is done on a monthly basis through the coordinator for this program.

Arkansas Mission -- The purpose of this Team is to serve God by providing donated items that will help the very poor people in an extremely poor part of Arkansas. Individuals on this team carry out a variety of ministries from informing the congregation regarding needs to transporting items collected to Arkansas. If you sign-up for this team the coordinator will contact you about your specific area of interest and expertise.