5 Columns of Mission: Mission u & Giving to the Advance

The 5 Columns of Mission:

• Attend Mission u in 2013
• Support a missionary with a Covenant Relationship
• Send an offering for One Great Hour of Sharing
• Give to UMCOR in 2013
• Support an Advance project (Like, #givingtuesday)

Mission u: One of the 5 Columns of Mission
By Joan Hackett

What is Mission u?

• PNW is one of the few Conferences nationwide with a Cooperative Mission u (formally known as The Cooperative School of Christian Mission). Mission u is produced by an equal partnership of United Methodist Women and the Conference Board of Global Ministries. Studies are planned by the national United Methodist Women. Read what Mission u is about along with comments from our attendees (via evaluations).

Who attends?

• Open to men and women, clergy and youth (ages 12-17)
• As much as 64 churches represented at CWU Ellensburg in 2013 with 150 attendees
• This year, more young women attended Mission u than in the last 20 years.
• “I’d been going to the School of Mission for six years and this year didn’t just have a change in name. There were so many youth and young adults that I was able to talk, laugh, and learn with.”
• “Some of the best times were when we were not in class.  The fellowship with the group was phenomenal.”

What are the studies?
The Call –Living Sacramentally; Walking Justly (2013)

• “In the all school study, we explored the sacraments and what they mean in our lives, deconstructing some key sacraments of the church as well as looking at the root causes of injustice in our world, with an emphasis on transforming our minds so that we can change the world’s reality.”
• “My perspective on both baptism and communion has changed since attending these spiritual growth lessons. I can better understand and accept how these experiences bring one closer to God, rather than just thinking of them as the thing to do.”

The Roma (2013, 2014)

• “I was also unaware of the severity of the plight of the Roma people before this event. I had no idea the extent of the prejudice and persecution dating back to their first migrations into Europe.”

Poverty (2013)

• “This event is all about providing the opportunity to learn and grow in faith and community.”
• “It’s hard to find religious experiences that stress ‘love your neighbor’.”

Youth Study – Migration

• “My elective classes with the youth were all different and exciting. In each class, we learned something new, did something new, and moved to new places around the classroom. This was completely expressing our theme: migration!”
• “It was my pleasure to attend my first session of Mission u this year. The camaraderie, welcoming, and concern for insuring that I did not feel like the “odd person out” was truly comforting and uplifting.”

Mission u Studies coming in 2014!

• How is it with your soul?
• The Roma of Europe
• People with Disabilities

Mark your calendars! Mission u will take place at Central Washington University on July 11-14, 2014. Scholarships will be available, especially for first timers and young people. Make plans to attend!

Giving to an Advance project
The new list of Advance projects for this quadrennium –“2013-2016 Giving Opportunities through The Advance” was sent to every church earlier this year and copies were also available at Annual Conference. These 739 projects are endorsed by the General Board of Global Ministries Advance Committee, of which I had the honor to be a part of in the last quadrennium, and so I reviewed all projects.

Please look in the booklet or online at umcmission.org and choose one for you or your church to support. Imagine No Malaria # 3021190 is one project to consider supporting.

A brand new opportunity to have your gift matched is coming soon. Individuals can give and so build a column of mission for 2013 by naming their church. Often giving to an Advance project is the overlooked Column for churches.

On December 3, United Methodists are invited to participate in UMC #Giving Tuesday, when every gift made online through The Advance will be matched dollar for dollar. Building on the recent US shopping traditions of Black Friday, Local Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, UMC #Giving Tuesday offers an opportunity to start off the holiday season by giving instead of getting through supporting organizations that are transforming the world.

This is a great opportunity to build awareness and maximize support for a project or missionary that your annual conference is involved with.

Channels 66 is NOW AVAILABLE ERTs needed in Colorado • Faith leaders warn of implications of U.S. shutdown • UM Agency condemns chemical weapons • Mission u/5 Columns of Mission • Paul Jeffrey visits the PNW (schedule) • Giving to an Advance Project • Methodist Missionaries in the Congo • Why We Still March! • Walker: On My Deafness and Blindness • The Father’s Heart • Musings: Love Notes • Bishop: Church as a living organism • Nurturing Elders: Geezer Forums helpful for info, connections • To subscribe to Channels, e-mail channels@pnwumc.org.