Missions Outreach & Service
Missions Outreach and Service Ministries are opportunities to bring the Good News of Christ and the ministries we support to the people of our community and to the world. There are also opportunities to serve the church and the community through hands-on and financial support. These ministries help make the needs of the poor, hungry, and disadvantaged real to us, and encourage us to action.
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CROP Walk
First Sunday in May
In 2023, our Orchard UMC team was again #1 in the nation!
Orchard has participated in the annual Farmington/West Bloomfield CROP Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) since its inception in 1985, providing the initial leadership and sponsorship. Orchard continues to lead in the number of walkers who participate and the amount of money raised, because we believe in its mission - to provide safe drinking water and delivery systems to third world countries and to provide national and international disaster relief. In addition, 25% of the funds remain in the local community for hunger relief programs.
Held on the first Sunday of May, participants obtain pledges for this walk and have the option of walking two miles or six. "We walk because they walk" is the rallying cry, representing our recognition that many girls in third world countries must walk miles just to get water for their families, preventing them from attending school.
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If you would like to participate in the walk, or make a donation to our Orchard efforts, go to CROP Walk to find our team!
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Knit & Crochet
Compassion and the love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a ministry where women of all ages come together for fellowship and mission. All skill levels are welcome, even if you're just now picking up a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook.
Knitted and crocheted items have been distributed to many charities and agencies, including SOS (washcloths), for soldiers (helmet liners), Baldwin (blankets for their warming center), Warm-Up America (rectangles to be made into blankets), Spirit and Song Institute for Peace (scarves and hats for homeless men), and other local charitable agencies (hats, mittens and scarves, as well as afghans and blankets and even cage liners for cats at the Michigan Animal Rescue League). Items have been made and auctioned at Orchard’s bi-annual charity auctions, as well as knitted baby washcloths made for those in our congregation with newborns. Prayer blankets and shawls have been lovingly made and distributed to those who are facing major illnesses.
This group, now in its 11th year, shares laughter, patterns, knowledge, and love. This group is currently not meeting due to the pandemic. Check the calendar for meeting times. Contact - Ellen Cogsdill