UMVIM Awareness Sunday

Since 2016, the United Methodist Church has celebrated UMVIM Awareness Sunday, a day to lift up all of the ways that local churches put their Christian love into action through the UMVIM movement.

We recommend that you celebrate UMVIM Awareness as part of Laity Sunday (October 21) in your church because so much of the impact of UMVIM comes from its lay-led grassroots character. But you can celebrate it on a day of your choosing.

Taking up an offering is optional. If you do decide to take up an offering, though, we would like you to consider supporting the work of UMVIM-NEJ (Advance #982760). Feel free to use any of the video resources on the right side of the page or the bulletin inserts, liturgies, and sermon starters found here to help you as you plan.

In Christ,

Tom

NEJ Team Forming for Puerto Rico Recovery

UMVIM Jurisdictional Coordinator, Tom Lank will be leading a team to Puerto Rico for the recovery effort from May 13-20, 2019. This will be a Monday-Monday journey. In accordance with the guidelines published by the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, all team members must be over 18 and have had Safe Sanctuaries training and clearances. The MCPR has expressed a particular desire for volunteers with roofing skills, but all applicants will be considered regardless of skill.

If you are interested in joining the team, contact coordinator@umvimnej.org.

For a little taste of the impact your work will have, take a look at the video below. It's one of several that are telling the story of United Methodists partnering with our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico to respond to the survivors of Hurricane Maria.

Discover... Mission China

July 17-31, 2019

The Northeastern and North Central Jurisdictions are partnering to offer an exciting mission opportunity for young adults (aged 18-35). This is a cultural immersion mission journey in which participants will:

connect with young adult Christians of China
learn about the work and witness of faith in the Chinese context
meet with Chinese Christian leaders at local seminaries, congregations, and the Amity Foundation
visit cultural sites like the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City
become certified UMVIM Team Leaders

Estimated cost: $3250 (double lodging) or $3750 (single lodging). Airfare estimate of $1200 is included in the figures above.

Partial scholarships are available for up to 6 participants from the NEJ.

To request an application form, email coordinator@umvimnej.org

Applications are due by December 1st and must include a $400 refundable deposit made out to UMVIM-NEJ.

New Video Series Helps Train UMVIM Teams

Our neighbors at UMVIM-SEJ have produced an excellent series of short videos that can be used to prepare teams for short-term mission service. They have even developed study guides to go along with each video. Find all of the videos and associated resources here.

Upcoming ERT and VIM Trainings and Events

Greater New Jersey

October 13 - ERT Basic and Recertification - Moorestown UMC

Eastern Pennsylvania

October 20 - UMVIM Team Leader & ERT Basic (simultaneous) - Otterbein UMC, Lancaster, PA

Baltimore-Washington

October 20 - ERT Basic - Hiss UMC

December 1 - ERT Basic and Recert - Benevola UMC

New York

October 13 - Mission/Disaster Response Team Leader Training - Conference Office/Learning Center

October 30 - ERT Recertification - Hyde Park UMC

Upper New York

October 13 - UMVIM Team Leader Training - Worcester UMC

October 27 - UMVIM Team Leader Training - Schenectady First UMC

Volunteers Needed for Recovery

In the NEJ, Eastern Pennsylvania has asked for help from surrounding conferences to deal with July 2018 flooding and West Virginia is still recovering from June 2016 floods. There are major efforts underway for the areas affected by 2017 and 2018 hurricanes as well. Out west, California is seeking teams to help with their effort to rebuild following the wildfires and mudslides. Please organize within your conferences to help meet the need! Follow the links below to register or get more information:

Puerto Rico - Phase II (New "Intent to Serve" form now in use!)

Rio Texas - ERT and Long-Term Recovery

Did You Know?

The UMVIM-NEJ Board of Directors meets this month. We are comprised of the UMVIM Coordinators in each Annual Conference in the NEJ plus at-large members and ex-officio members from related organizations like Global Ministries and NOMADS. Many board members are both VIM Coordinators and Disaster Response Coordinators for their annual conferences. This year we meet October 15-16 at Mount Asbury Retreat Center in Newville, PA and will contribute some volunteer hours at nearby Mission Central.