Our Church’s Wider Mission—In the United Church of Christ, we affirm that, although the congregation is the fundamental unit of mission, mission is not just local.  We are connected to one another, across boundaries of neighborhood, class, race, and national border.  Our Church’s Wider Mission describes the work done as the United Church of Christ beyond the local church—through conferences, national ministries, and UCC related institutions.  Our Church’s Wider Mission is also the name given to the financial support of UCC members and congregations that makes this broader mission possible.

Basic Support provides funding for the work of UCC conferences and UCC national ministries.  Some of the national basic support money is used for ministries to conferences, local churches and members, as well as for ecumenical, prophetic and missionary ministries on behalf of the UCC.   (www.ucc.org)

Ø One Great Hour of Sharing—A special offering of the United Church of Christ that serves persons with needs resulting from natural disasters and political or economic crises.  This offering supports programs of sustainable development, emergency relief, disaster response, social service, and refugee resettlement.  It works by channeling resources for the self-empowerment of communities and individuals victimized by hunger, poverty, and injustice.  (www.ucc.org)

Ø Neighbors In Need—All-church offering of the United Church of Christ that expresses our commitment to ministries of justice and compassion in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as we speak prophetically to those in power and advocate to the voiceless.  In the Spirit of Christ, this offering seeks to confront evil in the world and to alleviate suffering through justice advocacy and direct service.  Neighbors In Need supports ministries that address hunger action, poverty reduction, economic development, human rights, peace making, violence reduction, racial and economic justice, environmental concerns, and public policy advocacy.   (www.ucc.org)

Ø Church World Service/Tools of Hope & Blanket Sundays—Helps provide the right “tools” to meet immediate and long-term needs of people in crisis:  from blankets, tents, and emergency supplies in the wake of disaster to material assistance, education and training, and small enterprise loans as part of sustainable development programs.   (www.churchworldservice.org)

Ø Mensch Mill—Camp and Retreat facility of the United Church of Christ.  Mensch Mill encompasses 140 acres of hills, fields and woodlands providing camping and retreat facilities for youth, families and adults.  Mensch Mill has been an outdoor ministry since 1928.  The stone buildings of Mensch Mill date back to 1810 making the facility a place of great history and beauty.  The sounds of waterfalls, chirping birds and wind blowing through the trees make the quiet atmosphere ideal for retreats.  Mensch Mill provides a facility for spiritual growth, recreation, adventure and relaxation.  (www.psec.org)

Ø Disaster Response—At times of natural disaster, Immanuel members prepare Disaster Response kits as needed by Church World Services to help victims of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, war and other disasters.  Immanuel responded to the September 11th tragedy.

Ø Ohwa Christian College—Located in Madolenihmw Municipality on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, Ohwa Christian College is the ministerial training arm of the United Church of Christ, Pohnpei.  It exists to prepare future ministerial talent for ordination, to train post secondary college students for careers in Christian Education and to train Christian laymen and women for Christian service in their churches and communities.  The college has secured dedicated, experienced and well-trained Christian educators to provide high caliber training in academic subjects, the Holy Bible and theological concepts.   (www.fm/ohwa)

Ø Reading Berks Conference of Churches—The mission of Reading Berks Conference of Churches is to foster unity and cooperation among Christian Churches in Reading and Berks County.  Other mission objectives are:  to provide witness in the community for shared Christian values; to promote ministries to the community in Christ’s name; to assist churches in fulfilling their individual and cooperative missions; and to encourage dialogue among all segments of the religious community.
(www.readingberksconferenceofchurches.com)

Ø Lancaster Theological Seminary—A community of faith, learning, and worship, Lancaster Theological Seminary has been a school of the church for over 175 years.  The degree programs are designed to be both intellectually stimulating and helpful to students as they deepen their understanding of their call to ministry, strengthen their gifts, and prepare for service.  Classroom and knowledge are joined to church and faith to provide the Spiritual Leaders of tomorrow.  Major components of the curriculum are field education, classroom courses, and cross-cultural opportunities.  Together a diverse and ecumenical faculty and student body combines to create an atmosphere of academics, spirituality, creativity, and personal growth.   (www.lts.org)

Ø School Uniform Angels—Immanuel offers monetary support to the Reading Emergency Shelter and the Youth Advocate Program for the purchase of school uniforms.  These uniforms are donated to homeless and less fortunate children and youth in the Berks County area.

Ø Greater Governor Mifflin League—Immanuel sponsors entertainment such as story telling, mime acts and musicians during the annual Community Days event in Shillington.

Ø Phoebe Ministries—The mission of Phoebe Ministries is to be a leader and innovator in providing quality healthcare, housing and support services.  Phoebe Ministries is guided by its original mission to provide compassionate care for residents of its communities, regardless of their ability to pay.  40% of the nursing home residents and a smaller percentage in other living situations rely on Phoebe’s promise of charitable care.  The elderly and poor—those often forgotten in society—are at the heart of their mission and ministry.  Phoebe Ministries has been serving the needs of older persons since 1903.   (www.phoebe.org)

Ø Bethany Children’s Home—Residential Treatment Program provides residential services to a co-ed population, ranging in age from 6 to 18, who are unable to live with their own or substitute families.  The Short Term Intensive Treatment Program provides time-limited (90 days) intensive residential services for children and youth unable to live with their own or substitute families.  The Bethany Shelter Care Program provides emergency 30-day respite care for children and youth in crisis. (www.bethanyhome.org)

Ø Greater Berks Food Bank—Provides staples and meals for low-income residents of Berks County.  They also offer meals to Berks County youth through the Kids Café sites—sometimes the meals provided are the only hot meal the children get during the day.   (www.berksfoodbank.org)

Ø Harvest Home—Immanuel’s annual collection of canned goods to be used at the Soup Kitchen and the Reading Emergency Shelter.  Monetary donations are also received for the Greater Berks Food Bank.

Ø Reading Soup Kitchen—Members of Immanuel prepare and serve a meal at the local Soup Kitchen the first Tuesday of each month.  We also support the Soup Kitchen’s efforts to feed low-income and homeless members of Berks County through continued financial contributions.

Ø Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity—Locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the non-profit ecumenical Christian housing organization.  Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing.  The houses are sold to those in need at no profit with no interest charged.  Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor—and “sweat equity” into building their homes and the homes of others.  Their mortgage payments go into a revolving fund for Humanity to build more houses.   (www.habitat.org)

Ø Reading Emergency Shelter—The Shelter is no longer just offering a bed and a warm meal.  Contributions in the form of donated goods, volunteers and monetary gifts have enabled the Shelter’s staff to focus on many of the reasons why an individual or family finds it difficult to become and remain self-sufficient.  Services provided:  Round the clock childcare services at the Second Street Learning Center; job-readiness and placement program through Job Quest; Primary healthcare services through the Reading Health Dispensary at Second Street; Shelter Services; and Transitional and Permanent Housing Programs.  (www.rbes.org)

Ø Berks AIDS Network—Services are provided at no cost to support the best quality of life for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDs in Berks and Schuylkill Counties.  Services available in English and Spanish, are comprehensive and include:  Case Management; Direct Assistance; Wellness Services; Emotional Support.   (www.berksaidsnetwork.org)

Ø Shillington Fire Company and Governor Mifflin Ambulance—Financial support provided to our local fire and ambulance companies.

Ø Immanuel Preschool Scholarship—Scholarships are available on an as needed basis for children to attend Immanuel’s Preschool.

Ø Berks Women In Crisis—A private, non-profit domestic and sexual violence center.  Established in 1976 by a group of volunteers and routed in the belief that all people are entitled to a life free of physical, sexual and emotional violence.  They offer:  two 24-hour hot-lines, one in Spanish and one in English; shelter capacity for 26 woman and children; advocacy; training for professionals in the community on workplace violence, impact of domestic violence on children, protection from abuse (PFA) orders and others.   (www.pcadv.org/bwic)

Ø Youth Advocate Program—Truancy Intervention Program—Family Support Specialists provide individualized services to families as directed by Berks County Children & Youth Services to address issues primarily related to truancy, but may also include other issues as specified under the Family Support Program’s casework services.  Facilitate communication between family and school system to identify student’s strengths and needs which can provide a sense of empowerment to the family to be an integral part of their child’s education.  Develop close relationship with school personnel to monitor daily attendance and relationships with Berks District Justices to monitor student involvement in the community.  Utilize intensive intervention strategies, including being available 24 hours per day, seven days each week to increase student’s attendance to a daily routine.  These strategies involve consistent face-to-face contact with the student as well as communication with school administrators, teaching staff, guidance counselors, and any person who may affect the student’s attendance.  Assist the family to connect to natural and community-based supports and services to address issues that exist within the family.  Provide transportation as needed.  Maintain progress notes that describe each intervention and service performed with the family and collaborators.  Notes will be distributed to the assigned Berks County Children & Youth Services casework weekly, or as requested.  As part of the Youth Advocate Program philosophy, case notes will include identified student and family strengths.

Ø Camp Scholarships—Over the past five years, the number of Immanuel children who attend summer camp at Mensch Mill has continually increased.  The Outreach Committee commits funds to defray the cost of camp for our youth.  Summer Church Camp is a rewarding experience.  It gives our youth the opportunity to cultivate friendships with others who share their faith and experience the presence of God in a wonderful nature setting.  We are very fortunate to have Camp Mensch Mill available in our conference—and Immanuel is certainly taking advantage of this wonderful resource.

Ø Work Camps—To make sure all youth at Immanuel have an opportunity to participate in Work Camps, the Outreach Committee budgets funds towards these trips.  By doing so, the cost remains low and affordable.  Past work camps included Heifer Project in Maine and Old First Reformed Church in Philadelphia.  Our youth and chaperones return from these trips with a greater understanding of what it means to help others.  It gives them an opportunity to grow in their faith.  What a great investment—our children!

Ø CROP Walk—Help support the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially the grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts of partner agencies in more than 80 countries.  CROP Walks help provide tools of hope that empower people to meet their own needs.  From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to nutrition-enhancing Moringa trees, to technical training and mirco-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs—something Church World Services has learned through more than 50 years of working in partnership around the world.  In addition, each local CROP Walk can choose to return up to 25% of the funds it raises to local hunger-fighting programs. (www.churchworldservice.org)