Meals on Wheels

A nation-wide non profit organization, Meals on Wheels provides information and services for seniors so no one goes hungry. The need has doubled since March 2020 and Community United Methodist Church continues their support by providing volunteers for the last week of every month. Two volunteers pick up the food with the list of recipients and directions for distribution. There is no personal contact and generally a cooler is provided on the outside of the home. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Lou Schroeder 757-495-1809.

Rise Against Hunger

This has been an annual fundraising event at CUMC the past few years that helps people world wide with food assistance offering aide to the world’s most vulnerable. Rise Against Hunger is an independent non-profit organization that provides meals for children both within and outside of the United States. RAH  events pack grain based and vitamin enriched meals by churches or other organizations and send to countries in the developing world. Meals are delivered to schools so that families are encouraged to send children to school because education is the fastest way out of poverty and hunger. CUMC was able to provide 20,000 meals in Nicaragua in 2019.

Serving the Homeless:

VB Housing Resource Center

The HRC serves people who are experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis. This facility is an integration of shelter, housing, healthcare center, dining hall, learning facility, support services and community resources in one facility. It is a community system of city agencies, nonprofit service providers, and faith organizations.

CUMC collaborates with the HRC in several ways with Indirect Service where Small Groups collect laundry soap, diapers, or requested items such as board games.  We have collected blankets and air mattresses to stock HRC supplies.  

Two programs offered by CUMC:

The Schoolwork Assistance Program provides tutoring and after school activities for children of families that reside in the resource center in order to keep them current with their academic requirements. The volunteer tutors are screened and must meet the requirements of Virginia Beach Public Schools. (NOTE: this program is currently on hold).

The Internet Access program is a project to assist newly placed families that are housing insecure to get access to the Internet. This mission is specifically designed to help children of these families get online access for school-related work, studies, and projects.

Winter Shelter Meals:  In January 2022 CUMC, will partner with The Gathering at Scott Memorial to provide a week of meals for the Virginia Beach Winter Shelter program.  CUMC small groups and volunteers will help cook and serve breakfast and dinner, and offer a bag lunch to homeless individuals.   As the Virginia Beach Winter Shelter program returns to physical housing inside church facilities in 2023 or 2024, CUMC hopes to return as a full host church in our own facility.

Blessing Bags: This is our newest mission that CUMC is undertaking. Prepared bags are provided for the homeless and are distributed by The Gathering at Scott Memorial United Methodist Church in partnership for serving the homeless. These are gallon size ziplock bags with commonly used items such as soap, shampoo, a rain poncho, hand warmer/winter, razor, first aid kit, breakfast bar, canned meat/crackers, and water. A Blessing Bag and/or a bag of shelf stable food are provided to the homeless or shut-ins that do not have transportation to get to the distribution center. A Hotline Card from the HRC and a devotional enclosure from CUMC are placed in each Blessing Bag.

Judeo-Christian Outreach Center offers the citizens of Hampton Roads, who so desire, the opportunity to improve their lives by providing them with shelter, food, clothing, and the opportunity to participate in substance abuse counseling, job training, and GED preparation, with the knowledge that someone cares about their well being. http://www.jcoc.org (click on Wish List to see how you may assist).  They are located within a few miles of The Gathering at Scott Memorial United Methodist Church which offers  additional support for the homeless in that area.

Community United Methodist Church partners with other churches in the area to provide four meals a year at the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center. The average number served was 65, but the need is increasing. Our focus this year has been to offer healthy choices.

Serving Locally:

Meeting on a regular basis and sponsored locally at CUMC:

Boy Scouts of America: Troop 362

Cub Scouts Pack 362

Girl Scouts Troop 235

UMCOR Kits for the United Methodist Conference are prepared and donated annually in June. These are school supplies, health kits, or baby kits.

Angel Tree for Christmas is celebrated every December. We sponsor local families for Christmas.  We are providing a few toys, clothing, coats and shoes for children, gift cards for adult children and parents and a full holiday meal for each family.

Mission Trips:

Emergency Response Team (ERT)

This is a service ministry to provide help to local communities that have experienced flooding, hurricane or tornado damage. The goal is to provide clean up and roof tarping that will minimize damage (not repair). Team members are required to complete ERT training to become certified.

Due to COVID-19, no specific plans have been made for mission trips. However, CUMC volunteers works locally with Faith Works Coalition to build wheel chair ramps and conduct home repairs for low income and elderly homeowners who struggle to stay safe, warm and dry.  Our members periodically participate in ongoing home repair projects.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP TEAM - MEETS MONTHLY AND AS NEEDED

Oversees church administrative decision-making

Contact Office Manager email

BEREAVEMENT TEAM - MEETS AS NEEDED

Assist with funeral receptions and Family Comfort

Coordinator: Nancy Esber

CHILDREN CLOTHES CLOSET - WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS 10:00 AM

Gathers, organizes and distributes children’s clothing

Coordinator: Ginger Godwin

STEPHEN MINISTRY - PARLOR - 1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS 2:00 - 4:30 PM

Specially trained group of lay caregivers through listening

Coordinator: Sue Elliker

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM - MEETS AS NEEDED

Specially trained group of lay community service workers

Contact Pastor Teresa Woodworth email 

FOOD PANTRY - MEETS AS NEEDED

Gathers and distributes groceries to those in need

Coordinator: Mary McConathy

desired qualities for a church leader: spiritual maturity, humility, an attitude of service, and and strong desire to seek and follow the will of God through prayer, study of God's Word, and fellowship

assisting with management of physical church property, reporting any maintenance concerns and checking to make sure all systems, equipment, and services are in good working order. Areas of facilities management include: kitchen, technology, systems, parsonage, and grounds

communicating effectively in writing in a variety of formats. Desire to promote the mission of the church both within the congregation and in the broader community, including social media, email, the church website, and US mail

encouraging congregants to be intentional about inviting others for worship and to grow in faith

contacting those who are absent or ill; sending cards or visiting shut-ins, comforting and ministering to those who are in health crisis or have experienced the death of a family member

having a kind and compassionate heart toward those who are in need, physically or spiritually. Giving time and energy to help others

warmly welcoming and providing hospitality for people as they gather together for worship and fellowship between services

creating a sanctuary environment conducive to worship and consistent with the liturgical season: adorning the sanctuary and the altar, providing bread for communion, managing the offering collection, coordinating volunteers, and making sure congregation members have the materials they need for worship

serves the church by striving to provide a high quality worship service experience for both those attending in person and online.  Our team of wonderful volunteers and staff work hard to provide audio and visual support for all functions of the church body.  

having an interest and skill in music, whether singing or playing an instrument; eager to lead people closer to God through music

meeting the spiritual, social and emotional needs of the family unit. It's our desire to assist families as, together and individually, they grow in discipleship of Jesus Christ.

CHILDREN       YOUTH      FAMILIES

growing in discipleship through a community of faith, offering opportunities to build faith based relationships, challenge one another to grow in service and faith, participate in or lead a Bible study or Sunday School class or share a special ministry or interest in common with others

ADULT CLASSES   BIBLE STUDIES   FELLOWSHIP/SERVICE   MUSIC/WORSHIP   SPECIAL INTERESTS   MINISTRY GROUPS