Pastor's Report
Loami United Methodist Church

Reverend Donald Peck

Background:

The church is located at the south side in the residential section of Loami, Illinois. It is expected that the community will grow considerably in the next ten years. The community infrastructure has been updated and will encourage housing and business development. There are two other churches, Baptist and Christian.

The building has a beautiful sanctuary that would seat over a hundred comfortably. Sunday school rooms are adjacent to the sanctuary and in the basement of the building. The fellowship hall is in the basement and has a well equipped kitchen. There are two annual meals prepared and served by the group. Parking is adequate for existing worshipers. Worship is semi-formal and follows the lessons of the Lectionary.  The group is very connected as evidenced by participation in the cluster group and other denominational activities.

State of the Church:

The church is responsible for organizing a not-for-profit food pantry which serves the communities of  Loami, New Berlin, and Waverly.  The organization is up and running and needs a sustained cash flow to stay in business.  The Church Council decided upon a monthly gift of $200. Other projects the church has done includes the following:

·         Put together food baskets for under-privileged families in the area;

·         Raised money and sent a local member to the British Honduras for a two week Volunteer In Mission project;

·         Prepared a large number of health kits, newborn packets, and beans & rice for the Annual Conference

·         Participated in managing the Methodist food tent at the Farm Progress show; and

·         Participated in the In Gathering, a missionary effort supporting sheltered care facilities.

The group has a functioning prayer line that is activated regularly and allows excellent communication with each other and to the pastor regarding the needs of the congregation. There is a United Methodist Men's group that conducts two fund raisers per year to finance special projects of mission interest.