We serve within our congregation, in our community, and in our world

We serve the people of our congregation

In worship

We serve during the worship service by being ushers, greeters, by serving communion, and by other miscellaneous tasks.

We have an active acolyte program with many enthusiastic boys and girls who serve in our worship service.

We also serve our congregation by singing in one of our choirs and by playing instruments. It's easy to find a musical home at University United Methodist Church!

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers is a lay caring ministry that serves church members who have experienced some kind of loss in their lives - be it job loss, divorce, or any other type of family or other difficulty. All Stephen Ministers are specially trained and their training is on-going on a bi-weekly basis in consultation with the pastor. All discussions about Stephen Ministers and care-receivers are held in the strictest confidence. No names of care-receivers are ever given. If a care-receiver chooses to share the information with others, that is up to the individual. It is never revealed by the Stephen Minister.

Stephen Ministers are not psychotherapists or doctors. The goal for the care-receiver is to reach a solution to his or her problem through discussion and listening and mutual support to meet his or her needs. A Stephen Minister can help allay fears of being alone or unneeded in a difficult time.

On-going continuing education and peer supervision give the ministers an opportunity to receive guidance from the pastor and the other Stephen Ministers, as well as outside experts.

If you wish to be a Stephen Minister, call Rev. Wolfe at 475-7277.

Homebound and hospital visits

Our ministers visit our members and friends of the church who are in the hospital or homebound. We have tapes of the Worship service available for their use. Every Sunday, our Altar Guild delivers the flower arrangements from the altar to those in the hospital and to our homebound members.

Prayer Chain

This group hold members, families, and friends of University UMC in prayer during difficult periods. They pray for the ministry of the congregation and hold the community, nation, and world in prayer.

We serve within our community

Fighting Hunger

Food Pantry

Our food pantry, which is located on the third floor of the church, serves those in need in our neighborhood. Our clients are able to "shop" for their food within guidelines along with the help of one of our pantry volunteers. As they move through the pantry, they chosen a given number of items from each of the food groups: fruits/and vegetables, protein, dairy, and grains.

 

Hopps Feeding Program

Our volunteers make soup, sandwiches, and cookies, and deliver food. We helped feed 14,675 through the Hopps Feeding Program, and 277 families (657 individuals) from our Pantry.

Social and Holiday Events

Sunday Breakfasts

The breakfast program started in 1997. Serving every second and fourth Sunday at 9:00 a.m., it is a free neighborhood breakfast which serves eggs, pancakes, sausage, grits, juice and coffee. We serve people from Kennedy Square, McCarthy Manor and other eastside neighbors.

Christmas Dinner

The volunteers of the UUMC congregation serve Christmas dinner to 150 neighbors. People were invited from neighborhood agencies such as Housing Visions, The Neighborhood Breakfast Program, and the UUMC food pantry. A half hour reception is followed by a full Holiday feast of turkey, stuffing, cornbread, veggies, potatoes and desserts. Members of the church help prepare and serve the meal, and provide the desserts.

Easter Basket Project

We hand out Easter baskets to children 12 years and younger on the near eastside through the UUMC food pantry. Parents sign up ahead of time so we can prepare for age and gender groups. These baskets are filled with donated items and items bought with funds from church members. Every basket contains Easter candy, a book, a pencil, a toothbrush, stickers, and two small toys. We found this to be the highlight in the lives of the parents and children for the Easter holiday.

Ice Cream Social

Neighborhood agencies and businesses are invited to share in this event that is both fun and profitable for the neighborhood. Some agencies make donations; some show their support by volunteering to run games and food.

Activities Linking UUMC with the Community

Linking Program

Along with referring residents to community human services and health assistance, a focus has been on security, particularly organizing a neighborhood watch program.

Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse - A.C.T.S

Fifteen member churches have covenanted to work together to identify the needs of our city and to work for action to improve life here. The organization in continuing to grow.

Refugee Program

The InterReligious Council Refugee Program works very closely with each family coming into CNY, and it assists churches that are sponsors. UUMC has had a long history of Refugee Resettlement. In the last 25 years, we have settled 12 families.

We serve our world

 

 

Dr. Mark Zimmerman

Mark is a medical missionary to Nepal and receives support from the University Church congregation for his ministry in Nepal.

The Hope School

We give financial assistance to this West Bank School which is educating Palestinian youth.

The Crop Walk

We participate in the annual Crop Walk sponsored by Church World Service.

We are stewards of God's creation

All creation is the Lord's, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God's creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. Therefore, we repent of our devastation of the physical and non-human world. Further, we recognize the responsibility of the Church toward lifestyle and systemic changes in society that will promote a more ecologically just world and a better quality of life for all creation.
 ~ From the United Methodist Church’s Social Principles

Creation stewardship  is part of the United Methodist Church's Outreach ministry. As part of the General Board of Church and Society's Ministry of God's Creation, our work focuses on  Environmental Justice.

Learn more about stewardship of God's creation.