Outreach

At Spirit of Peace UCC, we are committed to reaching out to our neighbors, both locally and globally. Here you will find a few of the outreach projects in which our members have been actively involved. Outreach is of great importance to our congregation so this list is always growing. If you have a project or know of a need that is great in our community, please let us know and join us in making a difference!

March your Socks Off!

We partnered with some friends at Heroes for the Homeless to deliver socks to some of our area's neediest. We rounded up a couple hundred pair of socks that were delivered on March 14. Thanks to the Heroes!

Worth your Weight in Food

With the hope of helping families and children who don't have enough food for their tables, Spirit of Peace UCC's youngest children kicked off a Food Drive a few weeks ago to benefit the Issaquah Food Bank, which -- in the face of today's economic climate -- has had way too many bare shelves and not enough food to feed the many hungry families that come each week seeking help and support.

Our kids called their project, "Worth your Weight in Food," and the 11 smallest children added up their combined weight, which totaled 659.5 pounds. With a small congregation of about 45-50 members, we knew this was going to be a challenging undertaking! What we didn't count on was the incredible outpouring of support from all of you, as well as your friends and neighbors who you encouraged to contribute. We even had some little trick or treaters who filled a wagon full of food on Halloween night with food for the hungry!

In the end, we not only made our goal, but we surpassed it, by far! It took three truckloads to get all the donations to the Food Bank, because, all together, we raised over 1,670 pounds of food donations, more than 1,000 pounds over our original goal!

Thank you so much to all who contributed their time, talents, and energy to make this such a great success, especially to Paula Harper-Christensen and Abby Christensen for all their work with the children and to Wally Prestbo, who does regular pick-ups and deliveries to the Food Bank, for letting us all in on a Sunday morning to deliver the food and to give us a tour!

Reach for the Stars - Prepared and provided lunch for children in the "Reach for the Stars" program.

School Backpacks - Provided backpacks for local school children in need.

Global Outreach

Operation Care Package - Packaged and shipped 32 Christmas packages to the men of the 84th EN Company, 2nd Platoon. Donated gifts included treats, hand warmers, magazines, hand-written notes, and holiday greens with yellow ribbons.

School Supplies for Iraqi Children - Prepared more than 35 boxes filled with school supplies, books and toys for school children in Iraq. This project was in cooperation with the 84th EN Company, 2nd Platoon, many church families and friends who purchased supplies, and area school children who drew pictures for the binder covers. (photos coming)

Volunteer Opportunities

Healthy Start Parent Mentor Program -- You can make a difference in a child's life by becoming a mentor to a young first time parent.  The mentor program is seeking bilingual (Spanish/English) volunteers for the Eastside, Snoqualmie Valley and South Snohomish County.  Call Karen at 425.895.9813 or Sherrye at 425.895.9576 for more information.  Volunteer parent mentors:

• Reducing isolation by visiting you parents in their homes.

• Promoting positive parenting.

• Encouraging family independence.

• Sharing knowledge and life.

Support our Troops - Our very own Kevin Thruelsen is serving in Iraq.  Kevin would love to hear news from the states as well as words of encouragement.  Also, please remember Kevin and all of the troops serving overseas and pray for their safe return home.  You can write Kevin at:

SPC. Thruelsen, Kevin
84th Engr. Co. Special Troop Squadron 25CR
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
FOB War Horse
APO AE 09336

kthruelsen@hotmail.com 

Disaster Relief -- There are many people in need in both our local and global community.  Please click on the links below to see how you can make a difference!

Mercy Corps - www.mercycorps.org

World Vision - www.WorldVision.org

Red Cross - www.RedCross.org

Doctors Without Borders - www.DoctorsWithoutBorders.org

Church World Service -www.churchworldservice.org

Habitat for Humanity - www.habitat.org

Suggest a Mission - If you know of a need within our local or global community, please send an email to contact@spiritofpeaceucc.com.

Prayer Requests

If you have a prayer request for the Spirit of Peace UCC congregation, please send an email to contact@spiritofpeaceucc.com and we will pray for you and/or the people or families in need.  If you would like Pastor Dave to call you directly, please email him at dave@spiritofpeaceucc.com or leave a message at 425.392.6570.