Justice and Mission Matters - JAMM
JAMM is the acronym for Justice And Mission Matters. While we all know that Justice and Missions matter in the First United Methodist Church, this board functions to promote and direct the flow of efforts that will move us toward these ends. As the name implies, we seek Justice, especially for those groups or causes that are downtrodden, or unable to successfully fend for themselves. Further, we define Missions that can direct the energy of the full congregation toward finding ways to assist those in need. We see social inequities every day on the streets of Eugene with the treatment of the homeless, minorities, the hungry, and any other bias that degrades classes of people on the basis of age, gender, sexuality, handicap, and yes even their religion. These same biases and ill treatments exist elsewhere in this country and the world, and it is our mission as given by Jesus Christ to reach out to oppressed people where they are.
Our Vision: To be the eyes and ears of our congregation, sensing places of pain, poverty, oppression, violence and ecological ruin and their root causes. To create acts of mission, advocacy and community transformation from what we see and hear and engage our people in these acts. To be in constant reflection on our experiences in order to discern what God calls us to do next.
Advocacy: Contact your Elected Officials about issues you are concerned and passionate about using the following links and addresses:
Quick connect link to County, State and Federal Elected Officials:
www.umc-gbcs.org, click on Action Center, and then click on Elected Officials Search
For Governor of Oregon John Kitzhaber: http://governor.oregon.gov/, click Contact Us
Another link for State Legislators: www.leg.state.or.us, click Write Your Legislator, then fill in your required information which will automatically link you up with the legislators in your district.
Quick connect link to the City of Eugene Elected Officials: www.eugene-or.gov
click Contact Us, and then click Mayor, City Council and City Manager.
Quick connect link to the City of Springfield Elected Officials: www.ci.springfield.or.us
click on Government, and then click on City Councilors or appropriate box. For the councilors click on the contact link located below their profile information.
President Barack Obama, |
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Senator Ron Wyden |
District Office: |
Senator Jeff Merkley |
District Office: |
Representative Peter A. DeFazio
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Main District Office: |
Guatemala Mission Trip May 2011
Thanks to FUMC there are another 72 families and 1 school in Guatemala with stoves and water filters. With our efforts fewer children will be burned, there will be less pneumonia (the leading cause of death in Guatemala) and fewer eye problems. The water filters will decrease the rampant diarrheal illnesses that contribute to one of the highest infant mortality rates in Central and South America. With the efficient O’Neil stoves families will use only 1/5th of their previous amount of firewood which can save them up to 40% of their disposable income. This almost always goes to the children mostly in a way that allows them to go to school. All of the above will make a big difference in the lives of these families, again thanks to the generosity of our Church.
In Guatemala the team divided into 4 groups and each group was fortunate to have someone who spoke Spanish. With this we were able to get to know the families we served and felt very close to them by the time we left their homes. Most often we left with hugs and profound expressions of gratitude with the families asking God’s blessings on us, our families, and those who sent us.
Each of the team members were also profoundly moved by these Mayan people. We were amazed at their resilience after so much tragedy from over 3 decades of Civil War ending in 1999 and nearly 5 centuries of economic and political suppression. Their love of family and community was heart-warming and we were so happy to be able to improve their lives and be part of their hope for the future. It was hard work but a joy. We all want the opportunity to return and hope to have many of you join us in this experience which has changed our perspective as well as our lives. We are also more grateful for what we have and find it more difficult to complain. We return with a greater sense of joy and oneness with these beautiful people of God’s creation. It has been a fulfilling experience in many ways.
Lunch Bag Ministry
The church office gives out 10 lunch bags per day to those in need. The bags are packed by members of the church and lunch items are also donated by church members.
FOOD for Lane County, The Dining Room
Every third Wednesday of the month, FUMC members participate in meal preparation, serving and clean up at the Dining Room. No cooking is required! Sign up for one or more shifts! Call Jan Becker or Penny Palmer at 541-345-8764 if you feel called to help with this ministry!
Haiti Tarp Project
The FUMC Youth Group and Young Adult Group worked together to make a tarp to send to Haiti following the earthquake. The tarp is composed of hundreds, if not thousands of plastic bags. What a great way to recycle!
Local Furniture Project
The Mental Illness Awareness and Education Committee sponsored a work event to aid one of residential homes for the mentally ill. They had older furniture that needed overhauls, so we got folks to transport 10 small-to-large pieces of furniture to our church. Church members signed up to take those pieces home to refinish or paint and bring back within a two-week period. What came back were gorgeous pieces that the residents of Alder Street were stunned to see and tremendously happy to use. From chairs to dressers to tables to book shelves, each resident claimed a piece which became a cherished reminder of Christian strangers caring about them as people.
Williamson River Indian Mission (WRIM) Trip
FUMC has taken 3 trips to The Williamson River Indian Mission United Methodist Church in Chiloquin, Oregon. Some of the work that has been done includes painting the outside of the church, painting the fellowship hall, providing seat cushions for the pews and planning and participating in Vacation Bible School.
No More Deaths Mission Trip
No More Deaths is faith based advocacy group based in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, USA that seeks to end the deaths of migrants crossing the desert regions near the United States-Mexico border. Volunteers for the organization provide food, water, and medical aid to migrants in the desert and offer humanitarian aid to people in Mexico who have been deported from the US.
Five FUMC members joined with others in the Sonoran desert near the small town of Arivaca. Most of our days were spent being trucked to different areas where we would hike on trails used by migrants trying to get into the country. We would drop off water at spots along the trail and remove the empty jugs. The hiking was very rugged, and the weather hot. Two people were always left back at the camp in case migrants came in needing help ... which happened while we were there. They were two very nice men ... one in his 40’s with children including one newborn he hadn’t seen yet. The other was in his 50’s with grown children and family in Washington where he had been a farm worker for 27 years. They both just wanted to get back to their families. I hope and pray they made it.
We also spent one afternoon in the Tucson Federal Court house witnessing the trial and sentencing of over 20 migrants who had been caught trying to illegally enter the country. They were all in chains and spoke very little English. Most were from Mexico with some from Guatemala and Peru. It was sad to see people who are clearly not criminals ... just trying to find a way to feed their families.
We actually were able to learn about two different cultures ... certainly lots about the terrible situation on the U.S. – Mexico border and how there must be some way to let people legally enter to work – since, for the most part, they do work none of us wants to do. We also had some great exchanges with the young “anarchist” volunteers who had been in the camp much of the summer. I think they ended up having a different attitude about “Christians” ... and we gained a respect for their commitment to fight against injustice perpetrated by our government.
