What can be done in 15 minutes?

As work from home began, I found myself with so much time on my hands. At first, the free time was a blessing. There was more time for myself and my family. The commute to work was six steps to the next room. I watched tv, read and attempted to complete puzzles. I thought about all the things I never had time to do and I tried to do all of them.

As the severity of pandemic unfolded we all realized this wasn't a stay-cation. Time started to feel different to me. The days were moving so slowly. I spent some afternoons actively watching the time go by. Now, in January 2021, when posed with a 15 minute task, I know I have the time.

Can you spare 10-15 minutes a day for five days to learn about the foundations of racism and the different ways that it impacts the lives of our neighbors?

The 5-Day Equity Challenge is a self-guided journey shared by United Way of Greater New Haven. Every morning of the 5-day Challenge, you’ll receive an email prompt with readings, videos, or podcasts that last 10-15 minutes.

United Way of Greater New Haven begins 2021 with the launch of the 5-Day Equity Challenge this Monday, January 25. There is time to sign up and join the effort to build an equitable community for all.

Who's Hungry?

The Missions Committee at MTMUMC oversaw several food outreach initiatives over the last month. With the support of our church community, along with neighbors, friends and family, we collected cash and grocery store gift cards, canned goods and "virtual turkeys". We raised approximately $1,400 plus non-perishable food and winter clothing that filled a full size van and three cars! We got the word out to the community to attend six different pop up food pantries in the area and volunteered for the distribution. We brought surplus produce to a homeless shelter, and delivered Farmers to Families food boxes to parishioners and neighbors without transportation. We are all in this together! Praise God! #BridgeportRescueMission #ChristianCommunityAction #APNH #SpoonerHouse #MTMUMC #UMCMission

Help for Hurricane Victims in the South

At our September Missions meeting, we talked about the devastating impact from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. The MTMUMC Missions Committee agreed to support the relief efforts with a $300 donation to a designated fund of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) that was earmarked for US disasters including Hurricane Laura. As a follow up, one of our committee members, Leigh Bak suggested sending an email to the MTMUMC community for individual donations to this advance. Another $1,235 was received! This is a true blessing, especially since Hurricane Delta hit many of the same neighborhoods and communities only six weeks later! For more information about recovery efforts, please see the article attached below. https://www.umnews.org/en/news/amazing-grace-comes-in-many-ways-for-storm-survivors

Please see the link for giving to this fund right here: https://advance.umcor.org/p-620-umcor-us-disaster-response-and-recovery.aspx and be sure to select Mary Taylor Memorial UMC as the designated church! Please continue to hold our brothers and sisters impacted by these hurricanes in your prayers. May God give them endurance and hope and strength and faith. Amen.