The purpose of the Mission Ministries is to embody the love of Christ to each other, and to all of our brothers and sisters in our community and beyond.
The Mission Council: Bringing Light in Ordinary Time
We strive to be a light to our entire community of southern Westchester.
How do we strive to be a “light?” Is it enough to turn on the lights in the sanctuary, and open the door? Certainly this is necessary, but is that light sufficient to illumine the entirety of southern Westchester?
The primary goal of the Mission Council is to reach out beyond our own church building and membership, to embody Jesus by touching the lives of those who do not routinely make it into the light of the sanctuary.
The Mission Council operates in the trenches of “ordinary time,” away from the brightly lit festivals of the liturgical year. It dares to reach into the everyday darkness of want, fear and loneliness, seeking out the lost. They are, after all, the beloved of God, with whom Jesus equated his own being.
You have just reviewed a summary of our current outreach programs, most of which have been in place for many years. They are good programs, helping many people. But maybe the time has come to turn our light a little brighter on local problems, to reassess our impact in southern Westchester, and to look anew at where we can make a real difference.
Jesus did not simply wait for people to come to him; he was forever getting into boats or walking the dusty roads, seeking out those in need. We have surely been called to do likewise.
Project Hammer: Our work with Habitat for Humanity of Westchester continues at a new worksite in Yonkers. Currently we have work days every other month.
We depart the church parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Join us for all or part of the day. You need not have construction skills. You will receive supervision at the site. For ninth graders and older.
Westhab Saturday Playgroup: This outreach program is ideal for families with young children, because you may bring them along! We provide Saturday playgroups (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) for moms and kids from the Westhab domestic violence program in Yonkers.
We provide a meal, recreation and crafts for the mothers and their children. We also take special Saturday field trips, go to the movies, and we have the annual Angel Tree Party, in which church members buy gifts for each family in the program. Contact Dawn Ravella (dawn@reformedchurch.org) for further information.
Soup Kitchen: Serve lunch (we hardly ever serve soup!) at the Sharing Community in Getty Square, Yonkers, to our brothers and sisters in need in Yonkers. Sharing Community has been in existence for many years in Yonkers, and has become a beacon of light and hope in a struggling community.
The last Wednesday of every month, we cook up a roasted chicken dinner that is legendary. Help cook and/or serve, approximately 8:30 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m. Contact Ruth Doyle at rueyd@aol.com for further information.
Fessenden House Clean Up Days: This is a Middle and High School Youth Outreach Activity. Spend a Saturday afternoon helping the residents of Fessenden House clean their grounds, a supportive housing facility in Yonkers that provides a loving home for men recovering from addictions.
We may rake leaves, pick up garbage, plant trees, mow lawns, move furniture……anything and everything! Contact Dawn Ravella (dawn@reformedchurch.org) for further information.
Clothing Closet and Clothing Sales: Organize and sort clothes every Monday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Help with our big clothing sales, held two times a year, by setting up on a Friday morning and/or selling on a Saturday.
Proceeds from these sales go right back into the Midnight Run needs. Contact Lee Corbett (lcorbett88@att.net) or Dawn Ravella (dawn@reformedchurch.org) for further information.
Midnight Runs and Breakfast Runs: Through a wonderful partnership, our Clothing Closet provides supplies and money for our involvement with Midnight Run, Inc., a non-profit agency in Dobbs Ferry.
We take food, clothing, toiletries, blankets and companionship to our "friends on the streets" in Manhattan. We receive hospitality, friendship, and often a new outlook on life in return.
Volunteers arrive in the church parking lot at 8:00 p.m., make lunches, load the vans and travel into New York City to distribute our supplies.
We typically make 6-8 stops, and return anywhere from 1:00 am to 2:00 a.m. (we shoot for earlier!). On our monthly Breakfast Runs (Sunday mornings) we make a complete buffet breakfast in our church kitchen, load it into the van, and take it into the City, where we set up and serve about 40 people. We arrive at the church for prep at about 6:30 a.m., and are back again by 9:30 a.m.
Contact Dawn Ravella (dawn@reformedchurch.org) for further information
Mission Trips: Mission trips are offered for high school youth (plus chaperones) each year, typically during the final week of June. Currently, these are domestic trips focusing on construction projects. Decisions on the trip are made each year in January. Contact Dawn Ravella (dawn@reformedchurch.org) for further information.
