Missions of UPC
UPC All-Church Border Mission Trip
UPC Food Pantry
Austin Interfaith
Austin Area Interreligious Ministries
Caritas
Habitat for Humanity
aidstraining
Interfaith
Hospitality Network (IHN)
Manos de Cristo
Micah 6 Coalition
Samaritan Center for Pastoral Counseling and Care
UPC
Mission Endowment Fund
West Austin Caregivers
World Mission
For
one week each May, a group from UPC travels to the
Mexican border to work with Faith Ministry
 (Ministerio
de Fe) to build a house for a family. We spend about
four days constructing a one-room house from the ground
up. The walls are of cinder block and the floor and roof
are constructed of concrete, which we mix ourselves!
This is an excellent opportunity to serve and to get
connected with the members in our congregation and some
of the college students from our campus ministry
program. For further information, contact El Jefe, Craig
Deats, at 474-6200 (work) or 452-4364 (home). Craig's
e-mail address is cdeats@ddollaw.com.
For pictures from the 2003 trip, please go to www.wholeview.com/m3upc.html.
- Top -
 During
the time for offering on Sunday mornings, food is
collected for the Friendship Fund food Pantry.
Each Tuesday morning in the Fellowship Hall beginning at
9:00 a.m., the Friendship Fund Food Pantry offers the
food donated by the congregation, additional food items
obtained from the Capital Area Food Bank, and also rent
or utility assistance to those in need. Families
may obtain food from the pantry every other week, and
assistance of $25 per household is paid directly to the
apartment or utility company not more than once in six
months. Volunteers serve coffee and a light snack
for all recipients while they wait.
In addition to the volunteers working on Tuesday
mornings, there is usually an opportunity to help for
anyone willing to transport food from the Capitol Area
Food Bank to UPC, assist in unloading food or help set
up on Monday afternoons. If you are interested in
volunteering, please contact Jennie Elliott, jlelliott@austin.rr.com or 339-2190. Donations
to the Bill Murray Friendship Fund also directly benefit
this ministry.
If you wish to support the
Friendship Fund Food Panty by donating food (Sunday
mornings, or by placing items anytime in the large box
outside the Fellowship Hall door), here is a list of
suggested items: peanut butter, tuna, chicken,
sardines or other canned meats, soup, stew, chili or
other one-dish meals, canned fruit or vegetables, dried
beans, rice or pasta, crackers, cereal or oatmeal, bath
soap or shampoo, toothbrushes or toothpaste, toilet
paper, feminine products, disposable diapers, disposable
razors, and liquid detergent or laundry soap.
- Top -
Austin Interfaith is an ecumenical political action
group addressing society’s problems at their root
causes. Volunteers meet with other congregations across
racial/ethnic lines to share ways of effectively
developing leadership, and to plan for increased
effectiveness in our institutions. Developing public
awareness and involvement are important if the values of
the Gospel are to be reflected in our society.
- Top -
Austin Area Interreligious Ministries is an
ecumenical umbrella agency providing significant mission
opportunities around issues of peace and justice, youth
and aging, hunger and homelessness. There are also
opportunities for community worship organized by Austin
Area Interreligious Ministries. Contact San Williams, 476-5321.
- Top -
Caritas is an ecumenical agency that provides
counseling and direct services, such as rent and utility
assistance, to the poor. UPC financially supports the
work of Caritas. Our staff also refers clients to the
agency for screening and provision of financial
services.
- Top -
 Habitat
for Humanity makes home ownership possible for
low income families. Habitat also has a Building
Materials Thrift Center, known as "Habitat Re-store."
Here you can donate used but useful building materials,
fixtures, furniture or appliances. Volunteers are always
needed to donate or to work at the Re-store. Habitat is
sponsoring a one Saturday per month work day for various
projects, usually the third Saturday.
- Top -
The Care Communities (formerly Interfaith Care Alliance)
trains volunteers to provide practical and compassionate
support, through care teams, for people with a serious
illness such as AIDS or cancer. Since 1993, UPC
members have served on many care teams, providing
direct, non-medical care, and emotional and spiritual
support, so that no one will face a serious illness
alone. For more information about care teams and a
schedule of training events, please go to The Care Communities .
- Top -
Interfaith Hospitality Network joins churches together
to provide housing, meals, and various support services
to homeless families. UPC is in partnership with
University Methodist Church, and one week per quarter, we
provide meals, transportation, and volunteer hosts to
care for families in the network. Volunteers are needed
to prepare food, serve as hosts for morning, evening,
and all night shifts. Contact Craig Deats at cdeats@ddollaw.com for more information.
- Top -
 Manos de Cristo is an outreach program for the needy,
particularly those in the Hispanic community. Housed in
El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church on the edge of East
Austin, Manos includes a clothing closet, dental clinic,
learning enrichment program, legal advice office and
food pantry. UPC financially supports Manos, and
volunteers donate clothing, tutor children, and work in
the dental clinic and clothing closets.
- Top -
..to assist
those in need to live a more abundant and
self-sustaining life.
Micah 6 Coalition is a network of faith communities
within the University of Texas area that answer the call
of Micah 6:8 to do justice, to love kindness and to
walk humbly with your God by providing opportunities for
the spiritual growth of those we serve, our congregations and
other community partners. It is based at University
Baptist Church, corner of 22nd Street and San Antonio Street,
but it is scheduled to move to UPC in 2008.
Click here to see the
latest Micah 6 newsletter.
- Top -
The Samaritan Center for Pastoral Counseling and Care is
an ecumenical center associated with the Samaritan
Institute. Funds and volunteer efforts directed to the
center support the availability of quality mental health
services and spiritual direction for clients, regardless
of their ability to pay. All therapists are licensed and
certified, representing a variety of backgrounds and
professional credentials. Contact the Counseling Center,
451-7337, for more information or appointments.
- Top -
The UPC Mission Endowment Fund has been established for
the support of mission and service projects that might
develop out of the Focus Mission direction. At this
time, the fund has approximately $6,000 and is building
to a goal of $100,000. Interest from this endowment will
serve as seed money to start or advance programs that
fit with UPC’s principles of mission and serve "the
least of these" in our midst. Gifts to the Mission and
Service Endowment will be accepted at any time through
the church office.
- Top -
West Austin Caregivers is a coalition of churches that
recruit, train and coordinate volunteers to provide
services for the elderly. The services are designed to
allow clients to safely remain in their own homes for as
long as possible. Volunteers are needed to provide
transportation, to make simple repairs, to serve as
friendly visitors, to read to the visually impaired,
keep simple records, and to pay bills. There is also a
loan closet for health-care equipment such as
wheelchairs, walkers, etc. For more information, call
Willodyne Walton at West Austin Caregivers, 472-6339.
- Top -
World Mission is important to UPC. Through the
Presbyterian system, we participate in myriad mission
activities around the world. The benevolence funds we send to
Mission Presbytery, the Synod of the Sun, and the
General Assembly are significant in spreading the love
of God through our congregation and around the world. In
addition, UPC collects several special offerings during the
year for particular mission activities.
- Top -
|