Stockton United Methodist Church

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”  --John Wesley

Alcoholics Anonymous – An independent non-denominational organization that meets in the church basement, room 100. Call 417-276-6388, 417-276-3943 or 417-276-6461 for more information. 

Aluminum Can Recycling – Coordinated by UMM, aluminum cans collected in the church parking lot are recycled for cash to fund missions.

Angel Tree Ministry – Coordinated by UMM in cooperation with Prison Fellowship, this once-a-year effort creates a connection between children and their incarcerated fathers by providing Christmas gifts through individual donations.

Barceda Families – The United Methodist Men financially support this non-profit organization in Barton, Cedar and Dade counties that helps prevent child abuse, mentors parents (especially teens) and assists parents who stay at home or have children with disabilities connect with various helpful agencies.

Bereavement Committee – A group of church women who assist the families of recently deceased members of the congregation with a special emphasis on a family meal in the Family Life Center immediately after funeral services. 

Birthday/Anniversary Celebrations – Each Sunday individuals celebrating a birthday and couples celebrating an anniversary meet the liturgist at the front of the sanctuary to share their special celebrations with the congregation. By tradition, they place a special offering into the small church on the kneeling rail, often an increment related to each year being celebrated. These donations fund local missions.

Care Packages – Women in the church donate items and pack soldier and college student care packages. Our missions fund helps pay for the postage.

Christmas Baskets – Sponsored by the Stockton Area Ministerial Alliance, the interdenominational group takes applications, processes the information and raises funds—including a community-wide special Thanksgiving Day collection. The group then organizes the distribution of food and gifts for the children of Stockton's families in need for the Christmas celebration.

Comforter Project – A group of UMW ladies makes and donates comforters and quilts to families who have suffered serious loss, such as homes destroyed by fire or storm and to residents of the Stockton Nursing Home. Members stress “you don't have to be able to sew to help!”

Cub Scouts – Sponsored by UMM, this scouting program is for boys in grades 1-5 and precedes entering the Boy Scouts. About 20 to 30 Stockton area boys become members. Meetings in the Family Life Center vary according to changing schedules, with the annual Blue and Gold Banquet for advancements and transitioning older boys into Boy Scouts held in February. 

Disaster Recovery – Funded by the missions team, usually at the call of the pastor, the church reaches out both locally and beyond to those placed in need by tornadoes, hurricanes and similar disasters.

Firewood – Coordinated through UMM, our woodsmen cut and deliver firewood to those who need it to warm their homes. In 2010, donations bought another ark for Heifer International.

Food Pantry – Sponsored and coordinated by the Stockton Ministerial Alliance, with Stockton UMC representation by its pastor. Our missions fund financially supports the pantry each month and many members of the congregation support it by placing needed canned or packaged foods in the large collection box located in the church hallway. Others volunteer at the Food Pantry to help disburse food.

Highway Clean-Up – Coordinated through UMM, about four times a year volunteers pick up litter along a one-mile stretch of State Highway 32 from a short distance west of the Stockton square to the western junction of Highways 32 and 39.

Job Jar – Coordinated through UMM, this is a jar in the welcome area where members of the congregation who cannot do for themselves and need help with a small household task, such as cutting a lawn or fixing a mailbox, may drop a note requesting help—and they get it.

Meals on Wheels – Sponsored by the Stockton Ministerial Alliance, several churches including Stockton UMC, provide volunteer drivers to deliver prepared meals to seniors unable to go the Stockton Senior Center. This usually requires volunteers once a month and is coordinated by the church office.

Individual and group needs – Some examples from 2010-2011 of our missions fund helping individuals and groups: financial donations to individuals whose homes were destroyed by fire; payment for an individual's Meals on Wheels; donation to the Parent Teachers Organization School Book Sale to buy books for those who could not afford the cost; financial contribution to the annual Back to School Fair which provides school supplies to any child in the community; annual financial donation to the school nurse and school family services representative; repaired sewer for individual; helped family with utility payment;helped prisoner with dental expenses; purchased Woods card for a family in need; filled gas tank for individual so person could visit family in hospital; contributed to replacing windshield for family so they could pass inspection and visit son in hospital; painted an elderly person's home.

Ministerial Alliance – Our missions fund makes an annual financial contribution to help those less fortunate in our community.

Prayer Shawl Ministry – Coordinated by the Reach Out Circle of UMW, anyone can become involved in this effort to knit or crochet shawls of prayer and comfort of soft yarn for those people who find themselves in distress. The group meets once a month in a participant's home.

Prison Ministry – Coordinated through UMM, a rotating team of three volunteers visits the Cedar County Jail every Tuesday to witness their Christian faith, to let the prisoners know there are people who care and to provide stationery, candy and such things as jigsaw puzzles.

Recycling– The Stockton Unit of the United Methodist Women coordinates a wide range of recycling in the community: 

1. Maintains the aluminum can recycling center in the church parking lot (see above).
2. Operates a small recycling center in the hallway near the Family Life Center that accepts: aluminum tab tops, cell phones and accessories, egg cartons, eye glasses (prescription and reading), magazines, plastic shopping bags, printer ink and toner cartridges. 
3. Collects and distributes used items for the Stockton R-1 elementary and middle schools, the high school art department and Head Start.
4. Organizes semi-annual "Rummage Sales" (see below for items accepted for sale).
5. Compiles and publishes "A Guide to Recycling in Stockton," a list of items that can be recycled in the Stockton area not otherwise listed on this page. 
6. Refers recyclers to other recycling centers in Springfield.
   

Rummage Sales (Semi-Annual) – Sponsored by the UMW, this semi-annual rummage sale is held early in May and October each year to raise funds for missions both local and around the world. It accepts practically anything in clean, gently used condition, for example: bicycles, books (hardback and softback), clothing, furniture, household items and televisions in good working condition.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Members of our congregation take turns ringing the bell to fill the Salvation Army's red kettle outside our Woods Grocery Store. Their Red Kettle Christmas Campaign funds food, toys and clothing for over 6 million people during the Christmas season and helps more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters nationwide.

Study Buddies – Adults in our congregation personally involved in the life of a Stockton elementary student. They help the student read, tutor in math and mentor.

Tiger Tasters Weekend Food Backpacks – Started in 2010 and coordinated with the Stockton R-1 School District. Volunteers purchase and inventory food, pack backpacks every Thursday with enough food for two-day weekends (two breakfasts, two hot lunches and snacks), four-day weekends, and the two-week Christmas break. Volunteers deliver the bags to school to send home with children who would otherwise be hungry. Fed 32 students during the 2010-2011 school year. Hope to make this an interdenominational project.

Thanksgiving Dinner – An annual Thanksgiving Day dinner provided by the congregation for all in Stockton who have no one with whom to share this celebration or who cannot afford a celebration.