SUMC Missions
Martha's Table
For over two decades Sydenstricker UMC has worked side by side with non-members and members of other local faith communities to prepare over 2,000 sandwiches every month for the homeless who receive food at Martha's Table in Washington, DC. Champion: Mike Robertson
Local Food Banks
We support three local food banks/soup kitchens, Rising Hope in Alexandria, VA; the Ecumenical Community for Helping Others (ECHO) in Springfield, VA; and the Lorton Community Action Center (CAC) in Lorton, VA. These programs are supported by donations of food, clothing and other items on both a monthly and quarterly basis, as well as Thanksgiving baskets, and Christmas gifts for adults and children. Due to the widespread need, we supplement with school supplies and backpacks at the start of each school year. Rising Hope Champion: Ken Lawrence ECHO Champion: Michele Stewart Lorton CAC Champions: Rich and Jennifer Riordan
Project Family
For more than two decades Sydenstricker has had a core group of members working with Fairfax County housing authorities, adopting one to three families per year, assisting them with finding and settling in to low-cost housing. These efforts include helping with the physical move of property, collecting donated items and providing furnishings, initial food supplies, school supplies, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts and other essentials to establish a home and healthy life for these families. Champion: Ed Camacho
Christmas Gifts to Staunton
Another Sydenstricker ministry that has been in service over 20 years is our annual "Christmas Gifts to Staunton" for the patients at the Western State Hospital in Staunton, VA. Each year we obtain a non-identifying list of all the patients and their requests for a Christmas present. The individuals and families of our congregation then select one or more patient’s names, purchase the requested gift(s), wrap them and bring them to the church for dedication. Then a group of volunteers load all the gifts into their cars/trucks and make a day trip to Staunton to deliver the gifts to the hospital, adding a stop for fellowship over a shared meal. Maybe it’s because we are not able to visit directly with the patients that we truly feel we are the hands and feet of Christ as we deliver the gifts. We will never meet the recipients, but they know that Christians are the ones who have given to fulfill their humble Christmas requests. Champion: Jim Noble Military Ministries: Over the last few years Sydenstricker UMC has expanded its participation in ministries to the military. Campus Crusade for Christ (Norfolk, VA): For over a decade we have sponsored one of our church couples who established and continue to serve in their Campus Crusade for Christ sponsored Military Ministry based out of Newport News, VA. This ministry provides monthly dinners for families of deployed military members as well as sponsoring marriage enrichment weekends to help build strong relationships that will endure the long absences and hardships experienced during spousal deployments. Champion: Mike and Carole Carkhuff
Special Forces-Katz Deli Picnic
For the past three years we have worked with US Army Special Forces retirees and other area businesses to sponsor, set up, serve and take down at the annual Katz Deli picnic for wounded and recovering soldiers and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland. Champion, Gene Russell Support Our Soldiers (Ft. Belvoir, VA): we have recently begun providing volunteers as well as financial support to the Support Our Soldiers program at Walter Reed and the new Soldiers Center at Ft. Belvoir, VA. Champion: Jennifer Riordan
Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Trips
For the past five years Sydenstricker has supported a number of individuals who have travelled to Biloxi, MS to provide post-Hurricane Katrina restoration of homes and lives in collaboration with Heritage UMC in D'Ibervile, MS. Sydenstricker is not currently planning any VIM trips in 2011; however, opportunities to participate in trips coordinated by our sister United Methodist Churches are possible. Champions: Dave and Jane DuVal
International Missions
Sydenstricker UMC is ministering to the needs of people in El Salvador and Guatemala. The El Salvador student mission funds provide bus fare and lunch money to 17 youth who attend commercial trade school. The group includes 10 girls and 7 boys who are studying accounting, administration, electronics, and structural metals (building materials). We have seen 12 young adults graduate since inception of the mission nine years ago. Our Centennial Mission Ministry provides one university scholarship. The 2010/2011 recipient is 25 years old; she was selected by the leadership of her community to receive this scholarship based on her academic record and her civic involvement. Her work experience includes teaching people to read and write in her community of subsistence farmers in San Francisco Javier where the average schooling for adults is about grade 3 or 4. She is pursuing a double major in Education and Business Administration. Our church's champion for the El Salvador and Guatemala missions makes annual trips to meet with the leaders of the communities and students we are supporting to ensure we are providing the assistance they need. Champion: John Moore
Center for Student Missions (2010 – Toronto, Canada)
Our senior high youth travelled to Toronto to work with their Center for Student Missions and other local groups. In 2011 they will serve in Pittsburgh, PA. Champion: Youth Director, youth@sumcdisciples.org
Stop Hunger Now (SHN)
Sydenstricker UMC actively participates in both its own sponsored events and in events sponsored by other local churches, to package meals for Stop Hunger Now. Combined efforts for these multi-generational, cross-cultural, ecumenical events have packaged more than 200,000 meals over the past year in Northern Virginia alone. In 2011 members of Sydenstricker UMC are working with SHN and other churches, businesses and individuals across the Metropolitan DC area to find a location for, raise funds, have constructed, and fill the first year calendar with packaging events for a Metro DC Area Stop Hunger Now distribution warehouse. Champion: Kenena Spaulding
Epiphany/Kairos
Sydenstricker UMC is blessed to have members who have actively participated for many years in the Epiphany Ministry, providing a spiritual retreat weekend to incarcerated youth in Virginia. We also have members who participate in Kairos ministry, which is the spiritual weekend retreat for incarcerated adults . These special missionaries travel to detention centers in Virginia, giving cookies , their hearts and the love of Christ for an entire weekend to young people and adults who have made mistakes in life, but who need to know they are still loved and that there is hope. Champion: Dave DuVal
Vacation Bible School Mission Team
In July 2010, on 24-hours notice from Fairfax's Food for Others warehouse, our 5th and 6th grade Vacation Bible School students collected over 1600 pounds of food, and, with the help of some adults, delivered it, then helped restock the warehouse. They provided enough food to ensure another youth group was also able to provide hands-on warehouse restocking help the following week. Champions: Dave & Jane DuVal
Annual Autumn Gleaning Day (Youth Group Sponsored)
A number of our youth and their families participated in an October apple gleaning day in Winchester, VA. Champion: Youth Director, youth@sumcdisciples.org
Sunday School Missions
Sydenstricker UMC enjoys an active children's mission ministry through its Sunday school program. In 2010 the Kindergarten through 6th grade classes participated in Heifer International's Ark program, raising over $950 by themselves. The Sunday School classes anlso supported our sister church, Burke UMC, by participating in the 2010 Teddy Bear Brigade collecting new or gently used stuffed animals to send to children in developing countries. Champion: Sunday School Superintendent
College Student Care Packages (UMW Sponsored)
The college students of Sydenstricker UMC are also a very important mission call to us so we have a caring group of members who provide Valentine Care Packages of snacks and homemade cookies, etc. to them each year so they will know they are missed and prayed for while they are away from their home church. Champion: Myrna Meling
Jeremiah Project (See Youth Missions)
Our junior high youth have been participating for over 10 years in this home repair ministry in Winchester, VA and nearby Romney, WV. Each year the team of youth and adults travels to one of the camps to work with youth from other churches across the region. They provide much needed assistance to families and folks in need with everything from cleaning cockroaches out of kitchens to building handicap access ramps, repairing or painting as needed, and giving their time and attention more than their physical efforts through the social interaction of just visiting with the people they serve. Champion: Youth Director, youth@sumcdisciples.org
Financially Supported Missions
We have a number of congregants who prefer to give quietly from behind the scenes and we have many opportunities for these silent missionaries. Our congregation generously supports a wide range of ministries throughout the year, beginning with the Teaching Our Toddlers (TOT) Preschool located in our church facility where many if not most of the students are from families that are not members of our church.
All God's Children Camp
In additional to receiving one third of the annual Easter Offerings, there are opportunities for young adults and adults to serve as camp counselors at the Virginia Conference's All God's Children Summer Camp