Old Business:

Articles for the April newsletter were submitted on One Great Hour of Sharing, Global Strategies and the Crop Walk. Jackie will write and submit an article about New Horizons School as well as Bread for the World for the May newsletter. Jackie will also write an article about Hope Shall Bloom, a UCC program to help those in need after the devastating 2005 hurricanes.The article will be to make people aware of this on going mission since the need in these areas is unremitting. Mary Ellen will write an article about the Heifer project that will be submitted for the June newsletter.

The fabulous booklet detailing our Mission Giving has been published and will be assembled soon. Nancy Jo Lopp designed a handsome cover using one of Deborah Blessing's photos. It was discussed to also make the booklet available on the website.

The monthly calendar update will be edited by Jackie and given to Larry Lopp. Also the Outreach Contacts list will be given to Larry Lopp.

The One Great Hour of Sharing was a huge success. Gina Foster will write a thank you with the total contribution for the May newsletter.

Gina will also write a thank you for the signatures on the referendum proposal, to provide healthcare to all children in California.

Stephen reported that $637 was donated for the orphans in the Ukraine.He added that it was a powerful and disturbing trip that the volunteers made to the Ukranian orphanages.

We discussed the best way to plan for the Crop Walk, that benefits Church World Service, the Second Harvest Food Bank and Sacred Heart Community services. We decided to pass around sign-ups and envelopes for donations. Gina, Stephen and Jackie are ready to take the 5 mile walk.

We planned for our Global Strategies speaker, Bridget Nolan on Sunday the 23rd of April. Stephen will serve as liturgist and read a special children's book about how we are all connected. Bridget will deliver the sermon and after the potluck will show a DVD. John Gaffney will take care of the technical aspects of the DVD player/projector. Both Jackie and Joan remarked on what an exciting well informed speaker Bridget is. Bridget sent special envelopes for donations. Gerry said that checks should be made out to Skyland church and that a single check will be forwarded to Global Strategies to continue their work with HIV pregnant women in Africa. Jackie thanked Mary Ellen for making a lovely poster and writing an article for the newsletter about Global Strategies. Gina Foster will send out an e-mail via John Wetherill to all church members to remind them that this Sunday will be a potluck. We then coordinated our efforts in food, decorations, set-up and clean-up.

New Business:

We discussed our plans for Bread for the World on May 7. We decided on the materials that needed to be gathered and that the letter writing would happen in Whittaker Hall. We will also hold communion in Whittaker Hall as well as bless the letters that we write. We discussed who would bring what kind of bread and jams. Last year there were 65 letters written to our representatives in Congress to request support for funding programs to provide food for hungry people.

Next month we will give a budget proposal to the church for our contribution to the UCC share. As Stephen explained, it is Skyland Church's contribution to the United Church of Christ's wider mission. Last year (2005-2006) Skyland Church contributed 6% of our overall budget. So for this fiscal year(2006-2007) the mission committee is requesting 8% of the overall budget to go to UCC share.

We decided to discuss the Heifer project at our next meeting.

Gina proposed that the mission committee consider continuing to support the Pacific school of Religion where so many of our interns have come from.

Stephen spoke about sponsoring high school students in Fiji. Connie Durant knows of six students in dire need. After much discussion we decided to invite sponsorships with Lesley being the contact person at the church. At the next meeting we would see what the response had been.

Joan Law graciously invited us to her house for our next meeting on May 15th at 6:30PM

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