Missions

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St. James is very involved in missions, local and world-wide. All are invited to participate.
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United Methodist Food Pantry – Volunteers serve the second Tuesday of every month from 4-8 PM.  Two shifts, 4-6 pm and 6-8 pm.  In addition, the church accepts donations so the food pantry can purchase food and personal hygiene items. 
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Community Missions:
               Sew & So – This group meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays every month.  They sew pillows, turbans, and quilts for distribution to several cancer treatment centers and hospice groups in Abilene.
                New Roots Garden – Raised bed gardens at the church are planted and tended by refugees making a new home here in Abilene.
                 
                Education – Cards, letters and small gifts are sent to the teachers at Alcorta Elementary School, Madison Middle School and the YMCA Daycare by members of St. James to encourage them and to show our appreciation for all their hard work.
                 Backpacks for kids – During the school year, this group meets every two weeks to pack bags with food for children, identified by the school, to take home to have something to eat for the weekend.

Holiday Missions:
                Thanksgiving Meal – Donations are accepted to assist families in need through UMC Food Pantry.
                 Christmas – We have an opportunity to buy Christmas gifts for the children who are in the care of The Methodist Children’s Home foster families located in Abilene. We also buy gifts for the Friends for Life, a non-profit organization serving elderly without family.

Foreign Missions:
                St. James supports foreign missions through our Shared Ministries of the greater United Methodist Church and through sponsorship within our congregation.

Crisis Mission:
                St. James supports UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), a world-wide mission intervening all disasters, man-made and natural.
                Local disaster relief for our brothers and sisters in our community.

United Women of Faith
               United Women of Faith is an interdenominational group of women who meet regularly at St. James throughout the year. They work with the Regional Victim Crisis Center to help stop human trafficking. 

 Suds Buds
              Suds Buds meets once a month to make luxury soap to be gifted to adults and teens who find themselves in a temporary sheltering situation due to abuse, neglect, violence, or other reasons. Workdays are on the second Thursday of each month at 10am.