Hey gang – just wanted to resend this out to you to remind you to let folks know about this job search and career seminar coming up Thursday night on the campus of St. Pauls Presbyterian in Ocoee. It is sponsored by the Church of West Orange and WESH 2 News and others. Click on the link below to view a PDF with the details. You may also send out the link to that PDF to folks you think might be interested.

Re-Charge and Re-Energize your Job Search on 020410

By the way – the next Church of West Orange mtg is Wednesday, Feb 3rd, at 9:30am at House Blend Cafe. Hope to see you there!!! Awesome stuff to report form Matthew’s Hope and Scott and Sarah and the crew leading out in that so well! And awesome stuff to discuss with regard to some service opportunities brewing.

Love you guys! Let’s keep being the church together!!!

-jason

Two awesome notes to keep the Church of West Orange informed. The 1st from Sarah. The 2nd from Scott. Awesome, awesome stuff. Thankful to be the church together.

_________________________________

As many of you know, after our first run at the freeze warning shelter, many doors have opened up. We have met with the Homeless Services Network, which has encouraged us greatly, because until now they  didn’t know of any homeless in West Orange county. We have also connected with Cal Fidler who has worked in this area for years and provided a great knowledge of what the road ahead has in store. Scott, Dave, Cal, and I met today and decided to apply for a 501c3 to make the freeze warning ministry a not for profit organization. Because the freeze warning shelter will only be a portion of our work, we have decided to call this new ministry MATTHEW’S HOPE From Matthew 25:31–46.

Our first project for Matthew’s Hope is to help the Homeless Services Network get an accurate count of the homeless in the tri-county area. This will be done on Wednesday January 27th. We need volunteers to take surveys at the Labor Pool at 530am, the Christian Service Center at 1130am, and then we are hosting a luau at the West Orange Church of Christ campus from 4 to 7pm. We need each homeless person to fill out a simple survey. We will be serving food, opening up our supply of clothes and shoes, and hope to have showers and haircuts. The more homeless we can find the more money we receieve to help them.

January 28th we will also be taking some of our friends up to iDignity to help them get their birth certicates, social security card, or id card. God is moving greatly!

-Sarah

______________________________

Hey All. We need help! Matthew’s Hope has been charged in assisting the Homeless Services Network in getting an accurate count of the homeless in West Orange County. This has to take place on Wednesday, January 27th. We are going to need some help with the following if any of y’all are available.

On January 27th, we need volunteers to take surveys at the Labor Ready Labor Pool in Ocoee at 5:30 AM, the Christian Service Center in Ocoee at 11:30 AM, and at the Luau/BBQ on the campus of West Orange Church of Christ from 4:00-7:00 PM. We need each Homeless person to answer a few simple, non-invasive survey questions. We will also need help with set up, breakdown, and clean up. At the Luau we will be roasting a hog, serving pulled pork & chicken, eating some great sides, and enjoying some amazing dessert. We will have a shower trailer, folks doing haircuts, and we’ll opening up our supply of clothes & shoes. The more homeless we can find and count, the more money will be made available to assist our friends here in West Orange County.

In addition, to help out that day, we could use some donations of towels and personal hygiene products, as well as socks and underwear.

We also just got word that the Winter Garden Police Department will be handing out bike light kits to all homeless people riding bikes in the dark that they pull over for improper equipment, provided we supply the light kits. We have stepped out in faith and have ordered 30 sets at $11.00 each (normally $30.00). Not only will this keep our friends safe, it will help them avoid a $75.00 ticket. If you can sponsor one or more light kits, please visit the NEXT Community Church website and click to the Freeze Warning or Matthews Hope Page to make a donation through PayPal.

By the way, we really, really need towels, socks, underwear, and men’s jeans (sizes 30, 32, 34, and 36 in various lengths) for next Wednesday’s Homeless Count / Luau. In addition, here are other items we are trying to stock up on:

• Space Bags Storage Bags
• Clear Storage Bins
• Work Boots
• New & Gently used Shoes
• Socks
• Underwear
• Men’s Jeans (Smaller Sizes 30-32-34-36)
• Wet Wipes
• First Aid Kits
• Work Gloves
• Bike Tub Repair Kits
• Large Tents
• Tarps
• Hygiene Supplies
• Feminine Supplies
• Air Mattresses
• Trench Shovels
• Propane Stoves
• Folding Canvas Chairs
• Plastic Utensils
• Bow Saw
• Batteries (C,D, and 9V)
• Flashlights (Crank or Solar)
• Radio’s
• Cast Iron or Aluminum Pots & Pans
• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Insect Spray (Raid)
• Mosquito Repellant
• Citronella Candles
• Visqueen
• Bottled Water
• Large Trash Bags
• Plastic Bins
• Small Storage Bins
• 5 Gallon Buckets
• Backpacks
• Pet Cages

Lastly, we need your help in selling out the David Bailey/Boys in the Woods Concert/Fundraiser scheduled for 7:00 PM this coming Sunday evening, January 24th, at the Garden Theatre located at 160 W. Plant Street in Winter Garden. Tickets are just $5.00 and may be purchased through PayPal on our website, as well. You may also make a reservation by emailing me and paying at the door by cash or by check. David, as the headliner battling brain cancer twice, already made for a special evening, but now having The Boys in the Woods opening for him makes it even more so. The Boys in the Woods are some guys we connected with through the Freeze Warning Ministry shelter (see image below). This is a fundraiser to support the battle against cancer and to support our local homeless friends through Matthew’s Hope. So, we will be passing the bucket. The $5.00 is to help cover the various associated expenses and the venue.

Check out the card below to see who the Boys in the Woods are.

-Scott

Hey gang. The Freeze Warning Ministry effort these last 10 days was OFF THE CHART!!! HUGE THANKS to the West Orange Church of Christ, Cary, Gordie, Larry, Sarah, Scott, and so many others who made it happen. It was an amazing effort with so many from the West Orange community providing food and clothes and the like. The forecast is calling for another drop soon. Stay on the alert and let’s be on call for the next time it’s needed.

Check out the flyer below to join Next Community Church and hear some amazing music and an amazing story as they host David Bailey January 24th.

And coming up February 4th is the “Re-Charge and Re-Energize Your Job Search” (free employment seminar for job seekers). Click on the link for this flyer for the details: Re-Charge and Re-Energize your Job Search on 020410

Let’s keep being the church together!

The emphasis for 2010, in case you forgot – the homeless, the hungry, and families in crisis. Here’s what’s going on and what’s coming up:

SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS FROM THE COLD_This past Tuesday night, a dream became reality for the Church of West Orange. Several leaders involved had been strategizing about how to provide shelter and food and warmth for the homeless who would take them up on the offer when the weather fell toward freezing temperatures. Well, THE FREEZE WARNING MINISTRY melted into reality. Thanks so much to the Church of Christ of West Orange (their campus is at 1450 Daniels Rd south of 50) for providing the facilities to shelter. Thanks to Next Community and Northland West Oaks and St. Pauls and the Bread of Life and others who took part in making it happen.

The freezing temps will continue to be a possibility (including tonight) for the next two or three months. So, we have an “on-call” system of sorts to be ready when the forecast calls for the temps to fall. If you would like to volunteer tonight or into the future to spend the night at the shelter, set up or clean up, serve food, do laundry afterward (blanket and pillow cases), or anything else you can think of, please email Larry Black (LBlack2666@aol.com). Also, check with your local church leaders who may already have a focused assignment to see how you can help.

Here’s the breakdown for how it stands now:

• Next Community _ supper, back-up for other items
• Southwest Church _ laundry
• Northland West Oaks _ supper
• St. Pauls Pres _ clothes and possibly cleanup
• Church of Christ of West Orange _ host shelter for Mon, Tues, and Thurs nights as well as storage
• Bread of Life _ food supply needs
• Westpoint Church _ breakfast and toiletries

PLEASE NOTE: There will be a meeting for those interested in learning more about how to help the homeless or who want to be trained more specifically for the FREEZE WARNING MINISTRY. There will be two alternatives (same meeting, two options): one on January 14th at 7pm at the campus of Next Community (46 East Miller St in Winter Garden) and the other on January 17th at 4pm on the campus of St. Pauls Pres off of Hwy 50 across from West Oaks Mall in Ocoee.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: if your church family has a facility that could be used as a shelter, or if you know a local facility / organization that might want to participate to provide shelter, please let us know. We still need shelter lined up to be “on call” for Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Thanks so much.

ONE MORE THING: we need pillows that have a plastic covering (like the ones used in hospitals). You can get them at WALMART. Please email me if you are able to supply some (info@WestpointChurch.org).

Please be praying for this amazing ministry to truly love and serve those without a warm place to rest for the night in cold temperatures.

PROVIDING NECESSITIES TO THE HOMELESS AT THE LABOR POOL_every Tuesday morning, volunteers head out around 5:30am to provide coffee and specific supplies to those in line at the Labor Pool. If you would like to participate, please contact Scott Billue (pastorscott@nextcommunitychurch.com).

Supplies to be handed out at the Labor Pool continue to be needed. Socks, work gloves, hats, underwear, sweatshirts, T-shirts, and the like. Please continue to collect them in your gatherings on Sundays and other venues. Let us know, and we’ll tell you where to drop them off.

ALSO, bike lights are needed to provide for the homeless who have bikes and ride at night. They cost about $10. If you would like to provide support for a few, let us know. Thanks.

CD BY THE HOMELESS_as previously announced, we are underway with the recording and production of a CD by homeless musicians (and a few other support musicians) to be sold to provide support for shower trailers for homeless families in the West Orange area. We will keep you posted on the progress of the CD. Please be in prayer for everything to go smoothly. More importantly, please be in prayer for all those involved to experience the nearness of Christ like never before through this amazing project!!!

MUSICIAN DAVID BAILEY_you don’t want to miss musician David Bailey share his story and his songs January 24th. He has been featured in national news shows and more for his battles with cancer and his steadfast faith. For details see the poster in an earlier post below.

CAREER FAIR FEB 4TH_“Re-Energize and Re-Charge Your Job Search” with this amazing seminar on the campus of St. Pauls Pres February 4th from 7pm to 9:30pm. Sponsored by Christian HELP, the Central Florida Employment Council, and WESH 2 news, this is sure to be a catalytic event. More details to be posted next week. In the mean time, call 407.834.4022 for details.

MOVIE NIGHT_be looking in the next week for some details on a 2nd annual Church of West Orange Movie Night right before Thanksgiving. The movie featured this year will be “No Greater Love.” Details coming out next week.

SERVE TOGETHER_as we did last April, we will come together for a HUGE SERVE DAY in April this year. Details to come!!!

A LITTLE BONUS_one of the leaders with the Church of West Orange has a recipe for a homemade laundry detergent for clothes washing. The demand to know it was pretty high at the mtg, so we decided to post it here.All supplies can be purchased at a Target or WALMART or Publix, mostly in the laundry aisle.

SUPPLIES:

• Fels Naptha Soap or Ivory Soap (looks like a bar of soap)
• washing soda (arm and hammer makes it…different than baking soda)
• borax powder

MIXING AMOUNTS for 2 gallons:

• 1/3 – 1/2 bar of fels naptha (or full bar of ivory)
• 1/2 cup of washing soda
• 1/2 cup of borax powder
• 2 gallon bucket

DIRECTIONS TO MAKE:

• grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan with 6 cups of water
• heat until the soap melts
• add the washing soda and borax and stir until it’s dissolved.
• remove from heat.
• pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket and add the soap mixture and stir.
• add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.
• if using laundry detergent bottles, pour into the bottles now.
• let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will “gel” (it won’t be a gel and it won’t be liquid…some of each)
• use 1/2 cup per load (measure but is usually a cap full of a laundry bottle- may need to shake before use to mix)

ENJOY!!!

Love y’all! What a blessing to be the church together.

Please check out the note below from Sarah Rosenburg about the Freeze Warning Ministry initiative here in West Orange County. Thanks Sarah and so many others for all you are doing to lead out in this. Last night was a great example of how needed this ministry is. So thankful for how the West Orange Ministerial Alliance and the Church of West Orange are working together on this. Let’s continue to cultivate unity as we love and serve together!!!

_____________________________

We have volunteers from Northland and Ocoee Oaks UMC divided into groups to help with food, man power, cleaning, etc. We have few and are looking for more leaders for those groups to meet and get the volunteers in order with a plan of action. If your church wants to be involved and has some volunteers please contact me so I can get those names to the leaders. These groups will be meeting over the next few weeks to get things in order.

There are 2 dates in January that we will be getting the volunteers together to do some training on Homelessness 101. January 14th (Thursday) is the primary session. January 17th (Sunday) is the makeup. Please let Sarah know if you can make it to either one. I will currently be leading these meetings. If you know of some professionals in this area, please let me know.

We are hoping to be ready by the middle to end of January, which means there is a lot to do. We are still looking for sleeping locations. I am willing to talk with pastors or business owners if you can get me the information. We are taking a leap of faith that we will have a facility, but realistically we can’t house people without a location.

We still need bins to store everything in and pillows with the plastic pillow cases. Please spread the word!!!

-Sarah Rosenburg  (sarahdrosenburg@yahoo.com)

Hope your December is going well! Toys can continue to be dropped off at Whispering Oak Elementary School through today. Socks and underwear can be dropped off with Scott B (call 407.654.9661). Grocery gift cards can be dropped off at HOUSE BLEND CAFE.

The next Church of West Orange mtg is January 6th at 9:30am at HOUSE BLEND CAFE. Hope to see you there.

BY THE WAY – Next Community Church is hosting David Bailey January 24th. Details below:

What an amazing mtg the Church of West Orange had this last Wednesday as we gave updates on all that’s going on with the Church of West Orange. It’s not even 2010 yet, and we already are focused big time with our 3 emphases for the coming year – the homeless, the hungry, and families in crisis. Here are some highlights from the meeting:

FOOD FOR FAMILIES_The Church of West Orange supported Mark Anthony and the Bread of Life ministry during the Food for Families Thanksgiving project. Mark shared that 1100 families were served with boxes of groceries delivered by volunteers from various church families in the area. One volunteer commented to her pastor after having delivered to a family that spoke a different language than her, “There’s no language barrier when you are loving somebody and caring for somebody.” That’s for sure! Be praying for Bread of Life, though. One of their main trucks is in need of an engine replacement. The cost is approximately $13,000. If you or someone you know may be willing to help, please let us know.

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES_Alison with Bethany Christian Services gave us an update on their efforts to enlist families to be care families for kids from families in serious crisis. The goal was 10 families enlisted to serve by the end of 2009, and she said it looks like they will meet it! The Church of West Orange is encouraging people from our various local church families to get involved. The goal is to have 15 more families approved and ready to serve by June 2010. If you want more info, please comment below, and we will connect you with Alison.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD_Tom Welch gave an update on how the Operation Christmas Child effort went in November. There were over 1300 boxes submitted for delivery. There’s going to be a lot of happy kids all over the world this Christmas. He also shared a neat story that he learned during the project. A local family who had given a box last year sent a letter and contact information inside the box hoping to create some writing back and forth. Well, it did more than that. The orphan who received it wrote back, and the family eventually adopted him. Amazing!!!

FREEZE WARNING MINISTRY_Sarah Rosenburg updated us on the efforts to rally volunteers from among the Church of West Orange to be on call for the winter nights coming up when the temp falls below 42 degrees. The ministry is called “Freeze Warning,” and it provides sheltering in local church buildings for the homeless on those particularly cold and rainy nights. The next organizational meeting will be Thursday, DECEMBER 10TH at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden. Park in the parking lot at Boyd and Newell Streets for the Fellowship Hall. In case you need it, the address is 125 N. Lakeview Avenue, Winter Garden, 34787. For more info, comment below, and we will connect you with Sarah.

SERVING THE HOMELESS AT HOUSE BLEND CAFE ON THANKSGIVING_Josh Taylor, GM of the cafe gave us an update on how things went Thanksgiving day. Many homeless came and received showers, hair cuts, clothes, a meal (on china and real silver ware), and more. There was an abundance of volunteers. It was an amazing time! One neat tidbit – a boy who was part of a homeless family that was there commented, “It’s been so long since we’ve eaten with real silver ware instead of a spork.” Later, another person receiving clothes took only one item and said, “There will be people who come along who need this more than me.” Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:3). The West Orange Times did a write up about the service project. You can read it by clicking here.

THE HOMELESS CD PROJECT_Mark Marsden shared an update on the homeless CD project. Things are falling into place for recording to be done by early January. The goal will be to make the CD available for purchase through the various local expressions of the Church of West Orange around Valentine’s Day. All proceeds will go to helping us purchase a shower trailer to provide showers for the homeless in the community. If you would be willing to help fund the production of the CD so that all of the proceeds can go to the shower trailer, please let us know by commenting below.

CAREER SEMINAR_Mark also mentioned that St. Pauls Pres (their campus is in Ocoee across from teh West Oaks Mall on hwy 50) will be hosting a Career Seminar on February 4th from 5:30 to 8:30. Comment below for more info, and we will connect you with Mark.

SUNDAY EMPHASES IN DECEMBER_as we announced last month, every Sunday in December (and some at other times), church families with the Church of West Orange are trying to collect toys (Dec 6th), socks (Dec 13th), underwear (Dec 20th), and grocery gift cards (Dec 27th) for impoverished families in the community. The TOYS can be dropped off to the office lobby of Whispering Oak Elementary School up to December 16th during school hours. We are working on the details for where to drop off the socks and underwear and grocery cards and will let you know ASAP. Be looking in 2010 for various weekly emphasis for collecting items, as well.

PRAYER AND PRAISE TOGETHER FOR THE WEST ORANGE COMMUNITY_plans are in the works for the Church of West Orange to gather together January 28th at 7pm to simply pray for and praise God for our local community, seeking wisdom as to how we can better be the church together to West Orange County and beyond. Please make plans to join us. We will let you know the location in the coming week.

We closed the meeting by asking a question for us all to ponder in the coming weeks – what if we resourced together to create a shared church facility that was not just for gathering?

What if we resourced together to create a shared church facility that embodied the essence of Luke 4:14-21 and Matthew 25:31-46?

Feeding the hungry. Sheltering the homeless. Providing help to families in crisis. Educating in basic life skills. Enabling reentry through job placement and financial counseling. And more. Pray with us. It just seems to me that God would smile on that.

Love y’all. Let’s keep being the church together.

-jason

The Church of West Orange will be serving the homeless of our community together on Thanksgiving Day at HOUSE BLEND CAFE. There will be services like showers and haircuts and more for the homeless from 1:00 to 4:30. Then, from 5:00 to 8:30, we will serve Thanksgiving supper.

Below are items we will need that day. If you can help to provide them, please drop them off at HOUSE BLEND CAFE. If you are able to make it that day to serve, please let Josh Taylor know (JoshT@houseblendcafe.com).

PLEASE BAG THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN QUART SIZE, ZIP-LOCK BAGGIES (all items are to be miniature size, like the items you get in a hotel):

• shampoo
• conditioner
• toothpaste
• toothbrush
• disposable razor
• body soap (liquid preferred)
• lotion

OTHER ITEMS:

• towels, so that each individual can dry off
• clothing that is clean, not torn or tattered
• sweaters and jackets
• socks and underwear

Please drop off the items at the cafe by November 24th.

 

Another amazing time together November 4th. Here’s a run down:

_we began with an update from Alison about Bethany Christian Services and the upcoming mtg for families interested in serving families in crisis. November 10th at HOUSE BLEND CAFE at 6pm. Please email Alison (ASchminke@bethany.org) to RSVP and for details. Also, PICK UP A BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES DVD short film to share with your church family this Sunday at HOUSE BLEND CAFE!!!

_we then discussed how the meals at HOUSE BLEND CAFE are coming together for Friday nights in November. Everyone was encouraged to get the word out. $2.99 per plate, unless a family simply can’t afford. But, we are sharing with all who have need. So, those who come who can give more will cover the cost of those who come and can’t afford it. Thanks to Josh Taylor and the cafe team and so many awesome volunteers from the Church of West Orange!!!

_we also discussed how things are coming together for Thanksgiving Day when we will provide services for the homeless of the community. Showers. Haircuts. Meals. Clothes. And more. Volunteer by commenting here or stopping by HOUSE BLEND CAFE.

_we then heard from Mark Anthony about an opportunity for families to deliver groceries to families who need them on Thanksgiving Day. On the night of November 25th @ Ocoee HS from 7 to midnight, people will be sorting and packing food. They also need drivers that night to pick up items from 17 different stores supporting the program. Then, people can come by from 8 to 10 on Thanksgiving Day to grab groceries and destinations and deliver the packed up food out to families in Ocoee, Winter Garden, and Oakland. THEY STILL NEED MORE FOOD, so please stop by Publix and purchase a “food bag” to support the ministry. Contact Mark Anthony for more details – breadoflifefellowship@embarqmail.com.

_we then gave an update on the production of a CD full of music from the homeless of Orlando Metro that will be sold after the New Year in order to raise funds for two shower trailers for the homeless. Please pray for this endeavor and stay tuned for more details.

_Tom Welch then shared with us about Operation Christmas Child collection going on at the Roper YMCA. Volunteers are needed the week of Nov 16th to help pack up boxes. Then, the BIG DAY is Nov 22nd when all the boxes are loaded up and taken to be shipped off for distribution. Please contact Deb Thompson through the Y to volunteer. And get those boxes in!!!

_next, we talked about making Sundays in December an emphasis Sunday for giving ourselves away locally as the Church of West Orange. Here’s the run down:

• December 6th – Toy Sunday – to provide toys for families in need this Christmas
• December 13th – Sock Sunday – to provide socks for those who need them
• December 20th – Undy Sunday – to provide underwear for those who need it
• December 27th – Grocery Card Sunday – to kick off the new year by providing groceries to families

_finally, we talked about gathering to PRAY AND PRAISE together on New Years Eve from 5 to 6:30. Location TBA. It will simply be a time to join with anyone from the community who wants to come to seek the Lord for wisdom on how we can best be the church here in this community along with praising Him for letting us be a part of His loving and restorative work among us.

It is such a blessing to be the church together with you. 2010 is gonna rock the house. Let’s keep living beyond self together.

BTW – here’s a thought I heard from a friend in September:

What would happen if every church in our community put the needs of the other churches above their own? Humbled themselves? I bet God would bless their church family and the community in ways they never ever imagined.

Let’s do that. I love you.

-jason

We have an opportunity to help families in crisis RIGHT NOW. Bethany Christian Services, primarily out of Chicago, has opened a chapter here in Central Florida. They are looking for 10 qualified families right here in our community who can serve families in crisis as intervention prior to children entering the Foster Care system. It is a chance to help families in crisis to regroup and refocus and bounce back, taking care of the kids so that can happen.

Click here to watch a video about Bethany Christian Services.

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO?

• Share with your friends and church family about the need for 10 families by the end of the year.
• Invite those families interested to come to a mtg on November 10th at HOUSE BLEND CAFE.
• Supper starts at 6pm. The info session begins at 6:30.
• It’s an amazing chance to be a home and to be hope and to be a mentor to children in crisis and to to a family in need.
• CONTACT ALISON (ASchminke@bethany.org) with Bethany Christian Services to RSVP for the meeting on November 10th.

Before 2010 begins, we have the chance to prepare to be the church to families in crisis.

Here are two resrouces to help you share with friends and family (CLICK ON THEM):

• Safe Families print poster
• Safe Families 2nd print poster