WPGUMC looks for ways to serve God by serving others.  We have a number of service activities in which we participate on a regular basis.  Signups for work teams are located at the Service Opportunities tables in the Woodbury Campus Commons and the Peaceful Grove Fellowship Hall.

CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The annual Cottage Grove CROP Hunger Walk is scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, October 10 in Cottage Grove.  CROP Hunger Walk is sponsored by Church World Service and organized by local congregations to raise funds to end hunger and to raise awareness of hunger issues locally and around the world.  Over 2000 communities across the US will join in more than 1600 CROP Walks this year.  Each CROP Walk can choose to return up to 25% of the funds raised to hunger-fighting programs in its own community.  This year, CROP Hunger Walks will share almost $4 million with food banks, pantries, community gardens and other local efforts across the U.S.  WPGUMC members can participate in the Cottage Grove CROP Walk by signing up to walk the 4-mile distance or by sponsoring one or more walkers with a donation.  Sign-up forms will be available at the Peaceful Grove Campus of WPGUMC in mid-September.  Save the date on your calendar and plan to join others in walking to end hunger.

God's Closet Free Clothing Ministry
This free clothing and household goods store operated by Epworth United Methodist Church and Woodbury/Peaceful Grove UMC continues to increase in guests who use its free service.  Located just south of the intersection of White Bear Avenue and 7th St in St Paul, this ministry is serving hundreds of men, women, and children from across the Twin Cities area.  Volunteers from Woodbury/Peaceful Grove UMC regularly serve at God's Closet in teams of 4 on Fridays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.  A number of volunteers also join with Epworth UMC volunteers to serve on Mondays and Wednesdays.  If you would like to help the ministry of God's Closet, here are a few ideas:

  • Volunteer to sort, hang, and arrange clothing on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays (10:00 am - 2:00 pm) or on the first Saturday of the month (1:00-3:30 pm).  Contact Pat Marzolf (651-739-2330 or patmarzolf@aol.com) for more information.

  • Make financial contributions which will be used to purchase socks, pay the rent, and buy Bibles for the guests.

  • Donate seasonal clothing (clean and in good condition) and household items (especially bed and bath linens).  Donations of new socks are urgently needed at this time.  The Closet also needs brown paper grocery bags with handles.

Wesley Meals
Woodbury/Peaceful Grove UMC serves a Wesley Meal once a month at Wesley UMC in Minneapolis.  This Saturday meal program for the poor and/or homeless has been in operation since the 1960's, and WPGUMC has been an active participant for many years.  Volunteers purchase, prepare, and serve the meal.  Meals are served family style, and those who come are our guests.  No soup kitchen lines at Wesley!  Please sign up now and make your reservation to help serve a meal to those in need of fellowship and food.  It is a great opportunity for families, singles, and teenagers to serve.  A signup sheet is located in the Woodbury Campus Plaza and on the bulletin board in the Peaceful Grove Fellowship Area.  The work crew meets at the Woodbury campus at 8:45 am to carpool to Wesley UMC and returns to Woodbury by 1:15 pm.

Feed My Starving Children
Work teams from WPGUMC work at the FMSC site, packaging meals to be sent to hungry children around the world.  The regular Woodbury/Peaceful Grove work day at FMSC is the 3rd Saturday of each month (but not always!).  The signup sheet for our FMSC work dates is located at the Service Opportunities table in the Woodbury campus Plaza and on the bulletin board in the Peaceful Grove Fellowship Area.  Space is limited to 15 volunteers per date.  Even if the list is full, sign up on the waiting list because spaces often open up and we can take additional volunteers.
Next Saturday shifts (9:00-11:00 am):  September 18

Ways to help at FMSC
More info on the FMSC organization
Directions to FMSC (Eagan facility)

For more information on Compassion & Justice Ministries at WPGUMC, contact Dan Wetterstrom at 651-738-0305 or dwetterstrom@wumc-pgumc.org.