The Central Outreach Team in partnership with Shalom Zone and our Power Program will be sponsoring a Neighborhood Block Party on Friday, June 25. The event will take place in the grassy area across from the church on Mary Street and will last from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. We will have children’s games, an inflatable bounce house and slide, and a free meal for our neighborhood families. We invite the entire congregation to pitch in or attend this event to allow us to be the church outside the church walls that so often separate us from our
neighborhood. We will be sending special invitations to our child care families, the families at St. Lucas Place, and the families of all of the children who will be taking part in our VBS program that week. Please let Mike Warneke or Ruth Randall know if you would like to help out in any way.

The Food Pantry is supported by member donations, Evansville Area Council of Churches and the Tri State Food Bank. The staff are all volunteers who believe in the ministry of reaching out to others. We supply food to the people in the city who come to us through Outreach Ministries, local township offices, and DFR using a voucher referral system.

Following riots which broke out in Los Angeles after the Rodney King trial, the “Shalom Zone” concept was developed by a General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1992. The goal was to create areas of peace in local neighborhoods with churches taking the leadership role.

Central United Methodist Church initiated a Shalom Zone ministry in 2000 in response to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. St. Lucas United Church of Christ, Jacobsville Neighborhood Improvement Association and Weed & Seed soon joined the team. Over the years, other churches and organizations have joined in making Shalom Zone a success.

Outreach programs include neighborhood clean up programs and monthly free neighborhood meals. Attendance at the meals has grown from a handful of individuals to well over 100 neighbors and numerous volunteers. Much of the food is donated by those who serve.

Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment (C.AJ.E.)
Central Church is a charter member of Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment. Formed in 2003, CAJE (pronounced “cage”) is a congregational-based community organization that works on local issues where structural solutions are needed to meet problems. Like many churches, Central does much charity to help meet individual needs, as it should, since we are called to “love mercy.”  But Micah 6:8 also says God requires of us to “do justice,” which means to address social needs where community solutions are required, so that people can more easily meet their own needs and be less in need of charity. Justice work is best done by people of faith working together, and CAJE is composed of about a dozen diverse religious congregations in the Evansville area. The members of the congregations select one or two critical issues at a time, research possible solutions, work strategically with public officials who have the power to act on the issues, and hold a great assembly, where officials are asked to make specific public commitments on the issue. This is based on the biblical calling to be just and on the democratic model of citizens’ participation. CAJE was a driving force in the creation of the Community Dental Clinic. It has also worked on issues of code enforcement, early literacy for all children and improved access to vocational education. Current issues are increased regular funding for affordable housing and enhanced public transportation. For more information contact Linda Henzman (867-0453) or Bill Seymour (437-3907), co-leaders of Central’s CAJE Team.

The Loaves and Fishes Fund of Central UMC is a way we help people with basic physical needs—along with our Food Pantry, the monthly free Shalom Neighborhood dinners, and the Rack Shack operated by United Methodist Women. This fund, administered by the Pastor with the able assistance of our Administrative Assistant, can be used toward utility or rent bills of persons whose circumstances make their own full payment impossible. Persons seeking such assistance are first referred to Outreach Ministries, which assesses the need. They assist not only with record-keeping, but also have knowledge of additional community resources, along with their own funds to help, at times as well. Loaves and Fishes funds also allow the church to help with transportation to medical appointments or new jobs through gas vouchers or bus tokens, within certain guidelines. We try to use our limited funds to help the most people and the people who live closest to the church, so we follow certain assistance limits and service boundaries. Call Lisa Miner at the church with questions or requests.

The Power Program of Central United Methodist Church is an outreach to the Jacobsville neighborhood and has been in existence for nearly 20 years. The program was begun as an after school snack program and has now evolved into tutoring, recreation, snacks, and a Saturday morning playground. All activities are supervised and there is no cost for any activities.

Tutoring
Tutoring is offered on Tuesday and Thursday of each week from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. There have been students from UE and USI to help with tutoring as well as retired teachers who are members of Central Church. Children are encouraged to bring homework; however, if they come to tutoring without homework, we have an extensive library of children’s books, a computer lab with educational software, and a variety of games, puzzles, and flashcards.

POWER
Power is offered on Wednesday evenings. We meet from 4:00 until 6:00 for recreation and a hot meal. The meal is prepared and served by our adult Sunday School classes.

T-n-T
T-n-T is our summer recreation program. The children are provided with at least two activities per week during the summer. Programs may be at the church where we utilize our Family Life Center or the Art Room, or they may be off-site for swimming, bowling, the Children’s Museum, or other fun activities. Days and times may vary, but a monthly calendar is provided to the families.

The Saturday Morning Playground is offered every Saturday (except holidays) from 9:00a.m. to Noon and offers the children a safe place to play all year long. The playground is an indoor soft contained play system of tunnels, slides, and a ball pit. The basement area, which houses the indoor playground system, also offers foosball, air hockey and crafts. The playground is supervised and the kids are treated to a mid-morning snack.

The Rack Shack is a United Methodist Women’s project that provides used clothing and household items for a small donation. It is located directly across from the Food Pantry. The Rack Shack is open Mon-Thurs from 9:30 AM until noon. The entrance to both are located on Franklin Street.