June 13 Operation INASMUCH Summary

The following is a snapshot summary of a few INASMUCH projects. On June 13 FUMC people went out into the community and offered friendship and little "helps" that made a difference. Jesus states, "Inasmuch as you do…to even the least of these, you do it unto me."

"We came to sing, and ended up being sung to." Fenton's United Methodist Women put on an ice cream social for a local Hospice. Some women sang to the patients and their families while others dished up sundaes.

Afterward, one woman convinced her aide to wheel her down to the room where the women were preparing to leave so she could ask for “just one more song.” When Tammy agreed, the patient shut her eyes and sang right along with them. This picture sums up Inasmuch Sunday -- a day on which givers always receive more than is given.

But not everyone got singing projects. One woman shoveled mulch at Adopt-a-Pet, returned to the church, and ….shoveled mulch. (One family at that site even got a new puppy out of the experience! Beware if you are asked to do a project at the zoo.) Some washed and sanitized our church nursery's toys and furniture. Those volunteers gained new friends and experienced an afternoon of laughter and accomplishment.

Some 115 FUMC members/friends accomplished "much" like:

·Thirty-five home/care facility-bound church members were visited. When one couple asked a woman in her nineties if people could visit from her church, she agreed, although she didn’t understand why anyone would want to talk to her about their shirts. It turned out there was plenty to talk about, however, and the visit went well past the time the couple were scheduled to depart.

·At the ice cream social, enough goodies were left for them to do it all over again. Flowers were given to every resident and a treats were provided to express “Thank You” to care facility staffers.

·A roof tear--off/replacement was done on a shed in Holly.

·New doors and shelves were built for our FUMC Food Pantry that will be used for storage.

·Clean-up and maintenance was done on one of the church's parsonages -- and then workers moved on to a nearby neighbor’s home to paint trim and do yard work.

·Two accessibility/wheelchair ramps were constructed. One for a woman who couldn’t come home from the care facility to be with her husband (who is also in treatment), until a ramp was built.

·For Judy, a garage full of costumes was organized and gutters seams were resealed which had been directing water into the basement. Also fixed were down-spouts. Windows were washed and caulked. Neighbors came to check out the work, and were they impressed that a church would volunteer to do all those things for a person who was "not even a member".

·For Pat, who, like Judy, is vision impaired, we helped her clean her house and sort clothes.

·We helped Lila clean and reorganize the church nursery, and the sewing group made her new curtains to go with the new items she had purchased.

·Yard work was performed at Fenton's Adopt a Pet.

·Lots of mulch was spread around our church buildings.

·At the F.A.R.R. properties, trimming and yard work were done. Wild brush growth was removed and a deck was painted at the Bentley House. A garden was cleaned and cleared at the Carman House.

·Wood chips at Silver Lake Park were spread and benches were painted.

Ask any volunteer about Inasmuch Sunday, and they will all tell you how they didn’t do all that much. But then compare their responses to the repeated expressions of gratitude of the people who received from Inasmuch in some small way. FUMC is working to make a difference in the community and in the lives of people. Another Inasmuch Sunday will be scheduled. Join us next time. It's about "good work." Thanks to all who served -- and to the INASMUCH TEAM Leaders.

More pictures available for viewing at fentonumc.com—Photo Gallery.