Church & Community News & Events
Immanuel United Methodist Church has a lot going on. And, we are active in the community. Check back here to see the latest activities.
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Members of Immanuel were able to join with the Northeast V.I.M. team on a mission trip the week of September 16-20. Sue Gannon wrote the following article about the trip for her home church: It is hard to describe the moment when the homeowner says “Thank you”. It is far more than gratitude for work that was absolutely necessary, but absolutely unaffordable without the volunteer labor. It is a deep gratitude that their lives were touched by a team of strangers who bonded together with a commitment to serve others with the grace and love God shows us all. It is a moment when “Because Jesus loves me, I love you” becomes real. A moment that will be remembered by our eight member V.I.M team that traveled to Glover, Vermont the week of Sept. 15. Five from our Quad: Mike and Donna Motyl from Simsbury and Jeff Cedarfield, Larry Gannon and Sue Gannon from North Canton. And three from Immanuel UMC, the church Larry and Sue attended in Camillus, NY. In true United Methodist spirit, it was through our connection that we were able to accomplish so much. We worked on two houses. Both husbands had Parkinson’s. One from Agent Orange in Vietnam and one from the chemicals in the factory where he worked. Both wives were wonderful examples of facing adversity with a positive, caring attitude. For the first house, we were the final team so our work was limited to repairing sheet rock and painting the basement. The basement had been flooded with four feet of water from a very small creek that was so far downhill and so far away that it was difficult to imagine that water had reached the basement. The second home was one of the most challenging Disaster Recovery projects we have ever encountered. The heavy rains washed out the front wall of the stone foundation of this 200 year old farmhouse. A new foundation wall had been installed, but the large rocks of the old wall had to be jack hammered and removed. A new drainage ditch had to be dug with crushed stone, piping and sump pump installed. New cedar siding on one side of the house had been so severely damaged that it had to be replaced. Disaster Recovery work can be physically exhausting, but is spiritually up lifting. There are still 700 homes to be repaired, and we will be there on our next trip May, 2025.  Our team from Immanuel joined with a team from Connecticut to do repair work in Vermont after severe flooding. The team will be there the week of September 16-20.
Read more about the trip. Our congregation's and community's generosity made it possible for a small team from Immanuel to build a new shed for a couple on the Onondaga Nation. Thank you to everyone who contributes to our Mission Outreach fundraisers. We are planning on supporting a team of skilled, semi-skilled and those wishing to become skilled to work on home rebuilding projects. This session will run 1 week of work with daily travel or overnight available all days. We welcome other Church Congregations as well as Individuals interested in joining our team.
We will not know the type of project until closer to our departure. Most likely our assignment will be in a reconstruction project or following another team in a quest of putting a home(s) back together. The team is made up of General Contractors, very skilled home owners and those who have never raised a hammer before. Every person will be paired up with someone who knows about the assigned task. No one will be asked to do anything they do not want to do nor is unsafe. The work week is September 16th to the 20th, 2024. There will be a meeting at Immanuel UMC on August 13th at 7PM (for those close enough to be there). For information or questions please call or email Mike Block (Zoom info will be shared upon request). It is important to submit all required forms by the posted date. Any questions regarding this trip please contact the persons named below. Submit forms before August 12th . Helpful requirements for a successful trip not only depend on the physical on-site workers but the support team to send them there. It costs about $300 per person for the week to accomplish this type of trip; this is only an average and not a requirement. Donation Request Those individuals joining our team who are not members of Immanuel UMC are asked to donate to support the trip expenses. This donation will help cover the cost of food, additional insurance and fuel if you are riding with the group.
Checks for financial support can be made out and mailed to: Immanuel United Methodist Church 303 Kasson Rd. Camillus, NY 13031 ( Please label the check – September 2024 Mission Trip. Contact information Trip Details and Questions - Mike Block (315) 491-0497 or [email protected] Fund Raising Guidance – Betty Jane Block (315) 491-8256 or [email protected] Your efforts to support our Missions are greatly appreciated! Our church's volunteers stepped up to fulfill a vital need, installing a new lift for a Bridgeport family. We are so blessed by the opportunity to extend a helping hand to those in need in our community. Our mission team left for Buffalo, NY on Monday, April 17 to do repair work on a church that was damaged in last fall's devastating snowstorms. They were there 5 days, from April 17 thru 21. Thank you for your prayers and support as Immanuel's Mission team was the hands and feet of Jesus in Buffalo. Our Disaster Recovery team is planning a trip to Buffalo on April 17-21, 2023. There will be an informational meeting at Immanuel on Tuesday, March 21 at 7pm.
See the attached flyer for more details. Please share with anyone you feel would be interested.  Immanuel's Team On October 16th the Greater Syracuse Hunger Walk took place at Onondaga Lake Park. Unlike last year's monsoon, the weather was perfect for a 3-mile walk and ALL walkers were fortified prior to the walk by a lunch of Barb Blanchard's "world famous" macaroni & cheese.
Immanuel's team of walkers were Jane Monnell (and dog Posie), Shelley Dawson Smith, Erin, Chris & Joey Paoli (and dog Penny) and John & Nori Gartner (and dog Baca). At the end of the walk, we were treated to a snack and bottle of water by Liverpool 1st UMC which was very kind of them. I'm happy to say that Immanuel raised $1,130.00 because of the fund-raising efforts of the team members and also Barb Merckel. Thanks to everyone who contributed; your donations will help fund six local agencies that feed and minister to the people in our community. Thank you everyone! Shelley Dawson Smith Immanuel United received a request for assistance. An elderly couple needed a ramp to get in and out of their home. The husband has mobility issues, and his wife recently fell and broke her pelvis and tail bone. They reached out to other organizations in the community, but were unable to find timely assistance. They heard we may be able to help, and so reached out. Our Mission Team had a brief meeting and performed a site survey. The couple chose a lift option to be installed in their garage. This was a very good option for upstate New York, due to the many months of ice and snow. An outdoor ramp would be very dangerous. The platform and lift was installed by our team, and the Knit n Stitch folks were instrumental in providing spiritual support with the sharing of Prayer Shawls! The retired couple live in Chittenango and the husband is a retired Methodist pastor still serving in the Mohawk Valley.  Immanuel's 2021 CROP Walk team exceeded it's goal, raising $2,234 for people in need in our community. On October 17th, the Greater Syracuse Hunger Walk took place at Onondaga Lake. It was a cold, windy and rainy day but Immanuel's team of Jane M., Amy S., Peg Webster, Shelley DS, Pastor Jack, Erin, Chris & Joey P. and Penny the dog did our best.
Unfortunately the inclement weather persisted so we weren't able to walk the entire 3 miles because we were cold, wet and our sneakers were very soggy but we made a great effort! At the end of the walk we were treated to a snack and bottles of water by Liverpool First United Methodist Church, which was very kind of them. I'm happy to say that Immanuel exceeded it's goal of $1,500.00 because of the fund raising efforts of the team members and also Barb and Gary M. Thanks to everyone who contributed, your donation of $2,234.00 will help fund nine local agencies that feed and minister to the people in our community. Thank you everyone! |
