Friday, January 9, 2026
Facts About the Above Photo
Winter in South Lake Tahoe
Photo Credit: Susie Wanden, January 2024
HUMAN RELATIONS DAY
Sunday, January 18 is Human Relations Day is celebrated in United Methodist Churches throughout the world on Sunday, January 18. Traditionally a special offering is taken during worship services. Funds received from this special offering help to make these UMC programs possible:
Community Developers Program
This program helps churches serve their neighborhoods – especially communities of color – by focusing on local needs like education, employment, and empowerment.
United Methodist Voluntary Services
This program equips volunteers and congregations to tackle injustices through hands-on projects, community organizing and service-learning opportunities.
Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs
These church-supported programs help young people rebuild their lives through mentoring, leadership training, and positive, faith- based community experiences.
Your special gift during the church service on January 18 or you may also mail your gift to CUMC, 3700 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA. 95204. If you write a check, be sure to put Human Relations on the memo line. If it is a cash donation place it in an offering envelope found in the pew and write your name and address on the envelope and put the words Human Relations on the envelope.
Your gift will make a real difference.
This year 50% of your donation will go directly to the Human Relations Day offering and the other 50% will remain in Stockton. The Missions Committee has decided to provide funds from the offering to six of our mission programs. The programs that will receive funds will be Family Promise, St Mary’s Community Services, Cleveland School Initiative, Friends of Wadi Foquin, and Lunch on Us. There are other programs that our Missions Committee oversees but at this time the leadership committee decided to focus on these five programs. Watch for future opportunities to give to other Central mission programs.
Family Promise
Central hosts Family Promise families four times a year for a week stay. Volunteers provide dinners for the week, help with purchasing food for breakfast and snacks. Each night a volunteer host spends the night. Volunteers help with set up and take down of each room. Families are housed on the second floor of the Knoles Building. Central started participating in 2021after everything opened after COVID. It is estimated that over 30 families have spent the week at Central.
St Mary’s Community Services
Volunteers from Central began working at St. Mary’s Dining room in 2002. Volunteers have helped in the kitchen, on the serving line, and greeting guests. Central has also supported the family housing unit, donated monies to the Dining Room and recently contributed money for the new little houses on the St. Mary’s campus.
Cleveland School Initiative
Central is responsible for the Little Free Library at Cleveland, hosts a welcome back lunch for the staff the week before school begins, volunteers participate in the Rotary Read-In at Cleveland, individuals volunteer in classrooms, valentine appreciation cards to the staff, hosting the awards dinner for 8th graders in May and much more.
Friends of Wadi Foquin
Each month a small group of Central members and community members meet in the Fireside Room to pray, plan and discuss ways to support the community of Wadi Foquin. In February this group will host a presentation by individuals who recently visited the community of Wadi Foquin in Palestine.
Lunch on Us
Once a month a free lunch for seniors is served in the Fellowship Hall. The lunch is on the third Wednesday of each month. Church members are encouraged to bring a friend. Each month we honor those who are having a birthday that month and invite those in attendance to attend upcoming events at Central.
Sunday, January 18
The Missions Committee will have tables in the Atrium with sign-up sheets for you to express interest in becoming involved in the above mentioned programs or other programs that are sponsored by the Missions Committee.
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