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Overview
Community outreach at Piedmont Community Church occurs through
a variety of mission programs that touch both neighbors nearby and friends
halfway around the globe. We have donated to and collaborated with a broad
spectrum of organizations, including those devoted to elder care, youth
activities, substance abuse, mental and physical health care, housing,
and international missionary work, such as Bible translation and inculturated
music in African worship.
We
are aware that charity begins at home, but should not end there, and that
enthusiasm for service is contagious. A special event in the lives of
our high schoolers and adult leaders is the annual Mexico Mission Trip,
the focus of which is building durable houses for low income families
in towns across the border. This year's trip included 148 youth and 30
adult participants! Without the support of a generous congregation, such
projects would never happen.
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FUNDS
Approximately
10% of our annual budget, which is managed by the Board of Trustees, goes
toward mission programs. Click here for links
to programs supported by PCC. The Board of Deacons is primarily responsible
for overseeing the year to year operations of this aspect of church life.
Part of this work entails articulating a Mission
Giving Philosophy and forming relationships with grant applicants,
who typically receive anywhere from $500 to $10,000 with the typical donation
being around $2,000. Each deacon evaluates potential recipients, and the
Mission Action Team further explores
opportunities for giving and getting involved with mission programs. The
Board of Deacons and Trustees, together with the ministers and Financial
Manager, allocate the funds. Typically, between 10-20 agencies, both local
and international, receive donations.
Occasionally
representatives from these selected organizations visit the congregation
in worship to share a little bit about their work. PCC
has been honored to host Frank
and Nancy Dimmock, Presbyterian missionaries working with the Medical
Benevolence Foundation, before they returned to Malawi where they
currently live and work. An annual highlight of the mission program is
the Christmas Pageant with music by the much loved Salvation Army brass
band. During this service, a special collection is taken for donation
to the Salvation Army. Specially designated Christmas offerings are also
generously given by members of the congregation for donation to a nonprofit
Christian ministry organization, such as Church World Services.
Springtime
features a host of creative fundraisers, such as a garage sale, soup lunch,
and car wash, organized by the high school youth with the purpose of building
a sizable fund for the Mexico Mission Trip. One of the more exciting fundraising
events organized on a regular basis is the Pick-a-Party extravaganza,
a special Sunday where members sign up to attend theme parties hosted
throughout the year by church members. The host designs or "donates"
a special event with a corresponding cost per person. The proceeds go
to various mission programs, and those who participate in the parties
not only support worthy causes, but have a fantastic time. Ideas people
have come up with in the past include an adventure for tots at Tilden
Park, a western hoe-down with line dancing, a fancy French dinner for
8, a musical concert and dessert, a morning of community service and education
at Lake Merritt's bird refuge, a picnic at Muir Woods (see picture at
right) and many more creative outings. Other offerings, such as a weekend
at a vacation home, are silently auctioned. Everyone who browses the pick-a-party
catalog is usually able to find something that interests them.
The Christmas
Alternative Gift Market benefits a wide variety of worthy projects
around the world and purchasers of donations get a handsome gift card
for their loved one, describing the donation within. The AGM is set up
in Guild Hall after worship services in late November and early December.
An online catalog is also available around that time. Don't miss this
unique chance to get an early start on Christmas shopping and at the same
time support various life-giving projects from around the world and near
to home. You will be able to purchase food for the hungry, care for the
sick, shelter for the homeless, renewal for our planet and much more -
truly meaningful alternatives to the usual holiday gifts - in honor of
your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and children's teachers. For
more information, contact Rev. Don Ashburn at (510) 547-5700, ext. 3,
or don@piedmontchurch.org.
Lastly,
PCC has dedicated 10% of our $4.5 million capital campaign, or $450,000,
to the Better World Fund to support mission and outreach projects
both locally in Oakland, throughout the Bay Area, and internationally.
This fund is directly linked to the Founding Our Future campaign which
began in 2004 and will end in 2007. The latest grant is for a school rebuilding
project in a village in Sri Lanka that was devastated by the tsunami.
“We believe it’s important to not just look after our own needs,”
McNabb said, “but to have ‘the eyes of Jesus for the hungry,
hurting, and homeless of this world.’”
BETTER
WORLD FUND GRANT REQUEST FORM and FUNDING
PRINCIPLES.
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SERVICE
In addition
to annual international mission trips, members find many ways to give
of their time and efforts through local service projects. For instance,
a crew might get together to spend a weekend day working with a local
nonprofit to make repairs to the home of an elderly resident in need,
or they may offer their time to a nearby shelter. As of Spring, 2004,
a new relationship has been established with a local elementary school.
Webster Academy in Oakland will benefit from PCC volunteer tutors, donations
of play equipment, and events designed to honor the teachers there. To
learn more about becoming involved at Webster, please contact Rev.
Don Ashburn.
Others quietly
give of themselves in meaningful, unique ways, such as helping to facilitate
a seniors' activity program, driving the bus for monthly seniors' lunch
outings or for Sunday worship, attending meetings of representatives from
local congregations where community issues are addressed together, educating
one another in Bible studies, mentoring to youth who attend weekly gatherings,
taping and duplicating copies of sermons, performing special maintenance
and cleaning projects around the church property on the biannual workdays,
and serving many, many more worthwhile causes! The possibilities are endless
and are continually enhanced by the imagination, willingness, and enthusiasm
of church members. For more examples of ways in which people volunteer
within PCC and to find out how to get involved, visit the GET
INVOLVED! page.
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FACILITIES
The church
makes its facilities available to nonprofit programs of its choosing at
reduced rates or as a donation, for example, helping the city of Piedmont
Department of Recreation or Unified School District. The church hosts
the Creative Retirement Center, an ongoing program featuring a variety
of crafts and activities followed by lunch for local seniors on Monday
mornings from 9 am - 12 noon. The church's buildings are also used by
2 preschools, a language school, the local Boy Scouts, a community choir,
and a children's theater group, among others. Various rooms include access
to fireplaces, a fully equipped kitchen, a stage, tables, chairs, and
more informal spaces with couches. For more information about rentals
or to inquire about specific dates, please contact Jean Leahy in the church
office via e-mail or at 510-547-5700.
The sanctuary is also available for weddings,
memorials, and special occasions (More photos of PCC facilities posted
here).
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