Mission Outreach

Our Asian Ministry Committee seeks to foster communication and understanding among various Asian groups, as well as between Asian and non-Asian people. In the past we have organized community forums to discuss various issues of common concern. We also host cultural events to expose Americans to Asian Culture. Currently we are providing small group classes in English conversation, taught by volunteers from the congregation. A basic Bible study meets most Sundays after church, for people who speak English as a second language.

NEWS ON THE ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASS PROGRAM

This has been a most successful semester, in more ways than one.

We currently have 110 students registered, and some are taking more than one class. We started out with 18 volunteer teachers, but that wasn't enough, so we reached out to the Leonia community and to the ESL Program at Farleigh Dickinson University. As a result, we are pleased and honored to have Leonia's own Chief Ziegler volunteer to teach an Intermediate class, and Stacy Inamorato and Janice Acosta, two students in the ESL Masters program at FDU, volunteer to teach a Beginning class. It's exciting to have partnered with these two organizations, and we hope the relationship will be a long-standing one. We are now offering 9 daytime classes and 5 evening classes. The program continues to include volunteer teachers from 4 Leonia churches: Leonia Pres, All Saints Episcopal, Holy Spirit Lutheran, and St. John's Roman Catholic. So this is truly a community and ecumenical undertaking and one that is performing a much-needed service to our neighbors.

The Oelhaf House is a safe home for the victims of domestic violence who have had the courage to leave abusive situations and now are preparing to begin their lives afresh. The shelter is owned and maintained by our Church, and the program and support for the residents is run by Shelter Our Sisters.

A weekly "soup kitchen" at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Englewood. A team from our church participates, along with Bethany and three other congregations, to provide a hot, nutritious midday meal and bag supper for up to 50 people.

Food donations on the first Sunday of every month will be designated for Loaves and Fishes. We ask that you bring the following frequently used staples and place them in the basket that is in the sanctuary:

Canned chicken and beef broth (preferably low sodium), canned diced tomatoes in juice, canned whole potatoes, whole kernel corn, peas, cut string beans, red kidney beans, cannelloni and chick peas, canned pears & peaches, pineapple cubes or tidbits, pasta: elbow, rotini, ziti, spaghetti, canned tomato soup and mushroom soup, instant mash potatoes and powdered and plastic bottle juices (no glass please).

As mentioned above the food in the baskets on the FIRST SUNDAY of each month will go towards Loaves & Fishes, the other three weeks will go towards the Center for Food Action in Englewood. When shopping, remember to pick up extras and bring them with you on Sunday. Thank you.

Ecumenical Youth Group

Every Sunday evening (for over 30 years) the Leonia Ecumenical Youth Group meets at our church for discussion and fellowship. The youth group provides teens a place to talk about spiritual, ethical or social issues that are important to them in a supervised environment. Any teenager (9th-12th grade) who lives in Leonia, or who attends one of Leonia's churches or synagogues are welcome to participate. Currently there are 5 adult advisors and about 30 teens involved.

Day Laborers - Guatelmalans United for Development

Currently our church provides weekly meeting space for Guatemalans United for Development (or G.U.D.), and occasional meeting space and support for a larger group that seeks to provide support services such as leadership training, legal counsel, and English language classes to immigrant day laborers who work in the area.

In co-operation with other church, each winter our church volunteers for a week at St. Cecilia's Homeless Shelter. This is a family shelter in Englewood, sponsored by the Inter-Religious Fellowship for the Homeless and Bergen County Community Action Program. Up to seven families sleep in separate cubicles in the former St. Cecilia's High School. Social Workers are available to the guests, most of whom are women with children. They have become homeless because of fire, unemployment or an abusive situation at home. Volunteers plan and cook the evening meal for the guests and stay with them overnight. A different religious community serves as host each week.

Annual Construction Project

In 2007 two of our members joined a Presbytery Mission Project in New Orleans for one week. The group helped rebuild two homes for people in need. Our church also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. In 2006 members worked at the Paterson site for Habitat. In the words of Habitat founder Millard Fuller, "Our Christian faith mandates that we do more than just talk about faith and sing about love. We must put faith and love into action." Hope to see more of you next summer!!

Children of Uganda

Our church supports two orphanages which are run and funded by "Children of Uganda" (www.ussf.org). Click on http://tandcinuganda.livejournal.com for pictures of this years trip, and an account of our pastors trip to visit in 2006.