Monday, May 21, 2007

Young Adults: Apply to Serve with GraceWorks Community

Young adults (age 18-30) are invited to commit one year to serving as volunteers with GraceWorks Community: The Bishop's Young Adult Initiative for the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conferences of the United Methodist Church. Participants work full-time at local non-profit organizations in Cheyenne, Wyoming, engaging in direct service and advocacy with persons who are poor and marginalized, while living together in intentional community.

Young adult participants share a house and a simple lifestyle during their year of service. The Bishop's Young Adult Initiative provides housing, health insurance, a food and travel allowance, a monthly living stipend, and an education award at the end of the year. Volunteers have regular opportunities to reflect on the work in which they are engaged and the gifts and challenges of community life, while local congregations provide hospitality and support. In keeping with Wesleyan tradition, volunteers are encouraged to make connections between spiritual growth and "social holiness" as they learn skills for servant leadership in church and community.

Service placement possibilities include Boys and Girls Club, Interfaith Hospitality Network (providing shelter and resources for homeless families through religious congregations), COMEA House (emergency shelter and transitional housing), Cheyenne Community Clinic, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and ARC of Laramie County, among others.

Volunteer applications are now available for placement this August. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Kerry Greenhill, Director, at 800-536-3736 x153. Visit www.graceworkscommunity.org to learn more, or to download application forms.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Tell Us the Mission

I recommend this great spoken word video asking important questions about the war in Iraq: http://tellusthemission.org/. It's also a contest for what should go on the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was hung on that aircraft carrier four years ago.