Serve Our Neighbors

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." – 1 Peter 4:10

Our Discipleship Invitation calls us to fully engage in our community. There are countless service opportunities within and outside of the church walls to match your individual and God-given spiritual gifts. 

 

We are also called to be “outwardly focused,” as Pastor Jason describes service in the greater community. The needs are great and opportunities abound for both hands-on and organizational, financial and similar skills and talents.

Blessing Box Ministry

Webster Hills bright blue “Blessing Box” — the mini food pantry located just feet from Lockwood Avenue in front of the Christian Life Center — provides non-perishable foods and personal hygiene items for those in need. Blessing Box team members have monthly shifts, typically two consecutive days, when they restock the Blessing Box with stored donations. Interested in joining the team? Email Blessing Box coordinator Julie Marsh.

 

The congregation donates most of the Blessing Box stock. Donations can be left in the sanctuary vestibule, church office and CLC lobbies anytime church is open. First Sunday Food Drives offer a special call for donations.  Items can also be ordered through our Amazon wish list. 

Dinner Church

Wednesday night Dinner Church provides an informal time of worship and fellowship. It also extends an open invitation to those who have never stepped foot in a church and provides a meal for the food-insecure in our community. Dinner Church needs greeters, set-up and clean-up teams, cooks and more. If you can help on a weekly, monthly or occasional basis, please reach out to Steven Kleekamp or Andy Waggoner or click here.

The Listening Place

Our weekly, walk-in grief support ministry is staffed by trained volunteers with caring hearts, who have experienced loss and can empathize with those seeking support. New volunteers will participate in a training session with Listening Place director Dr. Julie Strassman and become Safe Gatherings certified online. The monthly time commitment totals about four hours (2.5 hours one Wednesday evening per month, and 1.5 hours at our monthly meeting). To volunteer or for more info, contact Dr. Julie Strassman. 

Mission & Justice Team

The Mission & Justice team approaches its work with the aim of fusing education with action for greatest impact. Focus areas have included literacy, food and housing insecurity, racial diversity and LBGTQ+ issues. Volunteering to help with its varied programs and mission projects throughout the year is vital to its success. Email team leaders Lisa Miller or Lynn Hitner to set up a time to talk about your availability, interests and any special skills/spiritual gifts you can share on an ongoing or special-project basis. Learn more about the Mission & Justice Team and the ministries we partner with. 

Pumpkin Patch 

The Webster Hills UMC Pumpkin Patch is the church’s biggest and most visible mission project. It connects the greater community to the church while also raising funds that support our core ministries. The patch truly takes a village, and Webster Hills is blessed to be a loving and giving one. 

 

Volunteer leadership roles include coordinator positions to oversee setup, unloading, teardown, preschool visits, food trucks, and various special events. Once dates, times and needs for each area are set, calls for individual volunteers will go out. Many hands make quick work – especially on “unloading” days, when tractor-trailer trucks filled with thousands of pumpkins arrive.

 

The patch itself, open daily from late September through Halloween, is staffed by volunteers, who sign up for three-hour shifts scheduled throughout the day and early evening for flexibility. Shift volunteers serve as cashiers, pumpkin sorters, and, most importantly, disciples who love, grow, and connect with patch guests every day. Training is provided.

 

Planning for the 2026 WH Pumpkin Patch will begin this spring. In the meantime, to volunteer for a leadership or support role, ask a question, or share an idea, please email whumcpumpkin@gmail.com. Be sure to leave your contact information so the Pumpkin Patch steering committee can be in touch. 

Sheet Ministry

The WH Sheet Ministry, born in 2013, meets at 9 a.m. on the fourth Monday of the year except November and December. This unique ministry partners with a local hotel that donates its used linens to the church. Team members examine, sort, fold and organize the sheets, towels and pillowcases which are then donated to a variety of local, national and international non-profits. Every linen, even the badly stained and torn ones, has a second life; none are discarded. The team meets in the CLC multi-use room (gym). New volunteers are always needed and welcomed; no experience required. Fill out an interest form here or contact Team Leader Robin Tellor to learn more. 

See Ways to Serve at Webster Hills