Gwynedd Square Presbyterian Church

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

Mission Outreach

Gwynedd Square Presbyterian Church engages in a variety of activities that are related to helping others. Mission activities have been strongly supported by the church since it was founded. From providing a meal to a local family in need, to helping with disaster relief efforts, we believe in mission and outreach to meet the needs of people in our church, our community, and our world. The church plans to spend approximately $97,121 or 17% of its budget on mission projects and ministries.

In addition, contributions and mission activities are undertaken by numerous groups in the church, including C'Farers, the youth group, the Sunday school classes, the Deacons, the women's association and the women's bible study groups.

The main group responsible for allocating money for mission projects is the Mission Interpretation Committee. The committee sponsors mission talks and American Red Cross blood drives, coordinates the congregation’s participation in the Inter-Faith Hospitality Network and the local CROP Walk, and offers the congregation a copy of our mission yearbook for prayer and study.

Of the budgeted amount for benevolence in 2008, $18,000 will be designated by the Mission Interpretation Committee and the remainder will be distributed by the Philadelphia Presbytery, the Synod of the Trinity, and the Presbyterian General Assembly. Each quarter of the year the committee carefully considers a variety of needs and allocates a portion of the available funds. For the third quarter of 2008, a total of $4,000 in locally designated benevolence gifts were disbursed to the following:

GSPC Mission Trip to Pearlington ($100) - These funds will be used to help defray some of the expenses for GSPC participants on the October Presbytery trip to Pearlington and for building supplies and other direct aid to hurricane victims in the Pearlington area. This is our congregation’s 7th mission trip for relief/rebuilding work following Hurricane Katrina.
John Gloucester House ($500) - This ministry of the Presbytery of Philadelphia has served the 26,000 people in the Point Breeze neighborhood in South Philadelphia since 1968. It is deeply involved in the life and needs of the surrounding community. The variety of ministries provided includes Bible study, a soup kitchen, sewing classes, summer camp, computer training, pastoral counseling, and tutoring. Only a few of the staff are paid; the vast majority of services are carried out by caring volunteers.
Mission Relief Services ($400) - This is a relatively new and growing organization, with the goal of providing missionaries with aid to help hospitals worldwide. It also seeks to meet the medical equipment and supply needs of mission hospitals and other medical facilities in developing countries. It began as a Synod of the Trinity Medical Mission Project and is supported by several presbyteries of the synod, including Philadelphia. Centered in Coatesville, PA, this organization has developed a network of over thirty hospitals from central Pennsylvania to New Jersey as a source for donations of equipment and supplies. Donated funds are used to purchase additional supplies and for shipping costs around the globe. The organization currently serves the medical community in over thirty countries around the world.
Philadelphia Society for Services to Children ($400) - This agency has been working to alleviate the problem of child abuse of the city’s youngest and most needy citizens for over 170 years. It gives skilled and compassionate assistance to them and their families. PSSC was founded upon the conviction that children are our most vulnerable resource and they must have the opportunity to reach their potential.
PC(USA) International Peacemaking in the Middle East ($400) - This project helps with peacemaking, reconciliation, and conflict resolution in the Middle East. It also supports the development of educational and human resource to enable U.S. Presbyterians to learn about he complexities that exist in the region. Dr. Shehadeh, our mission speaker in October, serves as an International Peacemaker with this project.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance ($500) - In addition to continued Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, in the last few months alone PDA has provided hurricane relief for victims of Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Gustav and is working on immediate and long-term needs by establishing volunteer villages in Texas; caring for pastors and other caregivers; directing housing relief to Haiti and Cuba; and working with community- and presbytery-based long-term recovery programs. In addition to supplying material needs and financial aid, PDA serves as the overall coordinating body for national and international relief efforts.
Presbytery Food Distribution Services ($400) - This Program supports 21 Care Closets (food closets) in the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Together they feed almost 35,000 folks each year. An example of one of their projects is the distribution of Thanksgiving dinner boxes.
Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale ($400) - Well over 100,000 residents in eight municipalities, including our local community, are served by this corps of more than 100 volunteers and 75 career personnel, trained as emergency medical technicians or paramedics. In addition to ambulance and rescue services they provide round-the-clock advanced Life Support emergency medical care and transportation to one of our local hospitals. Most of their financial support comes through donations such as ours.

Needlework Guild

The Needlework Guild is a national volunteer charity that has been operating since 1885. The Guild's purpose is to improve the quality of life for needy people in the United States and its possessions. Volunteers collect new clothing, household linens, and essential toiletries and give them to their neighbors in need through recognized community organizations. In the fall of 2011, Gwynedd Square's branch of the Needlework Guild contributed $270 plus $1,600 worth of items.

All of these organizations offer ample opportunities for the members of Gwynedd Square to give of their time, treasure, and talents.