Ministries Missions & Outreach Opportunities to Serve

Participate in planning and organization for ministry with our partners in our local and global communities by serving on the Missions & Outreach Committee.

Members of this committee are appointed by the Lay Leadership team and generally serve 3-year terms. We meet monthly to discuss and plan mission initiatives and opportunities.

A subgroup of the Open Study Sunday School class, Everything Must Change is dedicated to finding ways to practice our faith “outside of the building”. The group has worked with 61st United Methodist Church in West Nashville and is reviewing how they might work with “Light in the Nations” to help the people in the West Nashville neighborhood surrounding that church.

It is traditional at West End UMC to offer special gifts over and beyond our regular tithes and offerings for particular ministry or relief projects beyond our community. On the first Sunday of each month, worship participants are given the opportunity to offer a gift as they come forward to receive Holy Communion, a gift to a particular ministry or relief effort. Beneficiaries are wide ranging, giving us a chance to make a difference in the lives of people close by and across the globe.

We provide hospitality to 12 homeless men who spend Wednesday nights in our building from November through March, offering a hot meal, a place to shower, wash clothes, and sleep in safety. Volunteers provide transportation with the church van, provide food, visit with guests, and spend the night.

Fair Trade practices promote fair dealing with the underprivileged farmers responsible for the production of such items as coffee, tea, and chocolate, while also promoting environmentally conscious farming. We obtain these items for resale at the church. Volunteers sell the products on the second Sunday morning of each month and educate the congregation regarding Fair Trade issues.

We participate with Habitat for Humanity to build quality, simple, affordable homes for people in need. These individuals purchase their homes at cost and pay no interest. Each fall, volunteers fund and build a home, and provide food for workers.

A wonderful, multigenerational program to help persons of all ages prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth in meaningful ways. The program consists of an alternative gift catalog and market where you can purchase non-commercial and fair trade gifts from our community and around the world. There are also opportunities to create handmade gifts at the market. The catalog is available during the Advent season and the market is held the first Saturday in December. Volunteers help plan, coordinate, work craft or sales booths, cook, serve, and help with set-up or clean-up.

Held on the Tuesday of the week before Christmas. We partner with Reconciliation Ministries to host a Christmas party for 100 children with incarcerated family members.

Each summer, our Children’s Ministry program offers one week for older elementary children devoted to learning about and interacting with mission organizations in our city. Children spend time thinking about how they can serve the world by serving in our neighbors in need.

With 2 annual summer mission trips and numerous ongoing mission opportunities, our youth understand the importance of serving as Christ’s hands and feet in the world.

Participating annually with our Habitat for Humanity build, our young adults connect their faith with action in the community. This group also connects with larger mission initiatives of the church.

Serving with various ministries in our city and around the world, our adult Sunday School Classes participate in their own mission endeavors and those of the larger congregation. The Cornerstone Class serves regularly with Bethlehem Centers and the Open Study Class serves with 61st Avenue and Light in the Nations.

Our 5 UMW Circles serve meals on Tuesday each month at Luke 14:12 and support annual UMW mission programs.

Volunteers work with Bethlehem Centers to deliver meals to homebound seniors and adults in need.

Mentor a prisoner, lead a bible study at the prison, attend a Sunday communion service at the prison, or assist with a prison Christmas party and/or the purchase and delivery of Christmas gifts. Currently West End members mentor current prisoners and inmates being released from prison, lead bible studies at the prison, attend the Sunday morning communion service at the prison, and assist with Christmas related activities at the prison.

Considering our global neighbors in need, we travel to various places to serve with various agencies and ministry organizations. Historically, we have worked with our global ministry partners in Louisiana, Honduras, Lithuania, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. These trips focus on building houses, providing medical care, and education.