CHURCH CAMPS

Mennonite Church of Normal is a supporter of two Mennonite church camps, Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, MI and Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center in Tiskilwa IL. They both offer summer camp programs for children and youth, as well as year-round programming for families and special groups. MCN offers $50 scholarships toward the cost of a week of summer camp for congregational children. Registration forms are usually available at the church, and of course on each of the camp’s websites.

ELDER CARE

Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community (located in Meadows, Illinois on Route 24) seeks to minister to the elderly in the belief that God desires older persons to enjoy dignity, respect, love and care. Founded in 1919 and opened in 1923, Meadows was established by churches committed to caring for the elderly in need of support services.  This association of churches continues to be the foundation of Meadows’ ministry with the vital support and partnership of the local communities of Chenoa and Gridley.

Maple Lawn Homes, Inc. , a nonprofit Christian retirement community founded in 1922 and sponsored by the Mennonite Church, offers a nonsectarian program of retirement housing, nursing care, in-home support services, and a children's day care. We are dedicated to serving the individual needs of each resident, emphasizing freedom of choice, dignity and self-esteem. Our programs serve not only our residents, but the entire community of Eureka and those living in Woodford and Tazewell counties. 

ILLINOIS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE

The 2010 Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale Board cordially invites everyone to the 52nd Anniversary Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale to be held March 19-20, 2010, in Interstate Center, Bloomington, Illinois. Annually there are approximately 35 sales held throughout America from the east coast to the west coast and about 11 in Canada. Approximate income from these 46 sales is $5,000,000 annually.

Eighty percent of the net proceeds from this family fare event are channeled through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a relief and service agency located in Akron, Pennsylvania. MCC, celebrating 90 years (1920-2010) of serving “In the Name of Christ,” has over 1,000 volunteers working in the United States and 65 other countries of the world. Twenty percent of the Illinois Relief Sale net income is used locally by grassroots volunteers to provide food for the needy in Central Illinois.

VOLUNTEERING IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Jesus House: A day shelter for the homeless in our community, for which we prepare and serve occasional Sunday meals. Groceries collected for the Widow’s Cruse are delivered to the Jesus House as the cart fills.

Home Sweet Home Ministries  has been serving the homeless and hungry with Christ's love in Bloomington, Illinois since 1917. They provide case management and other supportive services to the homeless such as shelter, hot meals, clothing and tolietries, addiction recovery, and children's programming. HSHM also offers educational and vocational training, counseling and weekly worship services. Their goal is to help people find independence, restore their hope and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.

View the news story that prompted MCN members to offer themselves in service to Home Sweet Home to renovate their food pantry areas; with additional videos of the renovation in-process [via YouTube]:

School Ministries: Readers and tutors are welcome in classrooms at Oakdale and Head Start (at MCN). Members also contribute toward expenses MCN members serving as classroom teachers incur during the school year in "the line of duty."

Recycling Furniture for Families: A not-for-profit that accepts used furniture for redistribution to local families moving from homelessness to transitional housing (usually single moms). This is both an outlet for your gently-used home furnishings and a volunteer opportunity.

...and many more!