CSM Mission:

Bringing New Orleans Together!

Loving God, Embracing Diversity, Creating Community

The members of Central St. Matthew take our mission to help others seriously. We seek ways in which we can help those in need in our neighborhood, our city, our country and the world. Below are some of the mission activities in which we take part. Our congregation knows that when we care for people we can be transformed by experiencing the presence of God. Come along with us, all are welcome. After all, the more hands we have, the more we can do.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD COLLECTIONS

CSM members can contribute to the New Orleans area food bank, Second Harvest.  We collect a different food in church each month, and volunteers then deliver to the food bank.  We suggest including one or more of these items in your cart each time you shop!

Here’s our current collection schedule, but we welcome any donations any month:

• January – spaghetti sauce and pasta
• February – evaporated or dry milk
• March – whole grain crackers
• April – rice
• May – canned tuna or chicken
• June – canned beans
• July – canned tomatoes
• August – peanut butter
• September – canned vegetables
• October – dried and canned beans
• November – canned fruit including pumpkin
• December – whole grain cereals

CENTRAL ST. MATTHEW FIVE FOR FIVE

Being a “5 for 5” Church in the United Church of Christ means that our congregation fully supports Our Church’s Wider Mission. We provide Basic Support and give to all four Special Mission Offerings.

UCC Basic Support: Provides funding from congregations for Conferences and the national ministries of Wider Church Ministries, Local Church Ministries, Justice and Witness Ministries, General Ministries and the Pension Boards.

UCC Special Mission Offerings: Part of Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM), these four offerings sponsor vital ministries that bring hope to people around the world. The Christmas Fund helps provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retired church workers, emergency assistance to clergy families in need and Christmas checks to hundreds of annuitants. This fund is administered by the Pension Boards. One Great Hour of Sharing channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response. Strengthen the Church supports leadership for new and revitalizing congregations, programs for youth and young adults, and leadership development for the whole church. Neighbors in Need supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Witness Ministries.