The new year is a time to reflect on the year gone by, and 2018 was an amazing year for Copper Hill United Methodist Church in East Granby. This has been a year of generosity, and growth in attendance and membership.
Thanks to the support of the people in this area, Copper Hill was able to support numerous serving agencies, including fuel banks and food pantries in the towns of Granby, East Granby and Suffield, two homes for single mothers—My Sister’s Place and Christina’s House, a UM children’s home in Binghamton, N.Y., and charities such as Heifer International and Smile Train. It was also able to make substantial contributions to United Methodist Committee on Relief in response to natural disasters nationwide.
You might wonder how a small church can support so many ministries. It starts with an atmosphere of giving. Pastor Kelvin Jones teaches, “God has been generous with us; it is up to us to learn to be generous with others.” Next, giving must become part of the planning, budgeting and weekly practices of the church and its sub-groups.
The church’s dedicated United Methodist Women’s organization raises funds through dinners and tag sales and regularly contributes from those funds as well. Regular collections for the food pantries have resulted in almost one-half ton of donated food to help support families in the tri-town area.
In the church parking lot a brightly colored St. Pauly’s box with an open window holds bags of clothing and household linens donated by the community. These are collected by St. Pauly’s, that, in turn pays the church four cents per pound. The church sends all these funds to area food banks. In the last seven years, 40 tons of recycled goods have raised thousands of dollars for the tri-town area.
The church communities give thanks for the generosity that abounds in our corner of Connecticut and allows us to reach out worldwide. For additional information, please contact Pastor Kelvin Jones at 860-653-2891.