WOW!!
Immanuel UCC, You've Done It Again, and Again, and Again!

1. Collected $4,152, and combining that with the "matching" funds of $7,500 from an anonymous donor, contributed a total of $11,652 to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana/Greater Hammond Food Bank.

2. Filled Pastor Susan's van to overflowing with coats she delivered to
   "Somebody's Closet Clothing Ministry", a ministry of our sister church, Trinity UCC, Gary.

3. With a final big push, turned the "pathetic mitten tree" into a real dazzler with 140 gloves/mittens/scarves/hats donated for use by school- age children in Northwest Indiana.

Our Church's Wider Mission: It's who we are.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,
Your Mission Committee

Any Suggestions?

Our CUE seminaries: Chicago, United and Eden, the three seminaries of the United Church of Christ located in the Midwest, have survived into a new century because of the past support of congregations like ours. That is why your Church Council and Mission Committee are seeking your input as to how to use this year's Lenten envelope donations. The Lenten folders will be once again this year be sent to CUE to add to the support we give them with our Christmas Eve offering each year. Forwarding the money to CUE is only one of many mission options to which your dollars can be contributed. Before making any final decisions as to how to commit this year's Lenten envelope monies, if you have a mission-minded idea for the use of these monies, either local, national or world wide, please give your suggestions to either the Council President, Rob Shutko, or to the Mission Committee Chair, Marge Bluhm, by the March Council Meeting on March 8th.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration,
Your Mission Committee

Share Your Soles

We have been collecting shoes for the past year, and on March 27th, the High School Class will make a trip to Share Your Soles in Alsip, IL to drop off our collection and to volunteer our time to work at the warehouse sorting and boxing! We have a special request for children's shoes (grades K — 5) for Andy Dudeck's school — any of those donated that are size appropriate will be pulled out and donated locally.

What is Share Your Soles?
Mona Purdy, a woman from Chicago, was inspired to create Share Your Soles when she visited Central America and found that children would spread tar on their feet to run a race because they did not have shoes. As a result many ended up having their infected limbs amputated. She made a return trip to deliver some used shoes to help children at an orphanage, and they asked when she was coming back. And, thus, the idea for the organization was born. Since then the organization has expanded dramatically, and churches, schools, and other service groups are organizing shoe drives around the country to benefit those in need throughout the world. On January 8th, Share Your Soles delivered 40 cases of shoes to Haiti, and 4000 more pairs were waiting to be shipped!

Shoe Drive Details
We are asking for new or gently worn (i.e. able to withstand significantly more wear) shoes. There is a collection box outside of the church office, or you can drop them off in the High School Classroom. The following shoes are accepted in any size (children and adults): athletic shoes, any type of boots, canvas shoes, sandals, dress shoes, casual shoes, slippers, ice skates, rollerblades, and spiked shoes -- yes, just about everything.

For more information on Share Your Soles visit www.shareyoursoles.org.

Horizon Pasta Party Fundraiser
Saturday, April 24th

Save the date!!!! The High School class will be volunteering again this July at the weeklong Association of Horizon Summer Camp for disabled adults. In an effort to help Horizon raise the needed funds to cover the cost of the camp for both volunteers and attendants, the class will be co-hosting a Pasta Party dinner at Immanuel on Saturday, April 24^th• Tickets will be on sale soon -- $8 for adults and $5 for children. As we are still in the early stages of planning, more details about the event will be posted in the next Visitor, and on the bulletin board in the narthex. If you have questions, or would like to volunteer to help or donate supplies/baked goods, please contact either
Linda Chandler   lchandleriucc@aol.com
Kathy Colunto  kathy.colunto@associationofhorizon.org

Aluminum Can Recycling

Thank you to everyone who is bringing in their aluminum cans!! Every little bit helps. Save the environment and contribute to the High School fundraising efforts. Drop off your aluminum in the can in our classroom, the tote in the West Hallway, OR if you have BIG bags, you can leave them on the East side of the building near the storage shed. PLEASE rinse and, if possible, crush them first — we are thrilled to recycle and put the money in our class fund! Thank you!

Continue to bring ONLY the following  recyclable items to church and deposit in our 'recycling center' in the west hallway. Every little bit helps our planet and our community!!

*Aluminum can also be left near the storage shed on the East side of the building or placed in the garbage cans inside the door of the high school classroom. Yes, we can take ANYTHING aluminum — baking pans, hubcaps, refrigerator drawers, foil, etc.... as long as it is all aluminum (magnet WILL NOT stick to it). Please do not put in with the aluminum cans — these items must be weighed separately and paid at a different rate.
 

THANKS AGAIN.