'Mission Saturday' At San Ramon Valley UMC

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo (SRVUMC) held a community-wide day of service and named it "Mission Saturday – The Church Has Left the Building."

"Planning for this day began in June and culminated with more than 200 volunteers sent out on that day to 15 various mission opportunities," reports Paul Kuelz, church Missions Council chair. "From ages 2 to 92, men and women, families and friends experienced a rich and rewarding day.
 
"Many plan on returning for future mission work," he says.
 
SRVUMC has four areas of focus: Worship, Small Groups, Children and Youth, and Service. Mission Saturday, a vision of SRVUMC pastor the Rev. Ron Dunn, was designed to include everyone and offer an opportunity for all. Projects included writing 400 postcards for Blue Star Moms; assembling 350 "to-go" meals for a local homeless respite; repacking more than 400 2-lb. bags of dog and cat food for the Contra Costa Humane Society's "AniMeals" food program; restoring trails on Mt. Diablo; and doing landscape work at local schools, shelters, and volunteer gardens – along with many more projects involving local needs. 
 
"I have always found mission work and volunteering very fulfilling," Kuelz says. "As the leader of the Mission Council at SRVUMC, I especially enjoy seeing the children and youth of the church getting involved with mission work."
 
Kuelz adds, "One of our goals is to make this 'day of service' a way of service. As a follow-up to this annual event, we will be scheduling one or two monthly mission opportunities for church members to reach out and help locally.
 
"We want to keep the fires burning."
 
Editor's Note: On Dec. 6, 2011, the town of Danville, California recognized SRVUMC at a Community Service Award program, for its contributions to the community on that Mission Saturday.