Missions

We believe that the life of Jesus and the witness of the Bible call Christians to serve the poor, the powerless and the vulnerable. We at Lake Washington UMC respond to this call in a number of ways.

At least once a year, a team of members, both youth and adults, participate in a one-week mission trip to serve those in need. In 2006, we sent teams to Biloxi, MS and New Orleans, LA to help with clean up and rebuilding after the damages wrought by Hurricane Katrina. In 2007 a team went to Twinlow Camp and Retreat Center in Idaho to take part in the Pacific Northwest Cross Connection (PNCC) serving people in need in the larger community of Rathdrum. In 2008 teams spent several weekends in the Chehalis/Centralia flood areas helping with the clean-up. 2009 saw trips to both the Yakima Indian Reservation and Puerto Rico and a team returned to Yakima in 2010. In past years, groups have gone to Mexico, Kentucky, and California. Individual members have joined Volunteers-in-Mission (VIM) teams to work in Haiti, Alaska, Kentucky and the Philippines

The Children's Sunday School offerings sponsor a child in Haiti and our children also raise money for UNICEF and Heifer International.

On an ongoing basis, we support these local programs with our time, energy and financial resources:

• Kirkland Interfaith Network (KIN), a group of 9 faith-based communities that have been working together for over 20 years to serve the poor.  Every year, KIN organizes a Back to School program, the Kirkland CROP walk, and the KIN Holiday Fair.
• Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH), provides transitional and low-cost housing, case management, tutoring and a weekly Community Supper.
• Mary Magdalene, a day center for homeless and formerly homeless women in Seattle.
• Congregations for the Homeless, a shelter for homeless men provided by a network of host churches and their supporting congregations.
• Hopelink and Emergency Feeding Programs distribute the food we gather monthly
• Christmas Families receive special gifts and holiday foods
• Woman's Day Center in Bellevue, this program provides a hot meal, shower, and laundry facilities, computers, and counselors to help the woman survive and get them on their feet

In 2005 and 2010, our congregation hosted Tent City 4, a temporary encampment for homeless men and women. We continue our involvement with Tent City 4 and its sponsoring organization, SHARE/WHEEL. Click here for more information about Tent City 4 and homelessness.