Matthew 25
“‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ “
Our Session has approved our becoming a Matthew 25 congregation. The Matthew 25 commitment is a partnership with the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to build congregational vitality, dismantle racism and all other “isms,” and eradicate poverty. This committed us to focus educational efforts and actions around three focus areas:
Building congregational vitality by challenging people and congregations to deepen their faith and get actively and joyfully engaged with their community and the world.
Dismantling structural racism by advocating and acting to break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color.
Eradicating systemic poverty by working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency more succinctly states: “The work of Matthew 25 is a direct response to the good news of Jesus and a faithful expression of what it means to be Christ’s disciples in this time and place.”
Learn more about the Matthew 25 vision here: bit.ly/3tXChWc
Since our decision to become a Matthew 25 congregation, we have raised awareness of this initiative by becoming more purposeful in our social witness outreach. Now, a Matthew 25 team is moving forward with ACTIONS – activities, relationships, advocacy, financial support, and continued education – to address the three focus areas of Matthew 25.
Upcoming Events
WEEKEND OF SERVICE – May 6-7, 2023
Our next Weekend of Service is coming soon! Activities will include preparing casseroles and sandwiches and collecting toiletries for Face to Face, collecting food for the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry food pantry, and working to repair and improve our food gardens.
Click HERE to see a flyer for this weekend.
As part of the upcoming Weekend of Service (May 6-7), the Social Witness Committee will be working with a new mission partner to assist homeowners in the Germantown area with necessary home repairs.
The mission of Urban Resources Development Corporation (URDC) is to help stabilize neighborhoods in Germantown, Mt. Airy, East/West Oak Lane, and surrounding communities by addressing the housing needs of seniors and low-income families through its Owner-Occupied Repair Program. We are organizing a volunteer group on Saturday, May 6 to take on home repair and improvement projects on site; repairs are usually indoor projects helping URDC clients with painting, demolition, drywall, and spackling. Water, gloves, masks, sanitizer, project supplies, and T-shirts are provided to volunteers, along with lunch.
We hope to have an information session with URDC Executive Director Joseph Waldo before our volunteer day. For more information now, their website is buildgermantown.org.
The volunteer day starts at PCCH at 8:00 and will end by 3:00pm. Youth and above ages are welcome; experience not necessary, but helpful! Contact Jeff Podraza (email jeffpodraza@gmail.com, text/call 267-254-8193) for more information or to volunteer. We are limited to 20 volunteers on this project, so sign up early!
Recent Events
DAY OF SERVICE – JANUARY 15, 2023
To recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend and to build on our Matthew 25 commitment, we will engage in several acts of service. After a shortened worship service we will move to the kitchen, Widener Hall and the reception room to begin our service projects. A light lunch will be provided. Click HERE to find out details. Click HERE to sign up to provide ingredients for casseroles or lunches to be prepared for Face to Face.
GERMANTOWN AVENUE CRISIS MINISTRY HOLIDAY BASKET PROJECT — THANK YOU!
Thanks to all who contributed food and financial support to the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry Thanksgiving basket drive, and to those PCCH members who volunteered their time. Over 100 baskets were given out to community members on Friday, November 18, with even more scheduled to be distributed on Monday, November 21. Eileen Jones, Executive Director of GACM, said “it was such a rewarding day receiving the gifts of generous food donors and volunteers – also seeing so many people helped!” Your contributions have great impact – thank you again!
DAY OF SERVICE – OCTOBER 16, 2022
Thank you to all who participated in our first Day of Service. We accomplished a lot…
- We made nearly 200 PB&J sandwiches for Face to Face, with lunch bags creatively decorated by our children and youth.
- We prepared 14 large pans of ziti casserole for Face to Face.
- We installed the Memorial to the Lost T-shirt exhibition in the front yard as a poignant reminder of murder victims in Philadelphia. Decorate lunch bags and cards for Face to Face (a great activity for children and families)
- We sorted coats and gloves for Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry. Collection of coats, scarves, and other warmth items for Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry’s Warmth Drive.
Dozens and dozens of you—from preschool to our most senior members—contributed your time and energy and love to help serve our neighbors, in the spirit of Matthew 25. And we had
fun doing so!
More events and initiatives are being planned by the Matthew 25 team – we welcome your suggestions and participation! Reach out to John Wilkinson (jwilkinson@chestnuthillpres.org) for more information.
