Central to Jesus' teachings in the Bible is the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.   At GPMC, that love for neighbor  takes many forms, including charitable gifts to other organizations, support of Christian missionaries around the globe, and volunteering with local outreach programs.  

Our 2010  budget dedicated approximately 13% of its expenditures to outreach and our 2011 budget now has 14% committed to outreach spending.   

Meanwhile, our Outreach Council is busy expanding outreach opportunities for  our members.  Click here to view the OUTREACH BROCHURE of upcoming activities in 2012!  We also  have a listing of our 2011 financial gifts to outreach agencies with which we either have direct member involvement or a past history of such involvement.  That list is available here.

• Donating clothes, school supplies, health and hygiene items for the villagers in San Francisco, Honduras.  January 1 -31, look for the blue box in the lobby.  For specific requests please click:  Requested Donations.

• Serving Food at Ecumenical Theological Seminary's Everyone Eats program on the 4th and 5th Wednesdays of each month (9:30am – 12:30pm)
  
  
• Serving food at Fort Street Presbyterian Church's Open Door program the 4th and 5th Thursdays of each month (8:00am – 12:00pm)
  
  
• Participating in a monthly Habitat for Humanity build on the 2nd Saturday of every month.

• Upcoming Monthly Opportunities:

• Crossroads Sunday Soup Kitchen.  Saturday, December 31.  Make and serve soup and sandwiches to the homeless and hungry.

• Shelter Week - Next fall.  Our "first annual"  was so successful, we plan to do it again in 2012.  Serve a meal, host an event, provide some food or a hygiene kit.  Many hands are needed as we host the homeless from Cass Community Services for a week.

In 2011, 29 disciples left Grosse Pointe left for one of two adult mission trips to Honduras.  We pray that we will develop a long-term relationship with Christians in Honduras.  To learn more about the last trip (2010), you can click here to see the slideshow from their trip.

Honduras 2012.  In February we are planning another trip.  Sixteen will travel to Copan, Honduras to build with the community there.  The group has been meeting this fall to learn more about the country, the work, the people and how we will help each other during this spirit-filled trip. Those on the trips will be seeking your prayers. We will also be seeking donations of clothing, school supplies, health and hygiene items in January.   

Katrina 2011. We have also been participating in the Hurricane Katrina Relief trips organized by the Presbytery of Detroit.   

Joplin 2012.  May 5 to May 13.  This is the first trip to Joplin, MO in response to the tornadoes of 2011.  The people of Joplin are repairing and building homes.  We are looking for skilled volunteers to do construction work.  

For more information about these national trips and other opportunities to serve through the Presbytery of Detroit, visit the Hands on Mission web page for the Presbytery.

We also collect a monthly "Hunger Offering," the total of which is matched by the Outreach Council up to $2,000. This offering assists primarily local agencies who work on hunger related causes.   Upcoming beneficiaries of our offering are:
         January -       Everyone Eats in Detroit
         February -     Lighthouse Outreach Center in Roseville.

International Mission

GPMC also supports international mission by praying for and contributing to the work of missionaries like John and Gwenda Fletcher in the Congo.  You can see a Power Point presentation and other information about the ministry in the Congo here.  Since this file is rather large, you can click here for a smaller PDF about some of their projects.

We also contribute to the mission of Tim and Gloria Wheeler in Honduras.  Gloria is a mission partner of the PC(USA) and coordinates study tours and mission team visits from the United States.  Tim works with Heifer International. The Wheelers also dedicate part of their time to evaluating proposals that come from Central America to the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People.

For more information about any of these outreach opportunities, please email Sue Acton at sacton@gpmchurch.org or call the church office (313) 882 5330.