Hunger Relief Rice Project

A couple times a year we pack rice bags that are sent all over the world to help relieve hunger.  See this webpage for more details, and how to get involved in this fun and worthwhile project.

Caps to Benches Project

We are collecting clean plastic caps for this project.  The plastic caps are submitted and turned into benches.  Acceptable plastic caps include: drink bottle caps, water bottle caps, medicine bottle caps, actual prescription bottles and caps (labels must be removed), milk jug caps, yogurt lids, cottage cheese lids, coffee can lids, and any plastic cap/lid with a recycle number of 2, 4, or 5.

Adopt a Senior

The Social Concerns Team has become aware of a need in our church of visiting folks who can no longer come to Wesley Church because of immobility or lack of transportation. Many of these “seniors” would like to be visited. We have a list of such persons and would like volunteers to once a month, take ½ hour of your time to visit, read, write a letter, etc. We have a list of suggestions for you. Just a friendly face from someone from our church lets them know that just because they aren't here in body, they are not forgotten. You may not be able to volunteer for Streaming Waters but you can sign up to visit at least one of our “seniors”. You might even have someone to add to our list. If you have questions please contact the office or Marcia Moulden 309-255-3275.

Social Concerns Team

The Social Concerns Team at Wesley Church is an ongoing committee that organizes various ways that we can be involved in helping people and making our world better. These are frequently short-term activities.

Examples of Social Concerns activities include:

• Angel Tree at Christmastime,
• Summer lunch programs,
• School supplies for Lincoln School teachers,
• Thanksgiving food baskets,
• Distributing reusable (cloth) shopping bags,
• Flood buckets.

See our announcements (front page or here)  to see if there is a Social Concerns activity going on presently.

Social Concern activities may vary from year to year. Our team prayerfully seeks to discern the needs of our community and world and find ways we can make a positive difference.

If you have ideas for Social Concern activities, please share them with our Social Concerns Team, the committee chair, or the church office.

In addition, other groups (such as the Sunday School classes, Missions Team, United Women in Faith, Youth Group) engage in service and mission activities.

From the United Methodist Church

Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion.

See also:

• Social Principles & Social Creed
• Church & Society

A Few Recent Activities

Thanksgiving Baskets

The Social Concerns Team assembled 27 Thanksgiving baskets and delivered them in November 2022.  Thank you to everyone who contributed.

United Way Sack Lunches

The Social Concerns Team and members of Wesley Church helped with the United Way Sack Lunches.  The work was done at Hy-Vee on the second floor. We've done this multiple summers and need at least 10 people to help the assembly line go smoothly.  Contact: Marcia Moulden.

Genesis Garden Summer Meal Program

The Social Concerns Team would also like help with: Help serve meals to young children at Lincoln School or the First Presbyterian Church.  Just help on days you can. The food is prepared. You merely serve the children with a smile. They need a lot of help, serving around 100 children daily. Contact: Marcia Moulden.