Our Mission Outreach
MIssions are an essential part of our church throughout the year. Our outreach includes a blessing box by the southwest corner of our church, a weekly community breakfast, hosting quarterly blood drives at our church, and holding an annual Christmas party at Butler High Rise. We have worked with a group of other churches in southern Illinois to support long term missions in a couple of towns in Ecuador which include building houses in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International.
Many of these activities are organized by our Mission Committee. They also organizes the collection of four special offerings for the United Church of Christ throughout the year: One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen The Church, Neighbors in Need and the Christmas Fund. Please contact us if have any questions or you'd like to help or contribute - church membership is not a requirement. Ministries we regularly support include the following: |
Marion Ministerial Alliance
The Marion Ministerial Alliance is an association of christian churches and faith-based organization in the Marion area. They provide assistance to those in our community suffering financial hardship and operate a soup kitchen and food pantry.
Zion is a major contributor to their food pantry, with weekly donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, cleaning supplies and paper goods. Church member also cook in the soup kitchen in Marion on a regular basis. How to HelpIf you'd like to donate to the food pantry, drop box is conveniently located just inside our main entrance. For the soup kitchen, look for the sign up sheets in the bell tower, and join us the next time we serve there. If you'd like to make a monetary donation, you can mail or drop off a donation at their office at 103 Calvert Street or as a special offering.
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Lighthouse Shelter
The Lighthouse Shelter in Marion, IL is a faith based organization dedicated to helping the homeless in Southern Illinois.
Zion members provide the Sunday meal on the second Sunday of every month. How to Help
Look for the signup sheets in the bell tower to help prepare a meal for Lighthouse Shelter. Also, we collect donations in the lighthouse donation box at the back of the sanctuary weekly.
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Kindercottage
Kindercottage it a not-for-profit daycare center in East St. Louis, IL, providing services to children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, and to their families. They have a constant need for funding, as neither donations or state funding are as reliable as they once were.
Zion does many fundraisers for Kindercottage. How to Help
Participate in one of our fundraisers throughout the year, make a special donation directed to Kindercottage in the offering plate, or make a donation directly through their website by clicking the title above this section, then clicking the "Directors" tab on their site.
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Boyton Street CenterBoyton Street Center provides an after school program Monday through Thursday for kids that includes nutritious meals, tutoring, homework time, crafts and developmental skills in a safe environment.
Zion has supported Boyton Street with tutors, school supplies and Christmas gifts for some of their youth. Pastor John serves on Boyton Street Center Board. How To Help
Be a tutor for a day in the after school program, participate in on of their collection drives, or just make a donation.
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