Alcoholics Anonymous. We host two AA groups for overcoming alcohol addictions on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30 p.m. There are meetings 7 days a week in Byron and Discovery Bay. There is also local help for other forms of addiction.
Recycling Ministry. We are collect plastic and glass bottles with CRV/CA redemption, and cans to recycle. Drop them off at our recycling center. Proceeds go towards Youth activites and scholarships.
Once a month, normally on the last Sunday of the month, we take our Pennies from Heaven offertory in which the congregation is invited to empty their pockets of their loose change. The proceeeds of this also go towards Youth activites and scholarships, and to other projects as announced.
The United Methodist Church nationally is a part of the Imagine No Malaria initiative. Unlike many other diseases that are awaiting a cure, malaria was eliminated in the U.S. in the 1950’s. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to kill a person every 60 seconds. But there is hope! Imagine No Malaria is part of a global partnership so that together with our partners our generation can beat malaria once and for all. Byron UMC financially supports Imagine No Malaria.
CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by religious groups, businesses, schools and others to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. Currently, well over 2,000 communities across the U.S. join in more than 1,600 CROP Hunger Walks each year. More than five million CROP Hunger Walkers have participated in more than 36,000 CROP Hunger Walks in the last two decades alone. In April 2013, members from Byron UMC joined with Brentwood Community UMC and walked in the inaugural Far East Contra Costa County CROP Walk. Beneficaries from the Walk were Church World Service, Delta Community Christian Food Pantry and H.O.P.E. House in Brentwood, and over $6800 was raised.
Change the World Day. Once a year, United Methodists across the country go out of their churches and into their communities for a day of service, working together to build community and address social issues ranging from hunger to housing, healthcare, education, and deaths from malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. Change the World is now in its fourth year of bringing United Methodists together to make a global impact on one weekend. In 2102, United Methodists completed world-changing projects in more than 1,500 locations worldwide. On May 18, 2013, members and friends of Byron UMC went and assisted in the homes of Delta Christian Community Food Pantry recipients doing yard work and painting jobs for those no longer physically able to do this themselves. If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito. – African Proverb.
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church created six unique Special Sundays to help congregations work with communities, rebuild shattered lives, strengthen self-sufficiency, encourage partnerships, nurture Native American ministries, model peace and justice, provide scholarships and loans for United Methodist students, and much more. One these Sundays a special offering is taken that prepares students to become leaders for the church and the world; empowers the poor and victimized to live fuller lives through self-improvement programs; advocates and challenges injustice and pays administrative cost for disaster relief.
Human Relations Day
One Great Hour of Sharing
Native American Ministries
Peace with Justice Sunday
World Communion Sunday
United Methodist Student Day
More on Churchwide Special Sundays
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, UMCOR transforms and strengthens people and communities. Compelled by Christ to be a voice of conscience on behalf of the people called Methodist, UMCOR works globally to alleviate human suffering and advance hope and healing. UMCOR’s work reaches people in more than 80 countries, including the United States. They provide humanitarian relief when war, conflict, or natural disaster disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own. Believing that all people have God-given worth and dignity. UMCOR assists the most vulnerable persons affected by crisis or chronic need without regard to their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
Members of Byron UMC support UMCOR’s work by giving to special appeals in times of disaster. Byron United Methodist Women also collect items for UMCOR’s relief supply kits.