Taking care of folks in an emergency is a powerful way to show Christ’s love.  If you missed the Red Cross Shelter Operations training in June, or would like a refresher, Oak Grove Baptist Church will be hosting a training on Saturday, November 13th from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There is no charge for this training and lunch will be provided.

In case of an emergency, both Salem UMC and Oak Grove Baptist would likely be called upon to be shelters, so it makes sense to work together and get acquainted beforehand.

Since a meal will be provided, Oak Grove has asked that we let them know how many from Salem UMC will be attending.  Please contact Dixie Norfleet at 729-4551 by November 5th (or earlier!).

Phelps County Regional Medical Center will offer a Safe Sitter class for boys and girls ages 11 to 15 on Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Education Classrooms.   The Safe Sitter program is a medically accurate program that teaches young adolescents how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children. Thousands of young adolescents across the country have been trained by Safe Sitter instructors to handle life-threatening emergencies. During the course, students get hands-on practice in basic lifesaving techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis.

Safe Sitters also receive helpful tips to make them more confident caregivers. They learn safety precautions, how to handle children of different ages, and even the business of babysitting. To successfully complete the Safe Sitter program, students must pass rigorous practical and written test to show they have mastered the key concepts and have the skills necessary to handle an emergency.

The cost for the class is $50. To register your son or daughter or your child’s babysitter, call 573-458-7692 before July 30.

The next shelter planning meeting will be at Salem UMC at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.  This is extremely important, since we need to be prepared for winter, which will arrive all too soon!

Please plan to attend – you make a difference!  Contact Dixie (programs@salemmoumc.com) if you have any questions.

The Salem UMC writing class will resume meetings on the first Tuesday in September (1st) at 5:15pm.

Anyone with a flair for and/or love of writing is invited to attend.  This is a very informal (and congenial) group that meets twice per month and each member prepares a writing based on an assigned topic.  Sometimes we’re serious, sometimes funny, at other times sentimental… or philosophical… or nostalgic… or inventive.

This is a fun way to learn how to express your thoughts without fear of criticism or embarrassment.  Come on in – YOU’LL LOVE IT!

ATTENTION CARING ADULTS! We need volunteers to become Safe Sanctuaries certified.  Our youth ministries are rapidly growing and to accommodate that growth, particularly for mission activities, we need adult helpers that are trained and certified.  The more get trained, the more options we’ll have.

You can now get trained and certified on-line! Click here for more information (please!) Please prayerfully consider this ministry.

What is Safe Sanctuaries?
The Safe Sanctuaries program is a process developed to train and certify persons as safe workers with children and youth in Missouri Conference ministries. The policies were adopted in 1999, in response to God’s call to welcome all children and to protect them from the devastating effects of child abuse.