april, 2024
Event Details
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM PDT
Location: Union Rescue Mission Hope Gardens (12249 Lopez Canyon Rd, Sylmar, CA 91342)
Cost: $29 (including T-shirt, lunch, certificate, & pin)
This event is sponsored and hosted by Cal-Pac Lay Servant Ministries, Cal-Pac Camping & Retreat Ministries, Cal-Pac Urban Kids Camp, Sherman Oaks UMC, Knollwood UMC, and Crenshaw UMC.
“A Day of Hope” @ Hope Gardens is a one-day Mission-Service Project focused on fun, fellowship, outreach, encouragement, and hope in the North District. It is a partnership event between UM churches and Ministries committed to making a difference in our communities and a effort to prepare the young people at Hope Gardens for their summer camp season and future lives.
Hope Gardens is a beautiful residential ministries in the foothills of Sylmar, CA, created by Union Rescue Mission to serve women and their children who have been impacted by domestic violence and homelessness.
Ways to serve:
- Have fun as you get to know the families at Hope Gardens and folks from other UM churches. (Just practice the Ministry of Presence.)
- Play challenge & group building games like archery, low ropes course, laser tag, gaga ball pit, play in the jump house, nerf tournament, face painting, giant jenge & connect four games. (Play!)
- Camp Wrightwood staff and Cal-Pac Camp & Retreat Ministries staff will bring and run a gigantic inflatable obstacle course for everyone.
- We will have a Silent Dance Party! (Dance!)
- We will have a Worship, a DJ, and top notch Youth/Young Adult speakers to encourage and challenge all the young people present to reach for their dreams and renew their hope.
- Share your testimonies/stories or be a part of our joint church praise team. (Share)
- We will have face painting and a cool craft opportunity to commemorate this outreach.
- We will enjoy a pizza lunch and treats like cotton candy machine, fresh popped popcorn, shaved ice. (Break bread together.)
Who can participate:
- everyone of any age who would like to take part (but there is a brief safety screening process)
- Youth, Young People, & Young Adults
- people with a heart for service
- people wanting to make a difference
- people passionate about offering hope
What you will receive by registering for this event:
- a Cal-Pac North District Mission Service Project Outreach T-shirt
- a feeling that you’re making a difference knowing you are serving and encouraging those less fortunate than yourself
- a Certificate of Participation and community service credit
- a lot of fun!
- growing your network of friends as you get to know Hope Garden families and your fellow UM friends from other church fellowships
- a Mission-Service gift pin to commemorate your service
Attn: Lay Servants! 
- Your required participation in this outreach will serve as 4 hours of the 10 contact hours needed for the new Advanced LSM Course “GOD’s Mission… Our Journey.”
How your church or organization help further:
- Besides your presence, we are encouraging churches to donate camping supplies to help the young people at Hope Gardens to be prepared for upcoming summer camp experiences. Here is a sample list of what you might donate:
- medium/large-size duffle bags
- sleeping bags
- flashlights & batteries
- hypo-allergenic sunscreen lotion
- bug repellant spray
- aluminum water bottles
- pool towels, hand towels, wash cloths
- gift card to a sporting goods store, Wal-Mart
- travel Bibles
- You can give an extra monetary gift for this event and camping supplies for the Hope Garden’s young people:
- Click the following link and select the “Hope Gardens Gift” option: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1309144
- Call Jean Castro at Sherman Oaks UMC with your debit/credit card info at 818.789.0351
- Mail a check to 14401 Dickens St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 – payable to “SOUMC” with “Hope Gardens Gift” in the memo
Join us!
For questions, contact:
- email or call Jean Castro, Registrar at Sherman Oaks UMC, at 818.789.0351 or soumc@sbcglobal.net
- email or text Feni Obi, SOUMC Outreach Area Team Leader, at 818.277.5228 or feniobi@aol.com
- email or text Pastor Garth Gilliam at 818.429.8843 or garthgilliam@gmail.com