The spirit of outreach and volunteerism at Orange Church is always prevalent. We offer many opportunities to volunteer within the church, within the community, and around the world. Orange UMC exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ by Welcoming, Proclaiming, Encouraging, Nurturing, Serving, and Sending. Join us in fulfilling that mission!
Music Ministry | Prayer Groups | Prison Ministry | Small Groups | Support Groups | Youth Ministry
Volunteer Ministries That You Can Join Right Here, Right Now
Jesus said:"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9: 37 - 38
ADULT EDUCATION MINISTRY
Teachers & Substitutes for Adult Sunday School Classes – Classes vary from prepared lesson manuals to less formal discussion groups. Expert familiarity with the Bible is not a prerequisite for attendees, just a thirst for knowledge and how lessons apply to one's life. Adult classes held at 9:00 and 10:00 AM on Sunday mornings. Email the Church Office for more information on locations and current topics.
Teachers/Leaders of Adult Bible Studies< – Classes vary in format, but often include DVDs and workbooks to use as a guide. Bible Studies are often held on Sunday afternoons, midday Wednesdays, or weekday evenings. Email the Church Office for more information.
Top of pageCHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Acolytes – Need 4th – 6th grade boys and girls on a weekly basis to serve as Acolytes at the 11:00 AM Sunday service. Acolytes also may be needed for special holiday services. Email Rhonda Cheek for more information.
Sonbeams – Ages 3 to 5, meet from 10:00 to 10:30 Sunday mornings in room across from the nursery in the hallway leading over to the Sanctuary. These young singers get a chance to sing twice yearly at worship services. No talent required. No auditions. Email Pam Caswell or Terry Law for more information.
Teaching or Assisting in Children's Sunday School – Working with children ages 5-11 from 10:00am-11:00am on Sunday mornings. Teacher-ready curriculum. You may choose monthly, biweekly or weekly basis. Email Diana Backus to get started!
The Zone – This Children's Drama program meets from 9:00am-10:00am Sunday mornings downstairs in the Bethany Room. They need help with props, staging, tech support, programs, and food for rehearsals. Email Jodi Lopeman to volunteer.
Vacation Bible School – One week, mid-June from 9am-12pm. We need crew leaders for different age levels and volunteers for all sites - food, crafts, games, etc! Please email Meg Alverson for more information.
Methodist Camp Representative – This person stays in contact with the camps, helps to set up camp trips and advertise. Email Diana Backus to help with this ministry.
Childcare Providers – We need childcare providers who are willing to donate their time for special occasions at the church like weddings, funerals, etc. that will take place at OUMC. Please email Meg Alverson for information.
CHURCH-WIDE
Hospitality Team – No previous experience required!!! Here is your opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and be the "smiling Face of OUMC". At least 30 volunteers are needed on a rotating basis to serve as greeters, snack distributors, parking lot attendants, etc. two Sundays per month – for the 8:00, 9:00 or 11:00 worship service or all three if you would like - we would love to have you! It's easy and fun plus we will work with you. For more information, email the Church office.
Newsletter – "The Orange Pages" - OUMC's website newsletter, occasionally printed for U.S. Post Office delivery Welcoming Ministries isn't only the "face of OUMC" on Sunday mornings. We need you to help produce the newsletter that will reach out to our community and let them know we are a vibrant, warm, wonderful place to worship and that we are a "family" church which welcomes all who are searching for a church home. Volunteers are needed to write articles, interview activity participants and write about their experiences. Please email Laura Melega in the church office.
Arranging Altars for Worship – Provide help in setting up for communion or provide flowers for the altar. Altar flowers can be given in dedication to or in memory of family members, for a special celebration, or other occasions. A sign-up for flowers is available outside the church office. Email Patricia Davis for information.
Harvest Festival – A Half-Day fall event where everyone can participate. Activities include a yard sale, auction, breakfast, lunch, baked goods, crafts, children's games, and all associated preparation and cleanup. Typically over 300 people attend at one time or another between 7 a.m. and the conclusion right after lunch. Leaders of each event invite helpers through sign-up boards and phone calls. Proceeds are often used both for missions and for church facilities which support our missions. Contact announced leaders or the Church Office.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Neighbor 2 Neighbor (N2N) – Teams of volunteers from the church family have joined together to visit our neighbors next to the church in the mobile home park, often taking small gifts donated by the church family to help out the households! In a year and a half of regular visits a number of relationships have developed; assistance has been provided; prayers have been shared; and joy has been abundant. Our neighbors look forward to the visits (especially the children). The visits have been on Sunday afternoons, initially weekly, but have evolved to 1 or 2 times per month. Neighbors have visited (and even joined) the church; children have participated in Vacation Bible School; Easter egg hunts and some other programs. This program is a wonderful way to share the love of Christ and to welcome the community to our church. Many of our committed N2N volunteers have moved away or had other changes in their lives that have left us in need of more/new volunteers to join in! Requirements: a smile; a warm heart - and some knowledge of Spanish is helpful but not at all required. Email Sandy Lange for more information.
Project Homestart – a facility for the Orange County Women and Children's Homeless Shelter on Homestead Road, very close to OUMC. Orange has supplied the 6:00 PM Friday meal for Homestart for over 5 years. Volunteers may contribute a main dish, side dishes or a dessert for 14 adult servings. (Karen Cranfill has many ideas to make this painless but very fulfilling!) Food may be dropped off ahead of time (with cooking directions) and cooked on the premises, or delivered ready to serve. You may also stay to help serve if you'd like to be blessed! Email Karen Cranfill to volunteer.
Interfaith Council Dinners for Homeless - Meals are served to 65-85 people on the first Thursday of each month at the IFC on Martin Luther King and Rosemary in Chapel Hill. Many churches take their turns at preparing and serving these meals and Orange has been committed to the first Thursday of the month slot for many years. We need people to bring home prepared or ready-to-serve bought foods to the church late afternoon on our Thursday. We also need 4-5 volunteers to help serve the food (over the age of 16) at the IFC at 6:15 PM. Email Liz Moore for more information.
Adopt-a-Highway – Four times each year, help pickup and bag litter along Homestead Road from just west of the church to the Old 86 intersection (known as Calvander. Email John Landreth for more information.
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor (ZOE) Mission Trips–In 2008, 2009, and 2010, OUMC sent medical teams to Africa, sponsored by ZOE Ministry. These teams included medical and non-medical personnel. The team set up clinics in rural and urban areas to provide care for children who have been orphaned by the AIDS pandemic. The teams visited Zambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe; three countries that have been positively touched by ZOE ministry. Supporters who do not travel help at home by praying for the team, fundraising, packing, and other logistical preparation activities. Visit our ZOE Mission page to find out more and read the travel blogs of our participants. Email Teresa Nuttall for more information or go to www.zoeministry.org.
Operation Christmas Child - Operation Christmas Child delivers shoe boxes that have been prayerfully, lovingly, and generously filled with gifts for hurting children at Christmas time. Please consider being a part of this very important mission to bring joy and hope to children around the world. This mission is sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. If you have any questions or would like to help with this project, please email Diana Backus, Children's Ministries DIrector or visit the Samaritan’s Purse -Operation Christmas Child website: www.samaritanspurse.org.
MUSIC MINISTRY
The OUMC Music Ministries is filled with opportunities for every skill level! If you are interested in any of the music ministries, please contact John Drymon.
Chancel Choir - Practices on Wednesdays from 7:30pm until 9:00pm. Sing anthems for most 11:00am services, and provide special music services for Easter and Christmas. All voices are welcome! Childcare is provided for Wednesday evening practices.
Pathways Musicians/ Singers - If you are proficient on bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, keyboards or background vocals, you are invited to share your gifts for the 9:00am Pathways contemporary worship service. Practices are on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm (with occasional Tuesday evening practice), and Sunday morning at 8:00am.
Orange Pealers - Orange's hand bell choir practices August through May each year on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary. We play primarily at the 11am service. but hope to expand our outreach. Ability to read music is not required and all ages are welcome to join.
Youth Choir - Youth in 6th - 12th grades are welcome to come practice Sunday afternoons, beginning at 3:00pm. The goal is to share their gifts at the Sunday services from time to time.
Youth Handbell Choir - Youth in grades 4-12 can learn to play two bells in this choir. No previous experience or knowing how to read music is required. Practices will be in the Sanctuary on Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
Jewel Tones - A women’s choral group that loves to sing a variety of gospel contemporary music. For practice information, please contact Debbie Pence.
Tech Crew & Prop Crew- Run the sound board and work
the overhead projection (computer).
and work on props and stage sets for Sundays and special events.
PRAYER GROUPS
Wednesday Morning Prayer Group - Meet in Parlor at 11:00 AM September – May and at 12:00 PM June – August to pray for the members of the church congregation, families of church members with special needs, the community, nation, and world. Contact Jean Barr for more information.
Prayer Shawl Ministry – Need volunteers to knit or crochet shawls that will be prayed over and given to people in need or who are grieving throughout the church, state and country. Instructions provided. Contact Virginia Andrews to get started.
Email Intercessory Prayer Group - To be a part of this ministry all you have to do is provide the church office with your e-mail address, and they will add you to the team. You will then receive prayer requests from the office via your email once or twice a week. Contact the Church office to sign up.
PRISON MINISTRY
One Day With God Camp (Annual) - At the camp, usually held on a Saturday at Orange UMC, inmate parents and their child participate in a series of spiritually based events with the aim of building their relationship as a family and their relationship with God to promote healing and reconciliation. As many as 150 volunteers are needed for everything from baking cakes, to serving food, making crafts, playing games, taking pictures and mentoring the parents, children and their caregivers. No experience is needed! There will be training for volunteers on rules and procedures for the day as well as their individual roles. In past years the camp has been held in August. Contact Mary Anne or Wayne Vanderburg for more information.
Fabulous Fathers (Monthly)- This program is a follow-up to the One Day With God Camp but volunteers need not have attended a camp. Volunteers meet once each month (currently the last Friday of the month from 7-9 p.m.) for two hours with inmate fathers at Orange Correctional Center to encourage them as parents and Christians. No experience required but volunteers must apply to the prison for permission to serve. Contact Mary Anne or Wayne Vanderburg for more information.
Sunday evening worship service (7:30 – 9:00) with inmates at Orange Correctional Institution in south Hillsborough. Join in enthusiastic singing with the men, hear Christian witness testimonies such as you likely have not, greet and encourage the men in their faith walk, hear a brief devotional talk, and enjoy fellowship with refreshments. Orange UMC leads the worship once every 2 or 3 months. If you cannot or don’t wish to visit, providing snacks (e.g. cookies or soft drinks) is a way that you can help. Each visit is announced ahead of time in our worship bulletin. Visitors must be at least 16 and must apply for and obtain a “blue card” identification after their first visit. Those wishing to go must notify Eric Hallfors in advance, 5 to 7 days preferred. He must provide a list in advance.
Men - become a Sponsor for an inmate at Orange Correctional. Sponsors are permitted to take an inmate away from the institution for activities, for periods up to 6 hours at a time. Going to church worship, to a Bible study, to somewhere for a meal, attending a community or church function – each is an example of what sponsors can do. It’s an important part of preparing these men for a positive and successful reentry in the future. Sponsors receive special orientation and training and must be screened by a background check. Men who are interested should contact Chaplain Ken Barker at Orange Correctional.
Join a Faith Team for an inmate at Orange Correctional. The faith team works as a group with one man who is close to his date for release, usually starting 12 to 18 months ahead of time. The team escorts the man to church often. Once a month, the team meets with him to prepare him to leave prison and assist with planning for that transition. That involves helping him prepare a resume, plan to get a driver’s license, and/or locate housing and transportation for after his release. Contact Eric Hallfors to be involved. The Fabulous Fathers group is one way to get prepared to join a Faith Team.
Attend Yokefellows fellowship at Orange Correctional. This group meets on Tuesdays for a time of socializing and getting acquainted. Though not a worship service, there is some time at each gathering for prayer. On average, about 50 inmates come to these times of fellowship. Volunteers will require a “blue card” after the initial visit. Contact Chaplain Ken Barker at Orange Correctional.
SMALL GROUPS
Young Adult Ministries: A “no pressure” group for young people, ranging from college students to the workforce, designed to be a network for growth of relationships and of a relationship with Christ. It features a bible study on Thursday evenings at 7:30 in the Youth Suite (lower level below Fellowship Hall), various social events, and service opportunities including cleaning up Homestead Road with the Adopt-A-Highway program, and preparing meals for Project Homestart. This group frequently goes together out to lunch for fellowship on Sundays. Contact Bob Johnsen or Patrick Jones.
Growing with God: This small group meets in SW Durham twice monthly. They study a wide variety of biblical curriculum, usually focusing on ways to put faith into action. Kids are welcome and once a month, the group has a potluck dinner. They meet the 2nd Thursday of the month from 7pm-8:30pm and the 4th Friday of the month from 6:00pm-8:30pm. Contact Barbara Greenlee to get started.
Dinners for Eight - Groups of eight people enjoy dinner and fellowship monthly, with hosting responsibilties rotating between the group members. You'll be paired with some people you know and others you don't, so this is a great way to meet new people in the church, plus enjoy some delicious home-cooked food! Contact Beth Massie to sign-up.
Fabulous Families - Join us for a potluck dinner and a family bible study with activities to teach parents and children while you work together as a family. They meet every 6-7 weeks, and the format is family-centered and fun! Please have your family join us! They meet in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Laura Melega at 883-1965 for more information.
Game Night - Every other month, join us for adult and children's games in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite game or join in with others! If you love games, or just want to meet new people in the church, join us for Game Night. Bring your favorite dessert to share. Childcare provided for children 0-5 years. Contact Judy McCurdy with any questions or to sign-up.
OUMC Softball – Fun softball games versus area churches Games are held on Sunday afternoons, June through August. Practices are limited to one or two before the season starts. Contact Dave Backus to join the team!
SUPPORT GROUPS
Stephen Ministry - one on one, same gender, Christian care giving. Stephen Ministers receive 50 hours of care giving training before commissioning. If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact Ginny Kendell for more information. If you would like a Stephen Minister to talk to, please contact Jo Sylvester.
Hospital Visitation - We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in visiting people in our congregation who are hospitalized or in a nursing home. We visits hospitals in Chapel Hill and Durham, and visits usually would last only 20 or 30 min. If you are interested in participating in this ministry please contact Jo Sylvester.
Caring Cooks - We have a group of volunteers, who when called upon, will prepare and deliver meals to individuals and families who have special needs such as an illness, new baby or death in the family. These volunteers also assist with receptions after a funeral. If you would like to add your name to the list of Caring Cooks, contact Mickey Rogerson.
DivorceCare - DivorceCare is a Christian program tha is part seminar/part support group that contains practical information that is Biblical and from a Christ-centered perspective. Each class focuses on a different topic covering areas such as anger, depression, coping, sex, financial and the divorce impact upon children. If you would like to join the group or volunteer as a group leader, please contact Gary Bernier.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School and Middle School Youth Group Leaders - Loving, discipling, teaching, praying and building relationships with Youth in and outside of the Orange Youth Ministry. Middle School youth group meets Sundays from 4:30pm-6:30pm and High School meets on Sundays from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Email Jennings Berry, Youth Director, to learn how you anhelp the youth of OUMC know Christ and grow in their faith.
Youth Sunday School - Teaching and discipling needed for Youth Sunday School from 10am-11am each Sunday. You can also participate inmission, retreat, service and local trips.
Check out the Youth website at www.oumcyouth.com for more opportunities to work with the Youth Program at OUMC.
