Community Dinners

Every Wednesday Evening -  September - June, call 231-869-5900 for reservations. 

Take-out 4:30 to 5:00 pm
Dine-in 5:00 to 6:00 pm

Pentwater residents and people from surrounding communities are invited to enjoy our community dinner any Wednesday night. Come experience the culinary expertise of Chefs Elaine, Peggy, and their volunteer cooks. The meal is home-made and served restaurant-style and always ends with homemade desserts and good conversation.

All kinds of people attend - those who need a meal, those seeking some social contact, families wanting to "eat out", volunteers who help then eat, and even just looking for an evening activity. Everyone is welcome! There is no charge for the dinner. We operate on free-will offerings. Click here to volunteer to help cook, serve, or clean up.

Holiday Baskets

We provide food baskets for local families in need for the Thanksgiving Holiday and gifts for the children of these families for Christmas, along with a basket of food for Christmas dinner. Call the office at 231-869-5900 or email us pentwaterumc@gmail.com if you would like to sponsor a family meal or a child for the holidays.

Volunteer at Church

Provide Altar Flowers - There is a flower sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the lobby during Christmas and Easter if you wish to provide altar flowers. We always have opportunities for you to remember or honor a loved one during this time.

Be a Fellowship Hour Host - There is a Coffee Hour sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the lobby or you can click here to sign up for Fellowship Hour Host. Be a part of the Fellowship Fun after church by organizing coffee and pastries. Get to know others in the community, share a good story or anecdote, or comfort a neighbor.

Speak the Word - Liturgists are needed to read the Word on Sunday Mornings. Click here to sign up for Liturgist.  You don't have to be a Thespian to read the word to the people!

Children’s Time Leader. Lead the children of our congregation with a short biblical story during worship. Click here to sign up for Children’s Time Leader

Usher - Men and women, especially couples enjoy serving as Ushers during Worship. The job of ushering includes assistance with setting up for service; checking fluid levels in the candles, distributing bulletins, meet & greet, and collections. Click here to sign up for Usher.

  Outreach Activities

  We actively reach out to local, national, and world communities by supporting the following:

• Hart and Walkerville Food Pantries (Read More about Michigan Food Pantries)
  Thanksgiving & Christmas Basket Filling & Distribution

• Muskegon Rescue Mission (Read More)

• UM Conference Ministries

• Habitat for Humanity (Read More)

• Clark Retirement Community (Read More)

• Resurrection Funds

• Personal Energy Transportation (Providing appropriate mobility) (Read More)

• Feeding America (Fighting hunger in America) (Read More)

• UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief - relief supplies, housing, and support) (Read More)

• UMCOR Sager Brown Relief Supply Operations & Depot: Baldwin, LA (Read More)

• Mulungwishi Seminary - Congo (Read More)

• Elma Jocson - Missionary - Liberia (Read More)

Assistance Needed & Always Appreciated

In Oceana County – Our Community . . . With all of the talk about food baskets and local gift giving during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, there are still people in our county in dire need!. Kitty Tuinstra of Oceana’s Home Partners and the Housing Council provided these figures to the Men's Group to raise awareness and to increase support. The figures are recent and the needs are trending up as season employment runs its course and the economy struggles. In Our Oceana County . . .

• The percentage of families with children living below the poverty level = 24.5% (Michigan – 13.5%).

• The number of households living below poverty level = 1503.

• The percentage of individuals over 18 below poverty level = 17.2% (Michigan state is 10.5%).

• Fair Market Rent for 2 BR unit is $634/mo. This requires an income of $25,360/year or $12.19/hour.

• Household w/1 full time worker at min. wage spends 49% of gross mo. income renting a 2 BR unit.

• 47.8% of all renters in are cost-burdened (rent above 30% of their gross monthly income).

• The number of rental units that are affordable to families below the poverty line = 211.

• On any given night, about 26 families and 6 unaccompanied youth may be homeless.

• The typical homeless family is a 28 year old single female with 2 children.

• Most people become homeless due to events they cannot control: e.g. hour reducion, lay-offs, car repairs, medical bills, children's needs, etc.

What can you do to Help? Prayers + clothing, food, furniture donations, help with job searches or resume writing, coaching to develop skills, or networking to help others get employed. A talent you have may be needed. Contact Kitty Tuinstra of Oceana’s Home Partners and the Housing Council. Phone 231-873-2222 - 9 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday.

Community Support Groups