Outreach programs with our church include:

Every Monday Thrift Shop – our Fellowship hall is converted to a Thrift Shop every Monday. Members of the community come to find great deals on clothes, smallwares, books and shoes. All the money raised supports children and families in the area.

Church Family Assistance - An outreach program to our own church family in need of temporary financial assistance.

Christmas Day Luncheon
We open our church to the community on Christmas day. We hold a Christmas day luncheon, providing a hot meal, friendly atmosphere and small gifts for all who attend.

Mitten Tree - We set a Mitten Tree in the steeple entry to the church each December. We fill the tree with handmade and purchased hats, mittens, slippers, socks, scarves and men’s gloves. These are given to people in our community who are in need of warm clothing

Alternative Givings Every Christmas, we offer a variety of mission projects as options for alternative Christmas gifts. We are also providing special gift cards to give to those honored with the donations.

Social Awareness Studies

We offer a series of presentation-discussion programs throughout the year on social awareness issues to increase our knowledge of the topics covered and to motivate individuals to become more involved.

Advance for Jesus Christ (UMCOR projects) – The Advance for Christ and His church is an official United Methodist program for voluntary giving. Through the Advance one can choose to support particular approved mission programs or personnel with their financial gifts with that specific dollar amount going to specific causes. We support several Advances throughout the year, increasing awareness with bulletin Board displays and articles in our CHIMES.

Volunteer in Mission (VIM)

The Volunteer in Mission (VIM) Program of the United Methodist Church serves where there is a need within the USA and throughout the world. Local church members have traveled to Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, Nicaragua, Bosnia, Hungary, and Mozambique. Those who cannot travel support the projects through financial donations, putting together Medicine Boxes, Sewing Kits, and School Kits, and many prayers.

We sponsor local mission projects as well, extending outreach to our community and neighboring United Methodist Churches. We bring materials and people power to area churches to improve their church building (inside and outside painting, retiling floors, fixing plaster, etc.) All of these efforts are a great way to meet people while giving a helping hand.

Presentations by the volunteers on the places visited and projects completed are part of our awareness program.

Special Askings

We also offer many opportunities to give through Sunday askings. These askings have no set dollar amount to be reached. What we give as a congregation beyond what has been pledged is an indication of our growing understanding of our blessings, which we can share with those in need. These askings are a combination of the six Special Sundays of the United Methodist Church and special projects we have chosen

Locally we support several community organizations:

Burlington Emergency Shelter – This shelter provides support to this interdenominational Christian resource reaching out to those in need of recovery programs and in search of new beginnings

Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf, was established to meet the needs of hungry neighbors throughout Chittenden County. It offers a food shelf program, a Hot Meals Program, and a Homebound Grocery Delivery Program. We have a large basket in our Narthex to collect donations delivered to the Food Shelf monthly

COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter), provides services and shelter to poor and homeless Vermonters. We participate in the COTSWalk held each May, raising money to support COTS

CROPWALK, raises money for world hunger. 25% stays locally and 75% supports national and international emergency assistance and developmental programs. The CROPWALK takes place in Burlington in October.

Habitat for Humanity, - This organization works locally and globally to provide materials and build homes for those who could not otherwise afford a decent house. Houses are built or refurbished for people who do not qualify for conventional bank loans. Most labor is done by volunteers and the families themselves. Habitat for Humanity builds more than houses, it builds homes, lives, and community.

JUMP (Joint Urban Ministry Project) – is a collaborative effort of more than fifteen churches that respond to the needs of area families and adults. Assistance comes in the form of hospitality, information and counsel, referral, vouchers for perishable foods, grants to prevent utility shut-offs, prescriptions, laundry and other immediate and basic needs. We staff the JUMP office every Friday, provide deodorant and have representation of the JUMP Council

Meals on Wheels – a private non-profit organization that delivers hot, nutritious meals to the community and a daily visit to homebound people assuring them they are a valued member of their community. We provide the delivery teams the second Friday of each month.

Salvation Army - Our Church provides and serves five –six meals each year at our Burlington Salvation Army that provides free meals every evening to the public, among services.

Mission is a vital part of this Church’s ministry, with members responding generously with their time, talents and financial support to Christ’s Mission in this community and the world.

The First United Methodist Youth Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 to encourage and provide financial support to all qualified high school students who are members of this church and are enrolling in the freshman year of school at an accredited technical school, academic college or university. We strive in all our endeavors to promote Christian growth and increase awareness of the need for support and guidance for our youth. Graduating high school seniors entering their freshmen year as full-time students may apply. The student must be a member of the First United Methodist Church of Burlington and involved in at least one activity on a regular basis for two or more years. The student must have a cumulative grade point average in high school of 2.5 or higher. Students who are applying must submit an application, including short autobiography and a letter of recommendation from an adult who is a member of this church and a non-relative of the applicant. Almost $8,600 is currently in the Youth Scholarship Fund. We hope to build this fund so it can be established as an endowment fund and continue to grow in support of the future of our youth and our church.

A second scholarship fund was established in 1999. The First United Methodist Church Higher Education Scholarship Fund exists to provide partial financial support to all qualified students who are members of this church, have participated in some part of church life and are attending an accredited technical school, academic college, or university, including graduate school/seminary. Over $7,800 is currently in the Higher Education Scholarship Fund and we also hope to build this fund so it can be established as an endowment fund.

These funds grow through personal donations and income generated from the Steven and Sue Miller Fund and the Lamplough Fund.

There is a Scholarship Fund Committee with representation from the Church Council and Board of Trustees, the Senior Pastor, and members at large appointed by the Church Counci. The Trustees are investing the money and dispersing the allocated amount. Grants are awarded to each selected recipient and will be based on funds available and determined by the scholarship committee.