Story and Photos by Donna Fisher

HANDS of many colors, HANDS of every size,
God has made us different, blessing many kinds.
Old and new needs reappear, let your love cast out our fear.

The worshippers sang a paraphrase of Al Carmine’s “Many Gifts, One Spirit” at Canyon Lake UMC in Rapid City, SD this weekend.  Indeed, hands of all ages helped in an UMCOR kit-building and “we-love-you, Rapid City” multi-generational event.

Photo: Canyon Lake kids are our best mission cheerleaders. This weekend they made mini-blankets bearing their handprints. During the children’s moments next weekend, the kids will pass out the handprint squares to remind everyone about Church World Service Blanket Sunday, August 29.

Volunteers from toddlers to seniors worked before or after each service this weekend to complete mission projects in one big assembly line.  Many Hands for Missions is an annual late summer event at Canyon Lake UMC.

Photo: Several years ago, when the local Church Response Food Pantry mentioned a need for serving-size packs of ingredients to make homemade soup, United Methodist Women created recipes. Making soup mixes has become an annual activity. Volunteers measured ingredients and packaged 365 packets during the Many Hands mission event.

“Fellowship and learning is as important as accomplishing our tasks! We enjoy, laugh, serve and learn!” says Carol Dormann, Missions Chair.

Photo: HOPE Center serves Rapid City’s homeless as a drop-in day center where clients do laundry, store their belongings, make phone calls, socialize and get simple personal products for hygiene.  CLUMC volunteers packaged 500 laundry soap kits. Adding a washcloth, toothbrush and toothpaste to donations of motel soaps, shampoos and lotions made 390 hygiene kits.

Photo: Pastor Eric Grinager and UMCOR Kits Co-Chair Donna Skulborstad celebrate surpassing Canyon Lake’s goals with 331 health kits and 316 school kits. A local project popular with Black Hills folks, 20 firefighter kits will be delivered to the Red Cross on Monday morning.

Photo: Mission helpers Bev Searls and Marilyn Saenz take a break in their kit-building assembly line.