Blanket Sunday
Each May, we participate in Blanket Sunday. For over 60 years, Church World Service (CWS) has worked in partnership with local communities around the world to identify their needs and access the resources they need to build the foundation for a more viable future, including:
- Blankets, tents, food and other emergency supplies in the wake of a disaster. Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant their fields.
- Wells for families living in drought prone areas to provide clean, safe water to drink and to irrigate crops and gardens. Literacy training and micro credit for women struggling to realize their potential. God has asked us to live as loving neighbors to all peoples of the world. When trouble comes to any part of the world, our gifts will be there to help in survival and recovery.
We collect donations that go to Church World Service for Blanket Sunday.
Beavercreek FISH
FISH began in England in 1961, and came to the United States in 1964. Beavercreek FISH was started in May 1975 by volunteers from several local churches and has operated continuously since then. Hawker was one of the original churches in 1975, and one of the few that still contribute faithfully each year.
Beavercreek FISH consists of local volunteers providing free services and financial assistance to Beavercreek area residents having urgent needs that cannot be met by any other organization. Beavercreek FISH is a community supported, all-volunteer operated organization that does not accept government funds.
Hawker supports Beavercreek FISH by donating nonperishable food, paper products, and hygiene items several times a year. We also make monetary donations through collections for the Souper Bowl of Caring and other frequent outreach projects.
Season of Lent
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.
Some Christians find that doing without some pleasurable thing – like meat or candy or watching TV – helps them to better appreciate God’s sacrifice of His Son on the cross for our sins. Other Christians find that doing something extra, like baking cookies for your neighbors or phoning your loved ones to see how they’re doing during the winter or inviting a friend to Hawker Church or giving to Trinity retirement community. Simple acts of selflessness help us remember that Jesus calls us to be His disciples, not just names on the membership rolls.
Tools Sunday
For over 60 years, Church World Service (CWS) has worked in partnership with local communities around the world to identify needs and access the resources required to build the foundation for more viable futures.
Your support of CWS equips families worldwide with the tools that they need to build stronger futures – literally.
God has asked us to live as loving neighbors to all people of the world. When trouble comes to any part of the world, our gifts will be there to help in survival and recovery.
CROP Walk
The CROP Walk is an annual event usually held the 2nd Sunday afternoon in October. It raises vital funds for Church World Service (CWS) and also funds for our own Dayton Food Bank. We traditionally do a fund raising drive at Hawker UCC and enter a Team for the physical walk. Since 2020, we’ve held our on walk around the Hawker Church community. Another option to donate was to make checks out to CWS/CROP or give cash and drop either in the offering plate. Sign up and donate online below.
Souper Bowl of Caring
Souper Bowl of Caring offering, sponsored by our youth. This nationwide collection, which was started by a church youth group, asks you to remember our hungry neighbors in need while you’re shopping for – and then enjoying – chicken wings, nachos, chips, sandwiches, pretzels, and all the rest while you watch the Big Game.
Operation
Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry hosted by Samaritan’s Purse, which collects and distributes shoeboxes of toys, hygiene items, and school supplies for children around the world.
These shoeboxes are distributed free to children regardless of race, gender, politics, or religious beliefs to let them know that God loves them.
Every shoebox we pack here represents a boy or girl who will experience first-hand that the followers of Jesus Christ love them because Jesus loves them.
Discretionary Fund
Donations to the Discretionary Fund enable our pastor to provide assistance to church members, friends, and people in the community with emergency financial assistance, primarily via help with utility bills. We typically give over $2,000 in grant per year. Non-members can apply once every 12 months, and all grants are paid directly to the public utility.
Presidents' Club
The Presidents’ Club is a vital group with Hawker’s current and past Presidents that have a desire to continue serving our Lord, our church, our congregation and community. Meetings are held as needed to plan upcoming events. Our biggest event is the Annual Lasagna Dinner in February followed with an Ice Cream Social in September. Proceeds have benefited local needs, such as the Dayton Chapter of Secret Smiles, Feed the Creek, 4 Paws for Ability, Hawker’s Pastor Discretionary Fund, Children’s Music Program, and Xenia’s Bridges of Hope shelter.
My Brother's Keeper
My Brother’s Keeper Sewing Group delivers sleeping bags and pillowcases to the homeless through Greene Metropolitan Housing Authority. The sewing group consists of Charlene Stemple, Bev Kunkle, Sue Doll, Susan Smith, Grace Wilcox, Lenora Shcherbyna, Virgil Ramlow, Barb Cassidy, Connie King, Pam Sowder, and Susie Demmy. The group meets on Tuesdays from 9:00 am – 11:00 am in Fellowship Hall. Donations of fabric and toiletries are always welcome and can be placed in the My Brother’s Keeper box in the church hallway.
United Church Homes
From humble beginnings dating to 1916, the mission and purpose of United Church Homes has remained the same — to provide comfortable and affordable housing and healthcare for older adults. More than 100 years later, this commitment still inspires our goal to be a leading provider of healthcare and senior living services. United Church Homes today is transforming the experience of aging for thousands of people as we build communities of residents who embrace life and seek wholeness and peace.
Prayer List
We continually pray for those who are sick, who need help, who are in nursing homes, and those who serve in our military. As well as, praying for our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, congregation, and pastor.
If you have someone you would like to add to the prayer list, please contact the office by phone or email.
Mission Trips
Hawker Church has been involved in mission trips to various states over the years, including Mississippi and Navajo reservation in Arizona. More recently we’ve been going to Tennessee to help families paint houses and other tasks.