Outreach

United Methodists have believed, from the beginning, that each of us is called to participate in the outreaching ministry of Jesus Christ. Putting our faith into action is at the very heart of our Christian calling. The people of Riviera church live our calling by reaching out into our community and into the world to provide aid and comfort to those in need.

There are many opportunities for participation and support. The following is a brief description of various service opportunities and programs at Riviera. For more information, your suggestions, or how you can join our Outreach Team, please contact the church office or Andrea Perez at (310) 378-2744 or becker360@aol.com. You need not be a member of this congregation. The only requirement is, as Martin Luther King, Jr. put it, "...a heart full of grace...a soul generated by love."

Current Opportunities to Help

Toberman Children's Programs On February 2 we will again have the opportunity to reach out to children who count on us for a hot meal after school. If you are interested in helping prepare this simple meal, please meet in the church kitchen at 2:45 p.m. If you would like to help serve and witness how much the kids enjoy this program, please meet us at the church by 3:30 p.m.

Making it Easy to Make a Difference – Join Riviera’s Outreach Team

Are you interested in community service but don’t necessarily want to make a long term commitment? Then the Outreach Team may be a perfect fit for you.

There is much need right here in our community and the members of Riviera have many gifts to share, coupled with our deep compassion. It's just a matter finding the time and an appropriate venue for sharing those gifts.

We would like to compile a list of interested parties and the areas of service that are most of interest to them. When a service opportunity arises, an email request for volunteers will go out and you will have the chance to accept or decline for that particular activity. It's that easy! No obligations, just the prospect of helping those in need.

Areas of interest include:

• Preparing food for and serving at quarterly Loaves and Fishes Meals
• Helping to prepare a hot evening meal every other month for the children at Toberman Neighborhood Center
• Collecting canned goods for distribution at His House (as needed)
• Spearheading Riviera’s collection of school supplies for Operation Backpack (late summer)
• Assisting with the Thanksgiving food drive
• Assisting with the Communion canned food collection (first Sunday each month)

In addition, we will be looking for new ways to reach out and will be open to any ideas from the congregation.

Please contact Andrea Perez if you are interested in being a member of this important team and indicate the opportunities that interest you most. You will not be obligated to attend meetings, though you are welcome to do so to help participate in planning. We think you'll enjoy joining us for any or all of these wonderful opportunities for service.

Communion Offering

Please continue to bring a canned food offering to church on the first Sunday of each month (Communion Sundays) to donate to the His House food pantry. Dave Risher at His House has expressed his profound appreciation for these contributions. They really need all the food they can get.

Ongoing Missions

Loaves and Fishes is the luncheon that Riviera provides to the low-income and homeless on the fifth Saturday of months containing five Saturdays. Over one hundred guests typically attend and are served a full-course home-cooked meal. In addition, brown bag sandwich meals, socks and toiletries are available for them to take as they leave. Members of our church congregation and local service organizations provide and serve the food. In addition, when the talent is available, musical entertainment is provided.

Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro provides invaluable services to the surrounding community -- drug and gang prevention programs, summer camping, after-school programs/tutoring, thrift shop, neighborhood and economic development, parenting effectiveness, comprehensive emergency assistance, and more. Riviera supports Toberman with our dollars (through special offerings) and our participation in the youth feeding program. Many in our congregation volunteer their time at Toberman by working with the children, on the Board of Trustees and in the Thrift Shop.

His House, a social service of the Salvation Army, is a mission in Torrance supported by many local churches. The agency provides services for low-income families, including bags of groceries, rental and utility assistance, school supplies to Torrance students (Operation Backpack), after-school reading/tutoring, baby blankets & clothes to new mothers, and turkey dinners at Thanksgiving. Brown bag lunches are provided to the hungry and homeless daily. Riviera church members donate groceries (on Sundays in the boxes in the narthex), school supplies for Operation Backpack, and Thanksgiving baskets and turkeys.

Riviera also provides assistance on an as-needed basis. Bus tokens and small bags of food are kept in the church office for emergency situations. We also participate in events such as the Angel Tree Project and Christmas gift drive for The Neighborhood in Long Beach.

There is much need right here in our community and the members of Riviera have many gifts to share. Coupled with our deep compassion, it’s just a matter of finding the time and a mission program or outreach ministry that speaks to you!