Service/Learning and Mission Trips

Young Adult Service Community (YASC)

This paid year-long internship for ages 21-35 is sponsored in several communities around the country.  Live in intentional community, work at local non-profits, and connect with ministries of the host congregation as well as the wider United Church of Christ. 

More information about the YASC network

Summer Communities of Service

Summer Communities of Service (SCOS) is a leadership program for young adults aged 19 and above. Summer Communities focuses on intersecting faith communities, service and justice advocacy. This national network is part of the joint work of the United Church of Christ and the Alliance of Baptists. Participants live and serve from late May to early August in host congregations around the United States. Housing, Food, Health Insurance and a $1,000 summer stipend is provided.

More information about Summer Communities of Service

UCC Global Mission Internships

 

Ministry Partners and Sites for Service/Learning Work

In Connecticut

Chapel on the Green- Is an outdoor congregation, of housed and unhoused, sharing God’s compassion through care, community, worship and breaking bread together in downtown New Haven.

Connecticut Food Bank-  CFB provides food and resources to a network of community-based food programs, such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, residential programs and day programs serving adults and children in six of Connecticut’s  eight counties: Fairfield,Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham.

DESK- Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in New Haven.  DESK operates an Evening Meals program, offering a hot dinner and bagged lunches, as well as weekly Food Pantry and a Summer Kids Pantry program. 

Foodshare-  “When hunger stops, so will we.” Serving Hartford and Tolland counties. This site in Bloomfield has educational programs and volunteer opportunities

Hands On Hartford-  Caring in Action for the greater Hartford area.

Heads up Hartford- This is a one-week program sponsored by local churches.  Youth gather  in late June for a week of service projects in the Hartford area.  They stay at a retreat center in Bloomfield.

Incredible Days- will provide service based learning or coordinate your mission trip, team building event, or virtual mission trip. Serving CT and greater New England

New London Urban Outreach- Quarterly meals with New London Homeless Hospitality Center through First Congregational Church New London, UCC

South Park Inn- volunteer  in Hartford, CT to assist families and individuals experiencing homelessness 

 

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Cathedral in the Night- An outdoor Christian community which seeks to create a safe place for all people. Worship and a shared meal is offered every Sunday. Northampton, MA

City Mission Society in Boston-  City Mission catalyzes action to root out poverty in our neighborhoods. The strategic focus of CMS is on homelessness prevention through engagement, education, and empowerment.

Ecclesia Ministries / Common Cathedral- Common Cathedral serves as an important community for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Boston. Common Cathedral offers the City Reach program for faith communities who want to be in supportive relationship with un-housed individuals and their friends.

Project Linus

Urban Challenge- Trinity United Methodist Church, Springfield, MA

Worcester Area Mission Society (WAMS)- WAMS focuses on connecting the faith community’s abiding values of service to others with cross-sector efforts to support, restore and strengthen economic, educational and housing outcomes for struggling Metro west residents. 

Youth Street Reach-  teens interact with local youth who have or are still dealing with being homeless. Hyannis, MA

National Programs

Appalachian Service Projects a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement. Central Appalachia.

Appalachian South Folklife Center Our focus is on education about our heritage and culture and our goal is to teach compassion for all cultures of the world starting locally. Pipestem, WV

Back Bay Mission- Strengthening neighborhoods, seeking justice, and transforming lives. Biloxi, Mississippi.

The Center- Inspiring and equipping churches and individuals to engage boldly with their neighborhoods. Baltimore, MD

Church World Service- Resources for youth groups to participate in  Crop Hunger walks and collect for  hygiene kits, school kits, or disaster relief buckets.  National and International

DOOR Network- See the face of God in the city.  Programs in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, LA and Miami.

Habitat for Humanity- helps families build and improve places to call home because affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities. National and International

Heifer International- working with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth

North Street Mission- an opportunity to work with one of several community organizations that address mental health hunger and poverty. Wooster, OH.

Project Linus- Connect with a chapter near you to provide homemade blankets to children in need.

Reach Beyond Mission- Biblical, Progressive, Inclusive. Washington DC, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio

Simply Smiles- Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota and Oaxaca Mexico

Urban Spirit- This Poverty Simulation Week in Louisville, KY will lead your group through a life of poverty. From the moment you arrive, you step into the world of the working poor -- those tens of millions of Americans who work hard and never really get anywhere.

Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP)- Learning through service and reflection. New York City and Washington, DC.

Resources

Book list- helpful reading curated by UCC Global Ministries

Forget Short Term Mission Trips. Encourage Young Christians to Join Protests
Sojourners, Sept. 28, 2016

Picture Taking Etiquette- guidelines for documenting service work

Short-Term Mission Trips That Yield Long-Term Success

Conversation cards:  A Just World for All Question Cards

R.E.A.D.Y. Curriculum: Preparing for the Journey
Are you R.E.A.D.Y!? Ready for a new discovery of yourself, the church, your community and the world? You and your youth can begin the journey of experiencing mission in new ways with this curriculum created by Global Ministries.

 

Survey

Planning a trip?  Fill in this brief survey to recommend a mission site and help us expand our data base.