FAITH INTO ACTION: WAYS TO SERVE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PEACE SOCIAL MINISTRY

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEEPEN YOUR FAITH WHILE SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE LORD

JOIN THE SOCIAL ACTION MINISTRY COMMITTEE OR PARTICIPATE IN WHATEVER INTERESTS YOU!

Time commitment: as much as 2 hours a month or as little as 2 hours a year.

Social Ministry, or Social Action Committee as it is often called, is a group within Lutheran Church of Peace (LCP) that provides opportunities for the congregation to learn about, advocate for, provide service to, or donate to social justice issues. This includes issues affecting the poor, hungry, marginalized, and minorities in our community as well as our sister congregation in Tanzania.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PEACE’S SOCIAL MINISTRY PROJECTS

MERRICK FOOD SHELF COLLECTIONS
PROJECT HOME
BLOOD MOBILE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
HUNGER WALK
WALK FOR HOMELESS
LETTER WRITING
SUPPLIES COLLECTIONS
EQUAL EXCHANGE
MEALS ON WHEELS
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES REPRESENTATIVE
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE

*** Click on the above links for information on each project. This symbol ► signifies projects that require little time commitment ***

MERRICK FOOD SHELF COLLECTIONS: Merrick Food Shelf is located on Old Hudson Road in St. Paul and serves the people of need in that area. It is the organization to which we give an ongoing collection of:
• Non-perishable food
• Baby supplies
• Hygiene Supplies
• Monetary Gifts

Opportunities to Serve:
►Donate goods at any time throughout the year - leave donations in the wooden donation box in the Narthex
►Participate in the March food drive. Grocery bags with donation suggestions are handed out each Sunday in March for collection the following week.
► Offer to help drop off donations.
• Coordinate the March food drive.
 

PROJECT HOME: Project Home (PH) is an organization run by the St Paul Area Council of Churches (SPACC) which provides emergency shelter to families who are homeless and would otherwise be turned away from the Maplewood Family Shelter due to lack of space. PH is a primarily volunteer run agency through which two churches per month (located in/around St Paul area) volunteer their buildings for 18 beds (at each facility) that will be used to shelter families for that particular month. The families are invited to stay in the church subject to the rules set by PH and the church council. They are able to stay at the church from approximately 6pm to 7am Monday – Friday and 6pm to 9am on weekends. Volunteers staff the building and serve the families throughout the time they stay at the church. LCP hosts Project Home in November each year.

Opportunities to Serve:
► Donate to the ongoing Project Home Bundles of Hope Collection at any time throughout the year. Look for donation suggestions in our church newsletter, The Olive Branch. (Leave donations in the Rubbermaid donation box in the Narthex.)
• Coordinate the volunteers need to staff PH at LCP in November
• Participate as an evening host one or many evenings in November. Signup begins in October.
• Participate as an overnight host one or many nights in November. Signup begins in October.
• Help out with the Thanksgiving Feast. On Thanksgiving Day families are invited to stay the entire day at the church. You can help by:
• Donating food
• Preparing the meal
• Serving the meal
• Cleaning up
• Helping with games/crafts for kids

Contact Anne Evans at (651) 407-0361 for more information.

BLOOD MOBILE: In January the American Red Cross brings their Blood Donation crew to LCP to collect blood.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate the event with the Red Cross and LCP donors. Contact LCP members in December/January to make donation appointments.
• Publicize the event
► Donate blood. Say Yes! when the Blood Mobile Coordinator calls.
► Assist donors when they come to church for the blood drive
► Donate snacks for the donors.
► Serve snacks to donors at the drive.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Habitat for Humanity is an organization that builds/remodels homes for needy families. Twice a year (fall/spring) LCP participates in a Habitat for Humanity project.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate volunteers or publicize the event.
• Volunteer to be part of the work crew. Watch the bulletin in May/June and Sept/Oct for signup.
• Donate food for the work crew.
• Donate money for the cause. A special collection will be taken during church services the weekends that LCP member work on a Habitat project.

HUNGER WALK: In October LCP takes pledges and walks to raise money for Merrick Food Shelf and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate volunteers or publicize the event.
► Pledge and/or walk
► Donate snacks for the walkers
► Make informational signs for the path, help set them out on the morning of the walk.

WALK FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES: In June LCP takes pledges and walks to raise money for families who are homeless.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate volunteers or publicize the event.
► Pledge and/or walk
► Donate snacks for the walkers
► Make informational signs for the path, help set them out on the morning of the walk.

LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGNS: At various times during the year LCP provides sample letters, address labels, and postage to encourage members to write to their elected representatives regarding a social issue. We advocate on behalf of the less fortunate who have little political voice. The theme of each letter writing campaign is based on the current Bread for the World Campaign, a nationwide Christian organization lobbying against poverty. By joining our voices we can make a difference on important social issues.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Promote a letter writing campaign.
► Write a letter – it can take as little as one minute.
► Set up a table with the letter writing supplies.
► Staff the table to answer questions and encourage members to write.

COLLECTIONS: Various collections for groups in need take place at different times of the year:
► Angel Tree: LCP provides Christmas gifts.
► Mitten Tree: Mittens are collected during November-December.
► Caring Hearts for Homeless People. Medication and hygiene items are collected in February for Woodwinds Hospital to distribute.
► Kitchen Kits: New kitchenware for battered women.
► MN Food Share: Collect food and money every week in March.
► School Supplies: New school supplies are collected in September.
► Undie Sunday: LCP collects underwear and socks for adults and children for the Children’s Home Society for the Ramsey County Crisis Nurseries.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate volunteers or publicize the event.
► Donate
► Deliver the collected goods to the agency in need.

EQUAL EXCHANGE/SERRV INTERNATIONAL: Both of these organizations are FAIR TRADE groups that cut out the middleman to help producers and artisans of coffee, textiles, and other products. The money these people receive is greater than the amount they would receive if they had to sell their products to a retailer. There organizations are wonderful for those concerned with economic justice for all. Many of the producers are from third world countries where this source of income means a lot to their ability to survive. LCP promotes these organizations and sells their products to congregation members directly or through catalogues at various times throughout the year.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate volunteers or publicize the event.
► Purchase FAIR TRADE items when you see them at church.
► Make FAIR TRADE consumerism a way of life. Use these organizations for your gift giving and every day product needs.
► Staff the table for selling coffee or other FAIR TRADE products at church.

MEALS ON WHEELS: Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals to senior citizens who have a difficult time shopping and/or preparing their meals. The meals are delivered on the East Side of St. Paul through Merrick Community Center.

Opportunities to serve:
• Volunteer to drive and bring meals to seniors.

Contact Janet Traun at (651) 731-1447 for more information.

ST PAUL AREA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES REPRESENTATIVE: LCP is a member of the St. Paul Area Council of Churches. This community of Christian congregations works to build a just community for all St. Paul area residents. For example, Project Home and the Kitchen Kit collection are sponsored by this organization.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Attend all or some of the quarterly St Paul Area Council meetings and inform LCP Social Action Committee about events and opportunities.
• Recruit other LCP members to periodically attend meetings.

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE COLLABORATOR or COMMITTEE MEMBER: Help the Social Action Committee as mush as you feel comfortable doing! Bring your ideas about what you’d like to see the congregation involved in as far as social ministry is concerned. Find a sense of community and do the Lord's work at the same time! The time commitment can be as much or as little time as you want to spend.

Opportunities to Serve:
• Coordinate volunteers or publicize events as needed.
• Attend monthly committee meetings.
• Participate in activities that interest you.
• Contribute ideas for social ministry projects.

You are invited and encouraged to participate in all or any of the Social Ministry projects. Many of these are great opportunities for your family to volunteer together. What better way to serve the Lord than to serve those less fortunate.

Please contact any of the Social Action Committee members listed below in addition to the project volunteers for more information. Your ideas and suggestions on how LCP can serve the community, or the world, are appreciated!
 

Contacts
Maureen Behrens (651) 731-3197
Keith Henjum (651) 730-0499