Fill… Spill… Thrill…

During the 2009 Synod Assembly, Bishop deFreese asked mission centers/congregations to share what they do in ministry with and among the poor. Below are excerpts from just one of the many responses the Bishop has received.

This past year, Immanuel’s ministry among the poor has included the collection of nonperishable goods to various local pantries such as Project Hope, Together, Inc., the food bank and other emergency services.

Immanuel’s women’s organization made hundreds of quilts to send overseas and collected new underwear and winter clothes for the needy. More than 100 shoeboxes full of stuff are sent to Operation Christmas Child each year by Sunday School classes. The Lutheran Men in Mission often send gifts to the synod’s prison ministry. This year, Immanuel helped to set up a duplex and provided supplies for a refugee family of five from Somalia.

Congregation members give more than $2,000 a year for the pastor’s discretionary fund - the vast majority of which is given to help people in desperate situations. People cannot always be rescued from major financial crises, but sometimes they can be provided just enough help to get them through the week or to the next paycheck.

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During this year’s Synod Assembly, Bishop deFreese asked mission centers/congregations to share what they do in ministry with and among the poor. Below is just one of the many responses the Bishop has received so far.

Last Thanksgiving we provided complete Thanksgiving meal gift boxes to 15 Saunders County families, which were delivered by our confirmation students, their parents and other volunteers.

In December we provided care packages for eight college students preparing for finals.

In January, donations in the amount of $200 each were sent to ELCA World Hunger appeal, Saunders County Emergency Food Pantry, the Open Door Mission in Omaha, the People’s City Mission in Lincoln and the Orphan Grain Train.

In February, we had an “Undie Sunday” and collected 85 pounds of new underwear for the Open Door Mission, which we presented to a representative of the mission who came and shared their message with us.

In March, we held joint Lenten Services with our brothers and sisters in Christ from Prague and Czech Presbyterian Churches, and two of the offerings collected that added up to $169.50 were given to the Saunders County Food Pantry.

We recently completed a food drive here in Malmo where volunteers distributed empty plastic grocery sacks with a list of needs and an invitation to share with others to every home in our village. A total of 25 filled grocery bags were picked up the following Saturday, again by volunteers, and all the items were turned over to the Saunders County Food Pantry. We will be doing a similar event in Prague and in Weston.

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During this year’s Synod Assembly, Bishop deFreese asked mission  centers/congregations to share what they do in ministry with and among the poor. Below is just one of the many responses the Bishop has received so far.

From Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartington (submitted by Pastor Bob Bryan):

“Trinity Lutheran has planted a “Harvest of Hope” garden in the empty lot next to the parsonage. Vegetables will be available for anyone in need in the congregation and community, no questions asked. It is 40′ x 20′ and planted with donated seeds - we have tomatoes, squash, watermelon, cucumbers, carrots, beets, radishes and beans.

“The seeds were donated, along with two pickup loads of horse manure. We will set up a table in the church and put up a sign outside when harvest begins.”

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During this year’s Synod Assembly, Bishop deFreese asked mission  centers/congregations to share what they do in ministry with and among the poor. Below is just one of the many responses the Bishop has received so far.

From Grace Lutheran Church in Ceresco (submitted by Glenda Ferguson, PMA):

“The Sunday school children (seven children) of Grace collected almost $300 for God’s Global Barnyard for 2009. The congregation at Grace gives generously to the local food pantry on a regular basis and donates to World Hunger.

“The president of Grace’s council has been to El Salvador to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity. A group of adults/young adults from Grace will be joining the effort in El Salvador again in 2010.

“In 2010, the congregation will use land around the church to provide a space for a community garden. People who are not members of Grace will be offered a garden plot along with those who are members. Each gardener will be asked to donate a portion of their harvest to assist one of the groups in Lincoln who feed the poor.”

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