LSS Presents Service of Christ
Awards to Six Congregations
The Board of Directors, at its
quarterly meeting in March, approved the Servant of Christ Award
nominations. Three criteria were used in selecting these congregations:
-
Social service ministry: those
that have demonstrated leadership in social ministry/service/ justice in
their community
-
LSS service partnership: those
with a service connection to an LSS program or site, or who have come
forward with extraordinary effort in the face of special need (e.g.,
disaster relief volunteers)
-
Financial support: those that
have provided large gifts, proportionally large gifts, growth in giving,
long-term faithfulness in giving to LSS
-
The plan is to present the
award to each congregation at their synod assembly and to follow up with
Sunday visits to each congregation over the next few months.
Minneapolis Area Synod
Faith
Lutheran Church - Coon Rapids
The City View and Abaku Transitional Housing programs in Anoka
County have been greatly helped by members of Faith Lutheran Congregation
in Coon Rapids. In 2003, Faith's members donated over $3,000 to City View
and Abaku; provided many hours of volunteer service to help homeless
families move into safe, comfortable apartments; offered numerous hours of
emotional support to homeless families in need; and allowed LSS use of
their church and meeting space (as well as church staff and administrative
support) for a fundraising event that brought in over $5,000.00 for the
City View and Abaku programs.
Northeastern Minnesota Synod
First
Lutheran Church -- Aitkin
First Lutheran Church has been a faithful supporter of LSS
ministries for many years. Of special note this year is their imaginative
effort in support of the "Safe Homes, Hopeful Futures" campaign in
Northeastern Minnesota. The youth at First raised nearly $1,100 for
Renaissance and Street Outreach through an "Operation Homeless"
fund-raiser where they slept outside in cardboard boxes to raise money and
"in-kind" donations. See story in this issue of Changing Lives.
Northwestern Minnesota Synod
Cormorant Lutheran Church - Pelican Rapids
Cormorant Lutheran is a small congregation located between
Pelican Rapids and Lake Park. The outreach ministry of the congregation,
however, is remarkable for a congregation of ANY size. They have a
powerful commitment to serving "the least of these." In addition to
regular financial support for LSS ministries, their many activities
include: quilting, parish nursing, mentoring, refugee sponsorship, food
shelf, Christmas giving tree, world hunger, disaster relief and Habitat
for Humanity.
Southeastern Minnesota Synod
Little Cedar Lutheran Church - Adams
Little Cedar Lutheran Church has been supportive of the people living at
Adams Group Home for many years. Their involvement includes communion,
birthday celebrations, ongoing service projects, entertainment/visiting,
and financial donations.
Most importantly, Little Cedar Church and its members have developed a
strong church family with the individuals at Adams Group Home. When a
beloved member of the Adams Home died this past year, the pastor and
members of the congregation came to visit, care, and support individuals
and staff through the difficult grief period.
Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Peace
Lutheran Church - New London
In support of LSS, Peace Lutheran Church has contributed in
various ways: Financial giving (increasing to $2,000/year); providing
meeting space for a Respite/Caregiver Support Group; making quilts for all
children served in Willmar-Treatment Foster Care and for LSS Youth
programs; inviting the Treatment Foster Care coordinator to speak at a
Sunday morning adult forum about Treatment Foster Care and recruitment of
Foster Parents. Additionally, the congregation supports other ministries
financially and through volunteer support.
Saint Paul Area Synod
St.
Anthony Park Lutheran Church - St. Paul
LSS has a very active church co-sponsor group from St. Anthony
Park Lutheran. They have worked with many families over the years who have
been resettled through LSS. They have taken on a new family a few months
ago and have been working with them actively. The family consists of a
mother, father and 9 children, ages 9 to 22. The father has been in this
country for two years and is employed as a hotel van driver. The mother
and the children have just arrived in St. Paul after living for the past 9
years in a refugee camp in Nairobi. Needless to say, they are excited to
be together at last in the United States. All of the children are already
attending St. Paul public schools. Although the family is currently living
in a small crowded apartment, they will soon move to a 4-bedroom apartment
on St. Paul's west side.
The congregation is also a
faithful and long-term financial supporter (undesignated) of LSS
ministries.
