INTERNATIONAL MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Mission Jamaica
We have had several congregants attend this outreach in Jamaica but are currently on a break. We help with a medical clinic, an orphanage and building houses, much like Habitat for Humanity. More info will be made available here if we set up a trip to Jamaica in the future.
Synod Mission Outreach Companionship:
In the past, we have had a few members attend a mission companion trip to Honduras, our Synod Companion Partner. If you are interested in attending, hop on to our synod’s website, www.nemnsynod.org
Recycled Lives
This is a ministry several Lutheran churches in Northeastern Minnesota attend and the home office is in Cambridge, Minnesota. Pastor Liz goes to San Gabriel, Guatemala annually, where Recycled Lives ministry operates with 225 local familes. We serve with our hearts set on this verse in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, THE NEW CREATION HAS COME. THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW IS HERE!”
LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE:
ANNUAL CLOTHING SALE
We hold a Clothing Sale every spring. This event raises funds used by the women’s committee, WELCA, to divide and disperse to various outreach organizations around town, about five every spring – in the past that has included Quad Cities Food Shelf, Salvation Army, Bill’s House, Care Partners, Katherine’s House, Ruby’s Pantry, Mesabi Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, and a little for our own Community Closet food pantry. It is a fun way of helping our community in many different areas.
OSLC COMMUNITY CLOSET
We had the space, so… we set up a community closet where people could stop in weekly for clothing, a few household items, and a bag of groceries to make it in between paychecks or food shelf distributions. Stop in and see what the current food or clothing needs are, and consider helping out an hour or two on a Wednesdasy when we are open.
FREE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
People in the congregation also started a local free breakfast meal to be held the 2nd Saturday morning every month. It has turned out to be a fun meal where people from all over can meet, visit and enjoy a hot full breakfast meal for free.
QUAD CITIES FOOD SHELF
Many of our congregants volunteer here regularly to organize food boxing and distribution events and they also organize a small clothing room.
LITTLE PANTRY
A Rutabaga Project “Little Food Pantry” (an area AEOA project) is located outside our doors by 12th avenue, facing the nursing home across the street. It is designed by AEOA to be stocked by neighborhood residents and any one who likes, and the church adds food as we collect a different themed food item every month. It is also to be shared with anyone in need, no questions asked. If you have extra food in your pantry at home, you can drop it off inside the little pantry any time that is convenient to you – and you can take food items if you are in need! It is for everyone in our community. *Reminder that it is not a refridgerated pantry, it is insulated, but not refridgerated. So shelf stable items are best until it gets cool enough to handle food that requires refridgeration (below 40), until it starts to freeze. Thank you for your consideration!
LITTLE LIBRARY
This Little Library is located outside by our Little Pantry and is also open for the public to donate books, or take books as desired. Stop by and check it out! If you have good reading material at home feel free to stop by and donate it to be shared by the public.
OSLC LIBRARY
This Library is indoors and exists in our Fireside meeting room. It is a cozy place to sit and relax, pick out a book or two and get a little reading done – it’s also a great place to pray under the cross. We have several books, and various subjects to choose from and plan on adding more spiritual books to the shelves this fall.
WINTER CLOTHESLINE
During winter we also have a clothing rack with winter jackets, sweaters and hats, gloves and scarves. People are free to drop off items they have at home that are gently used and that you wish to donate. Just leave it on the rack by our west wing entrance! You are also free to take an item if you need, it is a ministry for all.