More service sites for Sept. 8 surge
Since initially listing local congregations with plans* for the Sept. 8 “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday – using a day of service to celebrate the ELCA’s 25th anniversary – additional congregations have shared their plans.
- Arlington’s Advent Lutheran Church pushed their observance to Sat. Sept. 14, but on that date the congregation with others in their zip code will continue a relationship of cooperation by raising money for hunger relief and awareness of the ecumenical presence in the area. Church-hopping will give congregation and community members multiple exposures to hunger relief fundraising and ecumenical cooperation, beginning with a pancake breakfast, moving to restaurant-catered “Feed the Need” lunch tasting, topped with a homemade ice cream social, followed by a combined choir concert. The concert will be held at Advent Lutheran Church.
- Vienna’s Emmanuel Lutheran Church won’t have to roll-up their sleeves (since they’ll be wearing those bold yellow “God’s work, our hands” t-shirts), but their goal is hearty – to donate, prepare and package 10,000 meals to be distributed through the Stop Hunger Now program.
- Arlington’s Faith Lutheran Church will use paper hands to create a waving display on Sept. 8, where members write the varied ways they do God’s work with their hands year-round, in conjunction with congregation social ministry projects and on their own. Prayers and acknowledgement will celebrate the ELCA’s 25th anniversary during worship.
- D.C.’s First Trinity Lutheran Church offers choices to members celebrating the day with service: making quilts for Lutheran World relief, cleaning apartments at a homeless family housing complex, removing litter and debris from nearby parks, assembling personal hygiene kits for Syrian and local families in need, and sorting clothing to be distributed through Community Family Life Services. But “first things first” they note, since worship will preclude the listed activities that wrap-up with a luncheon.
- Derwood’s St. Luke Lutheran Church will turn its attention to a group home run by the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless. There’s something to do for every member of the congregation: purchasing yard work supplies and putting those supplies to use, baking treats for residents, and even writing advocacy letters. An anointing of volunteers during the worship service will mark the labor as labor of love.
Keep this uplifting list rolling! Contact the synod office if you have a “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday project to share, and find more suggestions on the ELCA Web site.