Church in Society Committee Annual Report – 2011
“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”
Anthony D’Angelo
The community which is Resurrection Lutheran Church showed a lot of caring this year.
Because of you:
A Free Trade organic coffee, tea, and hot chocolate tasting event was held on February 6. Members had the opportunity to taste various drinks and evaluate them. We continue to sell Free Trade items and have added olive oil from Palestine to our offerings. The two loans we made last year to two women in Rwanda through World Vision’s Microfinance program have been paid off, plus Equal Exchange donates $.20 per pound of coffee and tea back to Lutheran World Relief to support the co-op farmers, the mission, and the ministry.
In March, the Minnesota Food Share Campaign “Mission Impossible” raised over $1,883.00 in cash and 240 pounds of food for the St. Joseph Food Shelf. Additional money was donated to the food shelf during the year, as well as many food items.
Gardening tools and seeds were collected for Anna Marie’s (Central Minnesota’s shelter for abused women and their children) in May. $540.00 was collected plus many tools, seeds, hoses, and a garden cart. Deb Schroeder from Anna Marie’s spoke to the Adult Education group about the mission of protecting women and children from domestic violence. She also spoke about their garden project.
School supplies were collected in August for People’s Church in Bemidji, Casa Guadalupe in Cold Spring, and area elementary schools through the school counselors. 6½ banana boxes plus $50 was given to these groups.
Our World Hunger Appeal drive this year was divided into various programs throughout the year. In April, the Sunday School children and members of the congregation raised over $1,138.00 for God’s Global Barnyard – a program of the ELCA that purchases animals to provide food and money for families around the world. On December 4, the Sunday School children provided a Good Gifts Fair for the congregation at which members could purchase animals, clean water, health care, and other assistance for families in need. A total of over $2,029.00 was collected. Thank you to all the children who built and worked at the displays that Sunday. World Hunger Appeal Sunday was also celebrated on December 4. Over $1,366.00 was collected. Additional money was given throughout the year using a portion of the proceeds from the square offering baskets.
Feed the Children International (Kids Against Hunger) was supported throughout the year by using a portion of the square offering baskets. Over $1115 was collected in 2011.
On September 17, we cooperated with St. Joe Parish in collecting clothing and food from the community. Clothing for all ages and all seasons were collected at our church and at St. Joe’s Parish. From what was brought to our church we split 14 bags between Casa Guadalupe and People’s Church, plus 10 bags were given to Caritas. The St. Joseph Lions gave $1,000.00 to the St. Joe Food Shelf, plus we received $50.00 from another contributor.
Warm winter clothes were collected in September and October and given to People’s Church and Casa Guadalupe. Quilts which were made by the RLC Quilters were also given. 17 large garbage bags and a box of clothing were distributed.
In December, members of Resurrection had an opportunity to “Share the Spirit” by purchasing and/or making hats, mittens, and scarves, as well as purchasing grocery and gasoline certificates. Thank you to Connie Dullinger for coordinating the Scrip purchases for the gift certificates. Thank you also to Lisa Wallin’s Girl Scout troop for making many scarves and buying gloves to go with them. 6 bags and a box full of hats, mittens, and scarves plus $725.00 in grocery and gas certificates were given to Casa Guadalupe and People’s Church.
The St. Joseph Lions Club and the St. Joseph Y2K Club once again donated money to Resurrection for local needs. The money was split between the St. Joseph Food Shelf, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, Casa Guadalupe, and other local needs. Thank you to these two area organizations.
Resurrection continues to support Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity (CMHFH). We are fortunate to have Wilbur Wilkens from Resurrection as a board member of CMHFH to keep us up to date on the needs of CMHFH.
In addition to special offerings Resurrection also includes CMHFH, Feed the Children, Casa Guadalupe, People’s Church, Anna Marie’s, Green Lake Bible Camp, Lutheran Social Services, St. Joseph Kid Stop, St. Joseph Food Shelf, GRIP, missionary support, and ELCA and Synod Missions in the yearly budget. At least 10% of Resurrection’s budget goes to benevolences such as the above.
GRIP, the Great River Interfaith Partnership, is the social justice arm of the Church in Society Committee. It is an ecumenical coalition of local churches with a team at each church. While the Church in Society Committee focuses on serving people’s immediate needs, GRIP works to change the systems that perpetuate the poverty, injustice and racial disparity and result in the need for charity. Jeanie Wilkens is the chairperson for this committee at Resurrection.
Steve Streng keeps us informed of the progress toward building a clinic in Kenya. A committee of area people continues to have fund raisers and notice of these events is put into our church newsletter. A trip to Kenya by members of the clinic committee is being planned in June. Dr. Mumbi Mwangi continues to lead this effort.
The Church in Society committee maintains a bulletin board in the hallway with information about Habitat for Humanity, Anna Marie’s, ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Lutheran Social Services, Bread for the World, and other items of interest. Information is also shared in the Genesis newsletter and Sunday bulletins. A list of the Social Ministries of the Church in Society Committee is available on the Resurrection website at www.rlcstjoe.org.
Thank you to all Resurrection members for your participation and generous giving throughout the year.
Special thanks to Kathy Kuebelbeck for her assistance in the work of this committee, especially her work with the St. Joseph Food Shelf.
Finally, thank you to all of our Church in Society Committee members. You each bring a unique perspective to the work of this committee. Jeanie Wilkens represented us on the Church Council – thank you Jeanie.
If you would like to be part of a fun, exciting ministry, we would love to have you join our committee.
Pat Westphal, Chairperson
320-836-2988
2011 Committee Members:
Gina Anderson, Carol Belling, Ruth Dolven, Mary Fugleberg, Rollie Krueger, Lori Linn, Colleen Hollinger-Petters, Steve Streng, Monte Westphal, Jeanie Wilkens.