Church in Society Committee Annual Report for 2009
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” Herman Melville
Church in Society helped members of Resurrection see the cause and effect of their actions by giving them opportunities for service to others.
In March, the Minnesota Food Share Campaign raised $1,330.00 in food and cash for the St. Joseph Food Shelf. An additional $1,283.00 was given to the food shelf during the year, as well as many food items.
Pastor Bob Kelly spoke to the Adult Education group in March about the ministry of People’s Church in Bemidji. They are in the midst of a Capital Fund Campaign to raise $75,000.00 which will be matched by the ELCA Mission Fund. They will use the funds to bring their building up to code and expand their facility to meet the needs of their ministry to the poor and homeless in the Bemidji area. Members of Resurrection donated $1,392.00 to help them meet this goal. Work on updating their kitchen has already begun. Our Youth Group will be going to People’s Church for their mission trip this summer.
A “birthday party” was held for Anna Marie’s (Central Minnesota’s shelter for abused women and their children) in May. $500.00 was collected plus many cake mixes, frostings, toys, and personal care items. Cell phones which are collected throughout the year are given to Anna Marie’s. Deb Schroeder from Anna Marie’s spoke to the Adult Education group about what the faith community can do to support battered women.
School supplies were collected in August for People’s Church in Bemidji and area elementary schools.
World Hunger Appeal Sunday was celebrated on September 27. $2,717.00 was collected that day. In addition $ 981.00 was given throughout the year using a portion of the proceeds from the square offering baskets.
Feed the Children International was supported throughout the year by using a portion of the square offering baskets. This year $ 693.00 was given.
Warm winter clothes were collected in September and October and given to People’s Church. Many quilts which were made by the RLC Quilters were also given.
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. A garbage bag full of hats, mittens, and scarves plus $700.00 in grocery and gas certificates was given to Casa Guadalupe and People’s Church.
Dr. Mumbie Mwangi, professor of Women’s Studies at St. Cloud State University spoke to the Adult Education group in December about efforts to build a clinic in her home village of Ngamini, Kenya. She has established an orphanage in that village and the clinic will serve those children, as well as the population of Ngamini. Centracare clinics are donating medical equipment and supplies for this project. Resurrection had a special offering and raised $2,685.00 to assist in the construction of the clinic.
During the year $ 315.00 was donated for flood victims in the Midwest.
Resurrection continues to support Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity (CMHFH) in the budget. CMHFH will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their founding in February 2010. They were named the 2009 Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year by the Initiative Foundation.
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, Rita and Katrina Church Rebuilding Fund, World Hunger Appeal, and ELCA and Synod Missions in the yearly budget. 10% of Resurrection’s budget goes to benevolences such as the above.
Resurrection again participated in the GRIP program. In 2009 GRIP worked on health care reform for everyone, and housing for large poor families. A process to determine an appropriate project for 2010 was begun late in 2009 and will continue the first months of the year. Jeanie Wilkens and Lori Schneider served as co-chairs of Resurrection’s GRIP team. Team members are: Mark Boe, Gene Boysen, Evelyn Eckroth, Pastor Linda Lagergren, Linda Larson, Betsy Johnson-Miller, Anna Mercedes, Shane Miller, Jim Parsons, Deb Robinson, Judy Schwegel, Sandy Spiczka, and Lisa Wallin.
Fair trade coffee, tea, cocoa mix, and baking cocoa are available year round for members to purchase. The sale of these items helps support small farmers around the world.
During Resurrection’s 25th Anniversary, Church in Society Committee had a display with information about our projects, as well as Free Trade candy bars for sale. Thank you to Kristy Spiczka for designing and making the poster for this event.
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 our Social Ministries and committee members is available on the Resurrection website www.rlcstjoe.org.
Thank you to all the Resurrection members for your participation and generous giving throughout the year. You have made a huge impact on the lives of people around the world.
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. Steve Streng represented us on the Church Council – thank you Steve for your years of service. He will be retiring from the council this year and Jeanie Wilkens will be taking his place.
If you would like to be part of a fun, exciting ministry, we would love to have you join our committee.
Pat Westphal, Chair
320-836-2988
2009 Committee Members:
Gina Anderson, Ruth Dolven, Mary Fugleberg, Rollie Krueger, Lori Linn, Colleen Hollinger-Petters, Steve Streng, Monte Westphal, Jeanie Wilkens.