Category: Social Ministry

December 9, 2020

Pandemic Help: Do you need volunteers, or can you offer help?

The pandemic continues to take its health and economic toll on many. With eviction moratoriums and other public benefits ending on December 31, 2020, there will be a spike in eviction filings and many will continue to have to make harder and harder decisions on whether to pay for food, medicine, rent or their mortgage....

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September 1, 2020

Fox 29 Recognizes Welcome Bread

Fox 29’s Bill Anderson talked with Lou Farrell, the organizer of Welcome Bread, which has so far collected and distributed more than 30,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to persons in need or experiencing homelessness since April. “There is no excuse for people to be hungry in this country, and if you have the opportunity...

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July 8, 2020

Feast of Justice Steps Up to Fight Hunger (Video)

As food insecurity across the five-county SEPA area during coronavirus and the ensuing recession, congregations and agencies have expanded and in some cases started service to provide food to the hungry. Today’s video highlights one of these ministries: Feast of Justice. Since the pandemic almost everything has changed at the Northeast’s Feast of Justice. Demand...

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October 28, 2019

‘Renaissance Christmas’ Benefits KenCrest

Christ’s Lutheran Church of Oreland will present a Renaissance Christmas Concert featuring the Bloom Consort on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 3 pm. A free-will offering will benefit KenCrest staff emergencies through the Rod Hibbard Fund. All are welcome! A reception will follow. Venue: 700 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Oreland, PA 19075. Visit: christs-oreland.org. For information contact...

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September 30, 2019

Volunteer with Liberty Hospice

Part of the Liberty Lutheran family of services, Liberty Hospice offers compassionate care to Philadelphia-area patients facing a life-limiting illness. Our hospice care team, which includes a medical director, social workers, chaplains, skilled nursing professionals, hospice aides, and volunteers, provides comprehensive support while helping patients and their families make the most of every moment. Volunteers are a vital...

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September 25, 2019

Volunteer Opportunity: Feast Incarnate

One in four Philadelphians are food insecure. Help Feast Incarnate, a ministry of University Lutheran Church, feed people by becoming a meal provider or host. Feast Incarnate feeds people every Tuesday night, and they are looking for church groups able to help prepare and/or serve meals. For more information call Nell McCaslin at 203.520.2553. Download...

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July 2, 2019

Volunteers, Sponsors Needed for Camp Noah

Camp Noah Is Quickly Approaching! Planning is underway for Camp Noah at New Creation Lutheran in North Philadelphia Aug. 19-23, 2019! This is one of a series of camps around the U.S. for children who have been affected and/or displaced by disasters. There are tons of fun activities are being planned for the kids, many...

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March 27, 2019

KenCrest Honors Support from Five SEPA Congregations

Christ’s Lutheran Church in Oreland, PA and Reformation Lutheran Church in Media, PA were two of the eleven recipients of the 2019 KenCrest Community Champions.  Gloria Dei Shining Star Committee, St. James Lutheran Church, Limerick and St. Peter’s Thrift Shop were Honorable Mention recipients. Every year KenCrest takes a moment to celebrate leaders in the community who go...

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September 6, 2016

October is Lutheran Charities Month

Through Lutheran Charities, YOU support dozens of Lutheran ministries and programs across Southeastern Pennsylvania that touch the lives of more than 100,000 of the most vulnerable people among us every single year. That’s roughly 1 out of every 49 people. And WE NEED YOU to make it happen. October is Lutheran Charities Month! You can support Lutheran Charities by going...

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July 13, 2016

An Outpouring of Generosity

The 49-year tradition of generosity through our Christmas Ingathering is transforming into the SEPA Outpouring. Due to changes at Lutheran Children and Family Service and decreased funding for transport and publicity, we will no longer collect donations en masse on the first Sunday of December. Instead, we will be offering opportunities to give throughout the...

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March 30, 2016

LCFS Not To Renew Contracts For Most Programs

Update: A service of celebration for LCFS’ refugee work will be held Monday, April 4, 11 am, at St. Mark’s, Conshohocken. We ask for prayers as the Board of Directors of Lutheran Children and Family Service (LCFS) has voted to not renew contracts for refugee resettlement, adoption, foster care, and after-school enrichment programs managed by...

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December 8, 2015

Get the Facts About Syrian Refugees

Lutheran Children and Family Service is the largest refugee resettlement organization in PA, and is involved in resettling Syrian refugees in Allentown. Did you know that refugees are the most scrutinized and vetted individuals entering the U.S.? Or that the process takes on average two years? LCFS has created an online resource center so that...

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December 8, 2015

Refugees Welcomed in Allentown

As Christians celebrated Christ the King on Nov. 22, 500 people gathered in Allentown, Pa., to stand in solidarity against the face of fear and hatred at an interfaith event to welcome refugees from Syria. Those in attendance included young and old, the mayor of Allentown, clergy from the community, and people of many faiths...

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August 27, 2015

Cultivating Cross-Generational Learning

Lutheran Settlement House’s Settlement Project paid teens to work this summer alongside folks from the Senior Center in its Urban Farm. This first-of-its-kind project also had youth lead games and activities with seniors. Zion, Tristian and Henry cultivated kale, tomatoes and sunflowers and built vibrant relationships with a number of elders.

December 19, 2013

Congregations Collect $100K for Needy

For this year’s Christmas Ingathering, about 70 congregations collected donations for vulnerable people. On Dec. 1, more than 100 volunteers (mostly from Gloria Dei Church, Huntingdon Valley) unpacked trucks, sorted donations and repacked them for delivery. The items, valued at about $100,000, will serve people locally and internationally.     Some highlights of the Ingathering included:...

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December 9, 2011

Gifts Overflow from Christmas Ingathering

More than 75 SEPA congregations participated in the 2011 Christmas Ingathering sponsored by Liberty Lutheran Services on Dec. 4.

December 15, 2009

Food pantries rise to skyrocketing demand

Across the region, the slumping economy is sending more and more people to local food banks to supplement their grocery budgets. At Shepherd's Shelf at Christ Lutheran Church, Kulpsville, for example, more than 140 families were served in November -- 15 percent of whom were first time visitors. The church gave out 850 bags of groceries valued at more than $24,000 in the month.

December 16, 2008

Lutherans provide Christmas for 1,200 children

Local Lutherans contributed more than 1,200 gifts for children served by Lutheran Children and Family Services, food items for food pantries, quilts for Lutheran World Relief and other items in the annual Christmas Ingathering Dec. 7. In all about 3,000 people will be served by donations to the Ingathering, which totaled over $100,000. About as many people participated in gathering and making gifts and delivering them to drop-off points across the Synod.

October 20, 2008

Diakon supports local social ministries

As part of its annual program to promote congregation-based, community-focused social ministry efforts, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries has awarded grants to two local social ministries: The Welcome Center based at Holy Communion, Philadelphia and Feast of Justice Ministries based at St. John, Mayfair.