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Social Ministry Committee

Mission Statement

Social Ministry is putting our Christian faith into action. Congregations in the community and world develop social ministry programs at large. The programs are a response to the great commandments-you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31); we love because he first loved us (John 4:19).

Through Social Ministry programming, congregations live out the Lord's expectation that we "feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, and minister to the infirmed and imprisoned" (Matthew 25:35-36); God has a special concern for those who are dispossessed because of their race, class, gender, age, disability, or ethnic background. Social Ministry responds concretely to those concerns by seeking justice, mercy, and reconciliation on behalf of those served.

The Social Ministry Committee seeks to fulfill its mission of helping those in need locally, regionally, and globally through the following ministries:

  • + Collecting food items for distribution to those in need locally. Food is collected every third Sunday of the month and also for our Harvest Home celebration.
  • + Participating in the annual CROP walk
  • + Collecting hats, mittens, gloves and scarves for Martin Luther Silver Springs School and the Keystone Opportunity Center (formally called Indian Valley Opportunity Center)
  • + Participating in the Southeastern PA synod's In-gathering
  • + Assembling Thanksgiving baskets for local families in need
  • + Collecting toys for children at Martin Luther Silver Springs School for Christmas.
  • + Assembling health care kits for the patients in the Eagleville Rehabilitation Hospital
  • + Works with the Youth Group to raise money on Super Bowl Sunday to support local food pantries.
  • + Sponsoring a special offering for Baby Manna, an organization that buys formula for babies in the greater Delaware Valley.
  • + Collecting financial donations for ELCA World Hunger Appeal
  • + Providing financial support for organizations, such as Katrina Builder's Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and Lutheran Charities Appeal.
  • + Supporting "Souper Cooks and Comfort Crafters," a service ministry at St. John's that prepares soup for Table of Plenty, and knits hats, scarves, blanket squares and prayer shawls.

    • To investigate Service Ministries, see side menu item Service Ministries.

    By offering opportunities to support these ministries, the Social Ministry Committee raises awareness of the needs of others, as well as how we can help build awareness of justice work on synod, church-wide, local and national levels. The committee seeks to sponsor special learning events for various age groups in the congregation.

    If you feel called to action in the area of Social Ministry, new members are welcome to join. Gifts needed to serve on the Social Ministry Committee include, love of God, compassion for those in need, creativity, and a willingness to do various tasks to fulfill the committee goals. The time involved in serving on this committee is to attend meetings as needed (generally about every other month), time spent publicizing events, taking collected items to ministry agencies, and other tasks that support the work of the committee. If you are interested in serving on this committee or would like more information, please contact Marianne Yeakel, committee chair by contacting the church office.