Grace Lutheran Church, Woodstock Illinois

Social Ministry at Grace and Beyond

Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers from Grace will be working on a house under construction in Harvard. Grace’s work dates are the following Saturdays: August 30, September 13, and October 25. Visit www.habitatmchenry.org to find a map to the house (#15) and to complete a volunteer information form and release form.

ONE Sunday

Grace celebrated ONE Sunday on September 21, with opportunities for everyone to learn more about poverty and hunger around the world and what we can do to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty. Click here for more information. Visit ttp://archive.elca.org/advocacy/one/ for information about the issues.

PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)
Once a month Grace members prepare and serve dinner to homeless people who are staying at the emergency shelter at the Congregational Unitarian church on Wednesday nights from October to April. PADS offers shelter and services for people who are homeless. For more information about other services for the homeless, visit www.mchenrycountypads.com.

PADS Shelter Meal Service Begins October 22
In October, Grace will once again begin our service to the hungry in our community with monthly meal service at the PADS shelter. We have been assigned the 4th Wednesday of each month and are responsible for providing and serving a meal for approximately 50 people. Last year we had many
excited volunteers who are ready to get involved again. If you would like to be a part of this important mission, and make a difference in your community, please contact Lanna Einspahr at 815-337-2885. We are always looking for new cooks and/or servers. It is truly an awesome experience to do the Lord’s work by helping to meet the basic needs of our brothers and sisters. Members of the Social Ministry Team invite you to be a part of it! We will again be asking the congregation to donate needed food items for the meal. Our first meal date is October 22. Thank you for your support!

Food Pantry needs

The Woodstock Food Pantry needs our help to restock its shelves. Donations of nonperishable food, paper goods, and toiletries can be placed in the basket in the vestibule. Items especially requested include canned vegetables (corn, green beans), canned fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple), soup (vegetable, cream of mushroom, chicken noodle, tomato), toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products. Cash donations through the church office are also much appreciated. Please bring your items on “Food Pantry Sunday” – the first Sunday of each month – or at any time. Thank you!
Grace members recently planted a vegetable garden on the church grounds. Produce from the garden will be donated to the food pantry. Everyone is welcome to help weed and water the garden. Gardening tools, gloves, sunscreen, and insect spray can be found on the desk inside the lower entrance to the church.

Tanzanian Banner Gift

Grace has received a painted banner crafted by the members of our partner congregation, the Arusha Town Lutheran Parish in Arusha, Tanzania. We offer our prayers of thanks for our partners in ministry at the Arusha Town Parish. The youth at Grace have painted a banner with the message "We are One in the Spirit," which was delivered in early July to Arusha.

Social Ministry at Grace and Beyond

ONE Sunday

Links to Other Service Organizations Supported by Grace