serving in love
“for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me”
Matthew 25:35-36 NRSV
The Lancaster Community Meal Program provides free daily meals to community members in Lancaster City and county who are seeking a meal and good conversation. The program relies upon hundreds of volunteers from churches and organizations to plan, prepare, and serve the meals. Several city congregations host the sites for the meals.
Serving the Community Meal at East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church
Emmanuel Lutheran Church serves a community meal four to five times per year at the East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church location. We typically serve over 200 individuals at a meal. Participants have the choice of a take-out or a sit-down meal. This year our dates to provide the meal will be:
- January 13, 2025
- April 14, 2025
- June 9, 2025
- October 13, 2025
If you are interested in preparing or providing needed food items, or helping at the meal, please see the Social Ministry table at the back of the sanctuary.
Other ways to serve.
Throughout the year, members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church serve others by contributing monetary and material gifts.
Baskets of Promise
Gifts of personal care items and school supplies assist with Lutheran World Relief's Kits of Care Program. These kits, provided to families affected by natural disasters, poverty, conflict, or other dire conditions, enable the recipients to maintain good hygiene and keep education going during a crisis.
Mbalizi Lutheran Church and the Konde Diocese in Tanzania
Emmanuel Lutheran is a companion congregation to Mbalizi Lutheran Church, located in the Konde Diocese in Tanzania. We provide financial support to our companion congregation as well as to the Konde Diocese to assist with general operating expenses, Pastors’ salaries, Manow Lutheran Junior Seminary (scholarships and educational materials), Itete Hospital and medical needs (covers operating costs at Itete Hospital and other health care centers and dispensaries throughout the Diocese), the Iwambi Orphanage, and Matema Bible College and Vocational Training Center (provides training of all Diocese evangelists as well as vocational training).
Missionaries
Emmanuel supports Jodi and Dr. Stephen Swanson, ELCA missionaries serving in Arusha, Tanzania. Jodi is a pediatric nurse working with severely malnourished children in a rural hospital. Dr. Stephen is a pediatric physician who serves a Neo-natal Intensive Care (NICU) unit at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center.
Tree 4 Hope
Tree 4 Hope is a nonprofit organization that operates Hope Academy, a bi-lingual school for girls in Guatemala. In addition, every day, Tree 4 Hope delivers fruit, vegetables, and meat to children at the Miguel Magone orphanage and the village of El Aguacate. Our book club, Gutenberg Gab, is currently providing a scholarship and support to the food program.
ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response
Lutheran Disaster Response shares God's hope, healing, and renewal with people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. Support has been provided internationally during conflicts, droughts, migrant crises, and refugee crises. In the US support has been provided to victims of flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes, and wildfires.
ARC Angel Holiday Project
Do you enjoy giving gifts and serving others in need? ARC of Lancaster-Lebanon coordinates with support service organizations to organize and distribute holiday gifts purchased by "Volunteer Angels" for children and adults with Intellectual Delays, Developmental Disabilities or Autism. During the advent season if you are interested in serving through gift giving, please see the display in the back of the Nave for more details.
