Hunger, Housing, Hope, and Global Outreach Team (H3GO) News

The mission of the Hunger, Housing, Hope and Global Outreach Committee is fourfold: 1) to battle hunger in our community and around the world by volunteering and giving generously to programs that feed those with food insecurity; 2) to support efforts to get people in shelter and/or affordable housing  by partnering with entities that serve the homeless; 3) to help the congregation connect with Global Outreach opportunities within the wider work of the ELCA and other organizations such as our partnership with the SAME Lutheran congregation in Tanzania; and 4) to bring hope of the gospel and love of Christ to people by tithing to our synod and giving generously to our community, praying for and reaching out to those in our neighborhood, and showering blessing upon the guests whom God brings through our doors.

Hunger Team News:

CROP Walk a Success

On Oct. 8, 2017 a record 36 walkers from First Lutheran Church raised $5,600 so far for the CROP Hunger Walk to help children and families worldwide – including here in the U.S. – to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. CROP Walkers, volunteers and sponsors put their caring into action, raising funds to help end hunger and poverty at home and around the world. You can still support Team First Lutheran church by going to: http://www.crophungerwalk.org/cedarrapidsia

Together we are part of the solution!

S.E.M.P. Feeds Those in Need

You're welcome to join us in our 25+ year ministry of serving meals to all those in need once a week with our Saturday Evening Meal Program (S.E.M.P.)  People from many churches including our own make up our 18 different serving teams who cook and serve a hot meal to 75-150 people at 4:30 p.m. every Saturday. We haven't missed a week due to weather or holidays in 25 years!

If you'd like to volunteer, contact Vicki Hughes at vickih@firstlutherancr.org

Global Outreach

Our Global Outreach team is still forming and planning a trip to Tanzania to reconnect with our sister congregation in Same in the summer of 2018. We'll have more information for you soon!  If you're interested in getting involved in Global Outreach, contact Pr. Steve Knudson at stevek@firstlutherancr.org  

Housing Team News:

Helping the Homeless

Family Promise Close to Restart First Lutheran was recently featured in a news story by KCRG-TV9 on an update of Family Promise.  You can watch the story here: http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Family-Promise-of-Linn-County-plans-to-restart-services-458675363.html

Pigs with a Purpose Raise $48k

First Lutheran members taking our pigs to market at the SE Iowa Synod Assembly. L-R: Suah Borsay, Kari Kempf, Pr. Steve, Thomas Wolle (holding the tail), Pr. Leroy, and Pr. Craig. “Pigs with a Purpose” raised $48,000 from churches all across the Southeast Iowa Synod to fight World Hunger.  Our Hunger, Housing, and Hope Team contributed $1,000 of your offerings to the effort.  Thank you, church!

Hope Team News:

Worshipping Behind Bars

First Lutheran Members Deb Schamberger and Pr. Craig Brown raised their voices in praise on Saturday, Feb. 3 with inmates at the first ever worship of Free Indeed, an ELCA congregation inside the walls of the Anamosa State Penitentiary.  About 10 inmates attended the worship. Inmates not only prayed and sang alongside our church members but also helped lead the service reading scriptures and playing in the praise band.  The newly installed Pastor Jerry Collell preached and Pastor Craig helped serve communion.  Pr. Craig said, “I was incredibly humbled to worship God with such strong Christian men who are obviously living out their faith in their daily lives and trying to make their world a better place in a difficult circumstance.  As I was shaking hands and chatting before service about their families and the Superbowl I felt like I was at any other church and I forgot where I was.  Maybe they did too even for a brief moment.  We are all Christians, freed by Christ.  No prison can keep us.”  The plan is to encourage other church members from other churches in our synod to worship with the men on a rotating basis in the future.     

God's Work Our Hands Day Thank you to the 100+ people who helped us serve our community on   We picked up 85 square blocks of trash (the entire Wellington Heights Neighborhood), prayed over and sent out military devotions, baked cookies for those in need, weeded, painted, and re-built our community as a part of God's Work, Our Hands Day - the ELCA's national day of service - on Sunday, Sept. 10th. Service is a big part of our call to faith as Lutherans and we look forward to serving with you in the future!