Memorial to the Lost
Two-hundred and eighty-eight crosses clothed in colorful t-shirts stand on the lawn on St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mayfair, in silent witness to the epidemic of gun violence plaguing Philadelphia and the nation. Each bears the name of someone killed by a gun in the city during 2012. The display went up July 6 and will be up through July 20. Read more 
What Can Congregations Due When Disaster Strikes?
What can congregations due when disaster strikes?
Pastor Steve Keiser of Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, Philadelphia and Julia Menzo of Lutheran Disaster Response in Eastern PA (sponsored by Lutheran Congregational Services- A service of Liberty Lutheran) share their stories in a new video.
What has your congregation done? Tell us your story in the comments.
State of the Plate: Rise in e-Giving
A recent report by American Public Media’s “Marketplace Money” explored the growth of electronic giving options for churches as more and more people “go cashless” — especially younger adults. One expert who studies church giving trends reports that about 40% of congregations now use some kind of electronic giving. Has your church tried any kind of online or electronic giving? How’s it working? Please let us know your experience leaving a comment below or contacting us by email.
Holy Hot Dish
Update: Just this past weekend the “Community Meal” program hosted at St. Michael, Germantown, passed the 10,000 meals served mark! Just shows how a small seed can produce a harvest of a hundredfold, or more, when watered and nurtured. Pastor Bruce Todd of St. Peter’s, Lafayette Hill, notes: “Many people are involved from picking up surplus food from Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting, to shoppers who purchase additional items, then the cooks who prepare the meals as well as those who set up, serve and clean up every Saturday morning.” Learn more from the video after the jump.
St. Peter’s of Lafayette Hill and St. Michael’s of Mt. Airy started a Community Meals program for the Mt. Airy community. The program began June 12th, 2010 serving meals every Saturday from 11am until 1pm. “Holy Hot Dish”, our current Community Meals program serves a variety of casseroles, salads, fruits, vegetables and desserts. View video after the jump.
25 Years with ASP
When 27 volunteers from St. Paul’s, Red Hill, left for Avery County, North Carolina June 30, they marked 25 consecutive years doing home repairs with the Appalachia Service Project. The quarter-century run is one of the longest records of participation among Lutheran congregations, said Karen Frederick, director of volunteers for ASP.
Eight churches in the US are reaching the 25-year milestone this year, she said. More than 14,000 volunteers from 400 congregations are participating in ASP this year.
Upper Perkiomen newspaper “Town and Country” highlighted St. Paul’s volunteerism in a recent issue…
Care Givers in Faith
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
New Ministry Team, Care Givers in Faith (CGIF)–lay members’ response to needs of others within the congregation (both acute and more chronic needs)
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and congregations help?
Our congregation members have linked into a website that allows members of the team to sign up for participation within a schedule. The website is a scheduler that other congregations could use for the same purpose within their congregation. Read more
Following Jesus into Prison
“…I was in prison, and you came to Me.” Jesus is clear that his followers are to act on behalf of “the least of these,” including those behind bars. In that spirit, volunteers at St. Paul, Red Hill have been discipling prisoners who need to hear the Good News, visiting sending Bibles and a teaching newsletter to incarcerated persons, because “God doesn’t give up on anybody.” Read more
Sharing Service to Others
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
Shared social ministry
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and congregations help?
Pottstown Cluster Outreach – ingathering of food, serving at the Outreach, community meals. Read more
Reforming Global Economics
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
Reforming the global economic system.
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and
congregations help?
Reform personal finance decisions – where I keep my money, where and how I spend it. Read more
Transitional Refugee Housing
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
Welcome Home is a new ministry between Prince of Peace and LCFS. Welcome Home is a house next to Prince of Peace that God is turning into transitional housing for refugees.
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and
congregations help?
I think God woke us up to this ministry. POP sold the property a few years ago, the new owner fixed up the property beautifully. He turned the 2 bedroom house into a 4 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms. When he asked for too much rent and couldn’t rent it, he gave POP a nice discount. POP couldn’t do it, but God could. Read more
Sustainability is a Stewardship Issue
Feeding the Hunger for Service
What is the “new thing” you have perceived God doing?
Creating dissatisfaction – making people hungry for something true, kind and hopeful. – Rev. Serena Sellers
Service Sundays once a month as an outreach and social ministry event. While it is perceived as helping others, it is actually a way for awareness to the members of the congregation. – Gary D’Aprile Read more
Pay It Forward
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
Pay It Forward
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and congregations help?
Asking my friends to contribute to the cause and then matching their contributions dollar for dollar. Read more
Advocacy for Veterans
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
Calling attention to the needs of our wounded veterans.
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and congregations help?
Giving money, time, and attention to it. Tell your politicians to help the government to do the right thing. Read more
Serving Spaghetti
What is the “new thing” that you have perceived God doing?
Feeding the hungry and connecting the church and community.
How are you cooperating with God in this activity? How can other Christians and congregations help?
St. Matthew has a free Spaghetti Dinner the last Tuesday of each month. Read more