Category: Social Ministry

A new small group interested in making quilts for Lutheran World Relief has been created and is getting organized. In order to begin we would like to ask your help to collect:

• Left over fabric
• Old bedspreads, blankets
• Sheets
• Curtains
• Coupons for Joann Fabrics (to purchase batting)

There will be a box in the narthex for any contributions- marked “Quilts”

Anyone who is interested is invited to join us. Our next meeting is Monday January 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the church. You do not need to know how to quilt to help out. There are opportunities for people to cut squares to be sewn together, or to help know a completed quilt. Training is provided! Please see Donna Null, Dee Mumma, Norma Good or Barb Widdall for further information.

The Social Ministry Committee is once again asking you to help the students at Hambright School. We will be collecting “Bear Necessities”: underwear and socks in sizes 8-10, 10-12, 12-14   boys or girls. The collection will be from February 2^nd till February 23^rd. Bring your donations to church and put them in the box provided that has the Bear on the front. The box will be in the narthex. Please bring only new items in their original packaging. Your tremendous response for the children at Hambright is really appreciated.  Thank you.

ATTENTION MARRIED COUPLES:  Have you signed up for your spring Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend? What better way for you and your spouse to spend a weekend than escaping from all the daily pressures and responsibilities to search out and discover an even warmer, closer, more joyful marital relationship!  The Pennsylvania spring Weekends are:

March 28-30, 2014 at Park Inn Radisson, West Middlesex, PA,  where each couple has a king bed and their own hot tub — an hour north of Pittsburgh, just off of Interstate 80

April 25-27, 2014 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College—Happy Valley’s premier conference center located on a quiet hillside with views of the Nittany Mountains

We are also accepting registrations for the fall Weekends:  September 12-14, 2014 at Spruce Lake Retreat Center, Canadensis, PA in the heart of the Poconos and September 26-28, 2014 at Olmsted Retreat Center, Ludlow, PA,  an hour north of DuBois.   Weekends are for married couples whether you have been married only a few months or upwards of 50 years, and they run from Friday at 8 PM to Sunday around 4 PM.  Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all supplies are included.   There is a $45 per couple registration fee, plus toward the end of the weekend, you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution toward the continuation of the program.  Register now to avoid being disappointed!  Simply go to the website: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and sign up using a credit card to pay the $45 registration fee, or mark the option to pay by check, and you will be notified where to send your check.   For questions, or if you would like a brochure with registration form mailed to you, contact PA Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at fjschamber@comcast.net or 724-325-3166.

SOUPER BOWL comes to Holy Spirit in January this year!  Yes, the Social Ministry Team is at it again.  We want you to be a part of the Holy Spirit “Souper Bowl” team by helping fill the Giving Well in the narthex with soup.  CANS of soup, that is!  If everyone brings in one or two cans of soup, our Area Food Pantry will be equipped to give out soup to those in need.  So put on your helmet of salvation and your shoulder pads of righteousness (I’m sure that’s in the Bible…. in Ephesians?) and go to the grocery store.  Find the soup aisle and buy a couple of extra cans of soup!  Drop the cans (gently) into the Giving Well.  You may do a “touchdown” dance if you like!  Working together we can do a super job of feeding God’s family!

During the month of August, the food pantry served 192 families which included 94 seniors, 252 children, and 312 adults, for a total of 658 people served during the month. Currently there are more than 240 families registered to receive assistance with food. Clients may visit the pantry once a week, either Monday or Wednesday…an average of 100 families visit the pantry each week.

“Thank you” to your members who contributed over 100 pounds of food items to the pantry during the month of August!  The pantry continues to receive fresh produce from our “summer farmers!”

Highlighted donations during the month of August included:  WJTL Cookie Break event – 826 pounds of food ; Darrenkamps Store in Mount Joy – 2,098 pounds of fresh produce;  Penn State Extension Research fields – 304 pounds of fresh produce; Forry’s Market – 334 pounds of food items; many private individuals totaled  – 697 pounds of food items including fresh produce; the Target Store in Lititz – 1,037 pounds of food items, fresh produce, and bakery items; S. Clyde Weaver – 188 pounds of bakery items; Weis stores in Columbia and on Stony Battery Road a combined total of 1,201 pounds of bakery items.  In addition, the pantry receives monthly donations of food items from many other churches in the Hempfield community. The pantry is a total community effort working together to help families with weekly food assistance!

The pantry is seeking donations of NEW, small gift items to fill Christmas bags (lunch bag size) for the children (age 12 and under) of client families.  Donations may be delivered to Zion the week of December 1 through December 6 during pantry “open” days (Monday and Wednesday 8 AM – 12:00 PM).  Bags will be filled on Saturday December 7.  We do not need tooth brushes…..many have been already donated!