| Article Index |
|---|
| Outreach |
| Clothing drives |
| Coat Drive |
| Healthi Kits |
| Heart for the Homeless |
| All Pages |
CONCORDIA ON FACEBOOK -Pastor Hopkins has established a Blog on this popular social networking site.Once registered and logged in, any Facebook user can simply search for Concordia Lutheran Church in New Hampshire to access us at any time. Please check in as you can contribute to our efforts in this new contact/conversation medium. Mention it to a friend and help extend our outreach.
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FRIENDLY KITCHEN:
The Concord Friendly Kitchen has one purpose - - to feed the hungry. They are the only soup kitchen in the Concord area. Since it first began in 1980, it has served over 600,000 meals and has seen a steady increase in guests from year to year.
The Friendly Kitchen serves an evening meal every day, weekday breakfast during colder months, and weekend breakfasts year round. It is run almost entirely by volunteers and it relies on donatons from individuals and businesses to pay its expenses.
Concordia not only donates funds to the Friendly Kitchen but also participates on the first Sunday of each month by serving, and donating salads and desserts. Church members are encouraged to sign up each month to help in this worthwhile endeavor.
Please consider signing up to serve or bring a salad or dessert for Friendly Kitchen.
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FOOD PANTRY:
JANUARY selectionisPEANUT BUTTER. Please leave your donations in the wicker basket in the hall.
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LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES -
Antrim Girls Shelter - Concordia has contributed to the Shelter making it possible to continue to provide young girls with a safe, caring, environment that helps them to learn the skills they need to become productive citizens. We continue to do so throughout the year. This is the only shelter program exclusively for girls in New Hampshire.
LSS Foster Care Program - At Christmas we provide gifts for the children involved with the LSS Foster Care Program. This program is in conjunction with the Annual Foster Parent Holiday Party. We also collect funds to help some needy families who may not be members of the church and assemble and distribute cheer baskets to shut-ins.
Crop Walk in Concord - conducted by the Interfaith Council - An annual affair. See up coming events for more information.
Bike -n - Build - An annual event includes mainly college aged students who bicycle across the United States, starting at the east coast, raising funds for Habitat for Humanity. The students spend their first night at Concordia where we provide dinner and breakfast by some of our church members. Along their journey, the group may pause in order to assist with some Habitat projects.
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I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess. -Martin Luther
In January and February we are collecting Coats. If you have an extra coat drop it off at the church.
We will be handing out free coats on Saturday February 20th from 10am - 2pm.
Pictures from our fall clothing drive
This fall we served over 200 people with clothing and and a simple lunch.
In the winter we collected over 100 Blankets.
Last month we collected over 150 gloves, hats, and socks.
Help someone in need you will get great spiritual fullfillment from it.
Coat Drive
In our continued response to address the needs of the homeless in Concord, the Outreach Committee is planning a coat drive to be held on Saturday, February 20th at Concordia Lutheran Church from 10am-2pm. Donations will be taken from January 10th February 14th. Jesus commands us to care for one another and says in Mathew 25:40 I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. As we thank God for the comfort and heat of our homes, let us not forget those who have no home. Please look through your closets and tell your friends about our coat drive and show those in need that God cares about them.
Our Coat drive was a huge success. We collect 100 coats and purchased 50. We had 19 volunteers to help set up and distribute coats. We had 40 people come and take coats. We gave away 75 coats at the Church, and the rest we donated to Rise Again ministries. Thanks to all who made this event a great success. It is wonderful to help others and to join hands in Christian fellowship.
Operation Health Kits 2010
The Outreach Committee will once again be asking for your help with our Health Kit Project. In conjunction with Church World Service (CWS), we will be collecting Health Kits to be distributed to those in need both in the United States and worldwide.
Church World Service is always one of the first responders in any disaster situation as in the case of the recent catastrophe in Haiti. These kits are also distributed to those facing violence and poverty and can mean the difference between sickness and health to struggling families.
Health Kits will be collected starting Sunday, Feb. 7th Sunday, April 25th. Kits will be picked up for distribution the beginning of May
To assemble a Health Kit, include the following items in a one-gallon zip-lock bag and drop off in a specially marked box at Concordia:
- One hand towel (not a bath towel)
- One washcloth
- One wide-tooth comb (in original packaging)
- One nail clipper (no metal files or emery boards)
- One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
- One toothbrush (in original packaging)
- Six Band-Aids
Toothpaste is not needed. Toothpaste that has an extended expiration date will be added to the kits just prior to shipment by CWS.
Monetary donations are also welcome as we need to include $2.00 toward shipping and handling fees for each kit.
Our goal this year is at least 200 kits, so please consider assembling a kit and ask your friends and family as well. These kits are a visible sign from Concordia that we care for those in need. Working together with one heart we can make a difference! Thank you.
Heart for the Homeless: A project of compassion from Concordia Lutheran Church
Our goal as Christians is to bring others to Christ. As it says in the Gospel of Matthew, to go into all nations baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We accomplish this by sharing our hearts with others, and asking them to join our hearts in Christ. This outreach project is to encourage, engage, and mobilize our entire congregation in helping the homeless here in Concord in the name of Jesus Christ. When we reach out in love it is always in the name of Jesus that we do so.
This project will think about ways to engage all the different people in the congregation young, old, new members, old members, middle age, families, single people, and anyone else. It will be both educational and action driven.
Goal:
To increase our outreach towards the homeless in Concord.
Actions:
Gather food, clothing, blankets, bikes, and any other resources needed to help.
Volunteer in local cold winter shelters.
Provide opportunities for learning about the homeless issue for our young people, and for adults in continuing education.
Engage local colleges in projects (For example, NHTI, Franklin Pierce, Hesser or Granite State)
Seek to have relationships with people who are homeless.
Seek to partner with other groups in Concord working on this issue.
Build relationships with other local agencies and think strategically about solving the issue of homelessness.
Continue our relationship and volunteering with the Friendly Kitchen.
Outcomes:
Gather and distribute at least 100 blankets, 100 hats, gloves and scarves, 200 pieces of clothing, 100 bikes
Have at least 20 people from Concordia volunteering in Cold Winter Shelters by next winter.
Incorporate teaching about homeless into next years confirmation program, youth group, adult education, and Sunday school.
Engage at least 50 volunteers in one major volunteer day aimed at relieving homelessness.
Do 50 relational meetings with others churches, organizations, public officials involved in working on issues of homelessness in Concord, and the state of New Hampshire.
Build relationships with community service organizations on campus to invite and engage students in volunteer projects.
Monthly gather basket full of food for local food pantry.
Seek to invite 20 homeless to worship with us and to have a relationship with Jesus.
Hand out 200 tracts (written by Concordia) to help homeless see God working in their lives.