SOCIAL MINISTRY –Oct 2023

For the first two weeks in September we are asking for donations of specific personal care items for God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday. On Sunday, Sept. 10, congregations of the ELCA will join together for our 10th annual day of service. “God’s work, Our hands” Sunday began in 2013 and continues to be a day to celebrate who we are — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. We have chosen to prepare homeless kits to hand out to the homeless community. The care items will be assembled into individual kits by the congregation on September 10th and distributed to individuals who are food and housing insecure by People’s Homeless Task Force – Orange County.

Items needed or the kits are:

Gallon Zip Lock Bags Combs

Toothbrushes Packets of Kleenex

Toothpaste Travel Size Shampoo

Packets of Wet Wipes Travel Size Deodorant Small Bottles of Hand Sanitizer Socks – Blue or Black Bars of Soap Razors/Small Bottles Shaving Cream.

Gift cards, bus passes, and checks/cash can be placed in the offering plate on Sundays or dropped at the church office. The personal care item can be placed in the designated bin in the narthex.

Women's Ministry

SOCIAL MINISTRY –Oct 2023

The Women’s Ministry is a group of women from our congregation who meet on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 A.M. in the fellowship hall, to listen to inspirational messages, to pray together, and to plan activities and perform services which support the life of the church and our community. All women at Mt. Calvary are welcome to join us.

The Women’s Ministry is providing Care Kits for our neighbors in the community who are unhoused, unsheltered and food insecure. Each Care Kit contains facial tissue, wipes, hand sanitizer, granola bars, fruit snacks, trail mix, disposable trash bag, a pair of socks, a water bottle, and a Christian message of love, hope, and encouragement. These Care Kits are available to the congregation at no cost for pick up in the Narthex on Sunday mornings to distribute to individuals they meet in the community. More will be available each Sunday as needed. These Care Kits, as well as meals for Judy’s Kitchen, are funded by a grant from the Pacifica Synod.

Bible Study

SOCIAL MINISTRY –Oct 2023

Bible Study

A Weekly Bible study meets every Tuesday in the Pastor's office from 11am to Noon, We started the beginning the year by reading the Gospel Stories and getting insights from Debi Thomas' book INTO THE MESS & Other Jesus Stories, and are continuing to use this book to guide us in our study of the Gospels.

If you would like to deepen your faith life and connect with our beloved community, this is a great place to do it. Come and spend time together sharing and studying the Word of God. All are welcomed; no previous Bible Study experience necessary!

The Men’s Bible Study also has resumed. They meet the 1st Saturday of each month at Howard’s Restaurant on Lincoln at 8:30 AM. Due to Labor Day, the September meeting will be held on September 9.

Mt Calvary Lutheran Church Social Ministries

SOCIAL MINISTRY 2023

Month Dates Organization

Activity Description

On-going

Mt. Calvary has an ongoing ministry seeking donations of gift cards for our Good Samaritan Fund. Gift cards to grocery store, places to eat and bus passes are the greatest need. The love share and compassion shown for the people who come to Mt. Calvary for help is deeply appreciated.

October 2023 All Month Orange County Food Bank

Participants will place one designated food item in a box each day in November to assemble a box of meaningful necessities for a food bank or shelter. On Sunday, October 29 or by the end of the month, the donation boxes should be brought to the church and will be taken to the Orange County Food Bank. Individual food items may also be brought to the church throughout the month and place them in the designated bin in the narthex. Boxes are available on request.

October 13 Thru Sunday, October 15 All ladies are invited to an inspiring and relaxing time in the beautiful mountains at The Luther Glen Conference Center. Cost $210.00 (4 meals, 2 nights, Wine & Cheese plus Crafts). Submit registration form (found in Narthex or church office) to the church office with a deposit of $110.00 by September 10, 2023.

October 21 2023 Judy’s Kitchen at Congregations Community UCC in Los Alamitos

Provide and serve meals for individuals who are experiencing food insecurity

Donations of food items or money to purchase food items for the meals

November & December 2023 CCLM - Kindertree

Adopt children in After-School Program and donate holiday gifts

Finding Pathways Through Grief and Loss

Support groups at Mount Calvary Facilitated by Pastor Carole Parmeter Dyer

Wednesdays - 11 am -12:30 pm

Whether it was the death of a loved one, the loss of physical mobility, losses incurred during the pandemic, or another great loss in your life, grief is meant to be shared.

Since everyone’s experience with grief is unique, this group will help you find your own way of grieving and how to move forward with your grief.

You will find friends who care and understand what you are going through.

Finding Pathways Through Grief and Loss is a mutual help support group.

The group is not psychotherapy but it will help you navigate the difficulties of this new (or old) experience. No one has to talk, but everyone is encouraged to. Each week, we will discuss the issues and concerns common to bereaved people, including:

· What to make of the anger, discouragement, depression and guilt experienced in grief.

· How to deal with unfair expectations of others.

· Where to look for people you can trust to help you.

· How to manage the holidays and other special occasions.

· Who to consider for additional support if you need it.

· How to take care of yourself physically.

For more information please call Pastor Carole at 562-209-2768

PAST SOCIAL MINISTRIES

SEPTEMBER SOCIAL MINISTRY

In September we asked for donations of specific personal care items for God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday. On Sunday, Sept. 10, congregations of the ELCA joined together for our 10th annual day of service.  We prepared homeless kits to hand out to the homeless community. The care items were assembled into individual kits by the congregation and distributed to individuals who are food and housing insecure by People’s Homeless Task Force – Orange County.

AUGUST SOCIAL MINISTRY

SEPTEMBER SOCIAL MINISTRY

The Fellowship Ministry sponsored a free spaghetti dinner on August 26th in the Fellowship Hall with a free will offering benefiting the Disaster Response for Maui through the ELCA. We had a good turnout for the dinner followed by Bingo. Fun was had by all and we raised nearly $300 for the charity.

JULY SOCIAL MINISTRY

SEPTEMBER SOCIAL MINISTRY

JULY SOCIAL MINISTRY

In July, we asked for donations of gift cards in small denominations as well as bus passes for Mt. Calvary’s

Good Samaritan Fund so our church can provide immediate assistance to those who come to our door in crisis.

Some of the items donated were bus passes, and gift cards to nearby fast food restaurants, local grocery stores, and discount stores

Gift cards, bus passes, and checks/cash may still be placed in the offering plate on Sunday s or dropped off at the church office

GOOD SAMARITAN FUND THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

PAST SOCIAL MINISTRIES

JUNE SOCIAL MINISTRY

APRIL SOCIAL MINISTRY

JUNE SOCIAL MINISTRY

In June, Mt. Calvary’s Social Ministry program sponsored Summer Harvest. We donated school supplies that fill the backpacks of children in Cypress, Fountain Valley, and Los Alamitos to use in the upcoming school year.

Items included much needed supplies for the new school year such as Dry erasers, Pencils, Pencil Sharpeners, Pencil Boxes, Crayons, Glue / Glue Sticks, 3x3 inch Post-It notes, Folders with 2 pockets, and scissors. Thanks to everyone who donated for giving these kids a great start!

MAY SOCIAL MINISTRY

APRIL SOCIAL MINISTRY

JUNE SOCIAL MINISTRY

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO FOSTER LOVE TO PROVIDE “SWEET CASES” TO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

MT. CALVARY RAISED OVER $500.00 WHICH WILL PROVIDE AT LEAST 17 DUFFEL BAGS PACKED WITH ESSENTIALS AND A FEW TREATS TO CHILDREN TRANSITIONING TO A NEW PLACEMENT

APRIL SOCIAL MINISTRY

MT. CALVARY DONATED FOOD AND SERVED MEALS AT JUDY’S KITCHEN ON SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH. WE PREPARED AND SERVED OVER 100 MEALS OF HAM, AU GRATN POTATOES, SALADS AND ROLLS THAT DAY TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BUSY DAY. ALL WERE FED WITH FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP. THIS IS AN AMAZING MINISTRY! WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME MT. CALVARY HOSTS JUDY’S KITCHEN IN OCTOBER.

PAST SOCIAL MINISTRIES

MARCH SOCIAL MINISTRY

FEBRUARY SOCIAL MINISTRY

MT. CALVARY DONATED 20 EASTER BASKETS, AS WELL AS CANDY AND SNACKS TO LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES AND CENTRAL CITY LUTHERAN MISSION.

THESE GIFTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEY CELEBRATE EASTER AND THE RISEN CHRIST WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR GENEROSITY IS A BLESSING TO SO MANY!

FEBRUARY SOCIAL MINISTRY

Mt. Calvary donated arts and crafts supplies to the youth at Casa Youth Shelter from their Wish List. Donated supplies included Crayola Crayons, Crayola Markers, Crayola Colored Pencils, Gel Markers, Construction Paper, Watercolor Paints, Paint Brushes, Pipe Cleaners, Popsicle Sticks, and Glue Thanks for Your Generosity

JANUARY SOCIAL MINISTRY

FEBRUARY SOCIAL MINISTRY

JANUARY SOCIAL MINISTRY

Dozens of warm and colorful socks for men, women, and children were collected in January and distributed in Cypress, Los Alamitos, and Anaheim through Transitions in Motherhood and People’s Homeless Task Force of Orange County.

We also donated $420 ( twice our goal of $210) from the change and bills dropped in the plastic donation box to Lutheran Border Concerns Ministry in San Diego to fund an Angel Wings educational scholarship for a child at the border.