God's Work Our Hands

September 10, 2023

“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is a day of service that began 10 years ago to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ELCA to engage members in service work to make a positive change in their communities, build and deepen relationships, and share God’s love. The tradition continues on September 10 and you can participate by helping with projects below, donating supplies, or joining us for the last potluck of the season after worship.


If you own an RLC, GWOH, or Thrivent t-shirt, you are invited to wear it on September 10.


Have an idea for a project? Want to help lead a project? Does your ministry want to coordinate a project? 

Please contact Becky Schuerman Choi if you can help in any way!



LITTER CLEANUP

Litter never ends, and our grounds and surrounding streets have plenty to offer. We’ll have supplies on hand for this 8am project. 


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Project leader: Becky Schuerman Choi

Blood Drive

Another chance to give 2 or 3 in ’23. A Carter BloodCare bus will be in our parking lot from 9am to 1pm. Sign-ups appreciated but walk-ins accepted. Remember to eat a healthy meal and drink a lot of liquids! 


Sign-up HERE!


Project leader: Cathie Irons

Second Sunday Social

Our final potluck of the summer. Bring a dish to share and join us in the Celebration Center after worship for good food and great company before the afternoon projects begin. Volunteers requested to help set up and clean up. 


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Decorate Bags

Decorate Christmas bags that will be filled with personal hygiene items and fruit for prisoners in various Texas prisons through the Gift of Light Christmas Ministry by the Coalition of Churches Prison Ministry. Volunteers ages 13 and up will be using markers and crayons to decorate white bags with a stenciled design. If anyone would like to help stencil bags before September 7, please contact Nancy Parker. 


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Project leader: Nancy Parker

Homeless Food Packs

Our Sunday School kids and their families are invited to assemble food packs for the City of Plano’s Homeless Services division that are distributed to residents experiencing homelessness. Police Officers and Community Services Division staff often provide guidance and referrals when encountering and responding to homelessness in Plano, and the ability to offer a care package helps to establish rapport and build trust, which is critical to successfully linking people to housing programs and support services.


Donations: We need donations of the items below which will be packed in gallon-sized bags:

  • Protein/granola bars (best to avoid melty & messy chocolate)
  • peanut butter/cheese crackers
  • beef jerky
  • chicken/tuna salad (pouches, not cans) · crackers (small packages like Ritz Fresh Stacks)
  • fruit/pudding cups
  • apple sauce
  • water bottles


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Project leader: Lorraine Laut

Lovepacs

Lovepacs works with school counselors and administrators to properly identify children in need to provide boxes filled with non-perishable, easy to open, and minimal cooking food items during extended school breaks when the food they receive from the local backpack program will not be enough. Lovepacs Plano served over 7,500 boxes to students in need for the 2022-2023 school year.


Donations: We are going to help them by collecting the items they need the most:

  • jelly (20 oz plastic jars)
  • microwave popcorn bags
  • granola bars (10 -12 count box)
  • instant oatmeal (box of individual packets)

Our food collection is in the Narthex. Any donations that are not suitable for Lovepacs will be delivered to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in south Dallas.


Project leader: Becky Schuerman Choi

Plarns

We will cut plastic bags into strips so volunteers at the Assistance League of Greater Collin County can then crochet mats for the homeless. Here is one example of how they are made. Please bring donations of clean plastic grocery bags to the Narthex.

Donations: Please bring clean plastic shopping bags to the GWOH table in the Narthex. 


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Project leader: Beth Smith

Pet Beds

Easy no-sew project to support the animal shelter.


Donations:

  • · Fleece
  • · Stuffing materials – Polyfil, old blankets, old pillows


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Project leader: Sallie Diamond

CARING CARDS

Love to get mail? Our beloved members who are currently living in nursing homes, homebound or unable to come to church would love to receive some mail. Many of them have been active with the children of our congregation over the years and would take great joy at receiving some letters, cards, or pictures from our congregation and the Sunday School kids.


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Project leader: Betsy Boyd

BOOK SORTING

Help us get ready for the Sept. 23-24 book sale by sorting our donations. 


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Project leader: Gayle Lind