Social Ministry First

1st Annual First Fest

Come and join us for a fine dining experience on Saturday evening, September 20, 2008. Terry Mullin, an Executive Chef from Bloomington, Illinois will be preparing the gourmet meal. Watch for more details on this upcoming event!

Scrapbooking/Craft Night

Gather up your pictures, paper, punches, stamps and stickers and join us for another great night of scrapbooking/crafting
at First! We’ll meet Friday, September 12 from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room. Come and share in the fellowship and fun as we make progress on our projects together! Sign up at the Welcome Center. Please bring a snack to share! Questions? Call Charlotte Gustafson at 441-5860.

Illowa Lutheran Coalition—

First Lutheran will be helping the Illowa Lutheran Coalition by raising funds for Habitat for Humanity. On “Miracle Sunday,” September 14 a special offering will be taken at all services. Watch for more information about this great opportunity to
help others.

Greening Our Congregation—

In an effort to work towards preserving God’s creation we are forming a First Lutheran Green Team and you are invited to participate. We need a few good stewards willing to be on a Green Team task force that will examine ways to educate and implement some green ideas here at First. The Northern Illinois Synod has formed a Synod Green Team and is offering some great resources for each congregation. Sign up at the Welcome Center if you would be interested in being a part of this group. For more information, contact Betsy Brudos at 945-5496 (bbrudos@geneseo.net).

ELCA Draft Statement on Human Sexuality

First Lutheran Church is hosting the second session of the congregational conversation on this draft social statement on Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m. The focus of the second gathering is to review and receive praises and critiques of the draft.

News from Global Ministries

Many thanks to all those who contributed medical supplies to the medical clinic in Haiti. Teri Minnaert and Emily Storm
delivered the supplies during their recent mission trip.

David Msseemmaa sent pictures of the Northern Illinois Synod members who visited Tanzania in June. Look for
the display in the Fellowship Room.
Fair Trade coffees, teas and chocolate can be purchased at the display in the Fellowship Room.
The Genocide in the Sudan (Dafur) has escalated with little action by the developed world to this atrocity

Social Ministry reaches out to the spiritual, nutritional and physical needs of persons in our community and the world. Social Ministry here at First Lutheran serves the needs of others through some of the following activities:

Geneseo Food Pantry - necessary home items and food are contributed monthly to low-income families by members of First Lutheran. Scroll down to see a list of current needs.
Tape Ministry - audio tapes of Sunday services are available for homebound parishioners and others desiring copies
of our worship services. See the church office to arrange for this service.
Churches United Meal - meals are provided for low income persons.
Intouch Center - The Bethany Circle is collecting items for the Center.
Rebuilding Together Geneseo/Cambridge - volunteers help refurbish and repair homes of those in need.
World Hunger Appeal - fund raisers, such as fast-pitch softball with a local television station, help raise money to
help the hungry around the world.
Lutheran World Relief - members contribute to the clothing drive to help those less fortunate around the world.
Souper Bowl of Caring - through this effort money and food are collected nationally on Super Bowl Sunday and
then distributed to local charities.

Equal Exchange coffee, tea or chocolate?
Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project gives us an opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone we’ve never met. Our fair trade organization is Equal Exchange. Through this project, fair trade shares the bounty of the coffee trade with those who grow the crop, helping them to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

First Lutheran’s Equal Exchange market is located in the Fellowship Room. Come and enjoy the fabulous aroma of these coffees and the opportunity to improve the lives of coffee farmers around the world! There many different varieties of coffee and tea, as well as chocolate and cocoa. Brochures and information on Equal Exchange are available at the market. If you would like to help with this project, please contact Teri Minnaert at
944-9459.

Intouch Adult Day Services—
Intouch Adult Day Services, a program of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), is a wonderful, cost-effective alternative to help families care for their elder members when their well-being and safety are compromised due to poor health, isolation
or mental deterioration. Intouch gives seniors and others a place to go during the day with things to do, people to see and talk to, a good nutritious noon meal and medical/personal care if needed. Their “wish list” for August is: men’s electric shaver, crossword books, craft items, paper, markers, glue, card stock, bingo prizes, jogging pants, baking supplies, wet wipes,
bath essentials (Suave), aprons, and iron. Donations may be left in the basket outside the church office. Intouch is also in need of volunteers in the followng areas: men's remote controlled car races, sewing projects, and sharing hobbies and collections. For more information, contact Lynda Vogt at 309-797-0202.

Geneseo Food Pantry collection
The Geneseo Food Pantry is collecting—ramen noodles, canned fruits & vegetables, condiments (catsup, mustard, mayo) boxed cake & muffin mixes, bar soap, adult-size toothbrushes, shaving cream, disposable razors, bathroom tissue, ladies’ hygiene items, laundry soap (Dollar General has three sizes; $2.25, $2.75 and $3—Sun or Extra brands) and the following school supplies: notebook paper, folders, pencils, pens, crayons and markers to share with those in need in our community. Donations may be left in the basket outside the church office.