Social Ministry First
Sweetheart Dinner at Circa 21
Sunday, February 12 at 4 p.m.
Go on a date back to the 50’s! This lively and funny musical featuring Rydell High’s spirited class of ‘59 captures the look
and sound of the 1950’s. Reservations are limited to the first 20 couples. Hurry and sign up at the Welcome Center by February 4. The cost is $43.50 per person which includes a 5 entrée buffet dinner. Please make checks payable to First Lutheran with Circa 21 indicated on the memo line. Questions? Call Barb Fehlman at 944-3314 or Sara Reed at
502-9486.
Valentine Cheer for our Shut-ins
No matter what age you are it is fun to get Valentine’s Day Cards! Everyone is invited to bring Valentine’s Day Cards to
share with our shut-ins. Individual bags for each shut-in are located in the Fellowship Room. Be sure to drop your valentines in by Sunday, February 12. This is a fun and easy way to share Christ’s love with those who are unable to come to church or sometimes get out at all.
• If you would like to help deliver the Valentine bags, please contact Glen & Janet Anderson at 441-5522
(janglen@geneseo.net).
Coupons for Troops
We are always looking for ways to support out troops. One very simple way is to recycle our expired coupons and help
our military families at the same time. Often our military families don’t have access to manufacturers coupons that we find
in newspapers and magazines, but their commissaries accept manufacturers coupons that have expired up to six months.
If you would like to support our troops by recycling your coupons there are a couple good websites with information.
One of the largest and longest serving websites spearheading coupons for troops is www.ocpnet.org. They will give
you step by step instructions on how to package and ship your coupons and how to choose a base to send them to.
Another good site is www.couponsfortroops.com, they provide information on sorting and mailing both expired and
current coupons, and lists of overseas bases and organizations within
the U.S. that collect and ship coupons.
The Shoeman Project
“I don’t want your money, I want your soul. Your shoe sole that is!”
First Lutheran is helping Thrivent Financial for Lutherans with “The Shoeman Project.” With this project, Thrivent collects
used shoes that are shipped to South America’s used shoe market for people who cannot afford new shoes. The proceeds are then used to buy U.S. drilling rigs and towing vehicles to drill 30-40 wells in Kenya each year. It also provides ongoing training and jobs for Kenyans.
In 2008, Thrivent collected 156,000 pairs of shoes which were used to purchase and ship two drilling rigs. If you would
like to help with this project, please drop your used shoes in the container located at the south entrance coming into the Fellowship Room. Please rubber band or tie the strings together for ease in sorting. Thank you.
Green Team
Reusable bags are available in the Fellowship Room for only $3 each. Buy several, keep them handy for everyday use. All proceeds will go toward Green Team projects in our church and community. These bags are also a great way to promote our church because each bag is personalized with our First Lutheran logo. If you have any suggestions or helpful hints on being “green” please
let us know as we are always looking for new ideas. Contact Betsy Brudos at 945-5496 (bbrudos@geneseo.net).
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.
- Audio Ministry - recordings of the Traditional Sunday service are available on CD for homebound parishioners
and others desiring copies of our worship services. Contact the church office to arrange for this service.
- Churches United Meal - meals are provided for low income persons.
- Intouch Center - members donate items to 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.
Global Mission Ministry is changing the procedure of purchasing Equal Exchange products. Starting in December, there will be an order sheet in the sign up book at the Welcome Center that will list the products available and the prices for each. It will also be possible
to place special orders. You will be notified when your order is available for pick up. If you need any assistance, please contact Norm & Judy Carbiener at 944-5545.
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 December is: Quad Cities Area business gift cards, wash cloths, hand towels, socks, copy paper, foil, Saran Wrap, Bingo prizes, medium hot-glue sticks, regular & decaf coffee, decaf tea, Dawn dishwashing liquid, shampoo, hair conditioner, paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils, small & medium sizes of ceramic greenware and bisque, colored yarn, card stock, dish cloths, body wash, acrylic paints, fleece and pump hand soap, all sizes of zip lock bags, strings or single colored LED lights, lighted spinning color wheel, room darkening curtains, recumbent bike, divided disposable plates, AA and D batteries. Donations may be left in
the basket outside the church office.
Food Pantry Collection
The Geneseo Food Pantry is collecting sugar, cereal, canned fruit, pancake syrup, pancake mix, soda/graham crackers, rice, spaghetti sauce, hamburger helper, diapers (all sizes), laundry detergent, dish soap, Chap Stick, and over-the-counter cold relievers to share with those in our community. Donations may be left in the basket outside the church office.
- In addition, there is a need for baby and children’s clothing of all sizes. Household items such as kitchen utensils,
pots and pans, plates, cups, silverware, etc. are also accepted. Your help is appreciated!
