Donna Miller, Congregation Council Liaison
The Service Ministry encourages the Emmaus congregation to respond to God’s love by addressing human needs locally, nationally and internationally. We provide opportunities for members to address social issues including hunger, homelessness, and poverty through donating their time or financial resources.
Emmaus affirms our baptismal promises to both “serve all people, following the example of Jesus” and to “strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” Accordingly, we provide many direct-service opportunities to our local and global community (various offerings listed hereafter); and we also encourage our membership to engage in ELCA Advocacy and other policy efforts aligned with our denomination’s social teaching, striving for justice and peace through our local and national systems of power.
Emmaus’s Fifth Promise initiative appears especially through individual invitations to action in our News & Notes weekly newsletter, but occasionally also through sign-ups here in the church for collective engagement.
The Service Ministry provides support for the 3 micro shelters that Emmaus hosts onsite. The shelters house young adults between the ages of 18-24 through a collaboration with Hosea Youth Services. We work with members of Faith Avenue Church, with whom we share our building, to provide basic care and a dedicated “community living” room in the church building for the residents of these shelters.
We are always open to input from the community as to how God might be calling us to serve. Let us know if you have a passion for this area of ministry!
Service Opportunities:
God’s Work, Our Hands (GWOH) — GWOH is the yearly kickoff of another year of service to our community. We gather the 1st Sunday after Labor Day for an afternoon of work on various service projects.
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) —In the spring, we collect items for personal hygiene kits to provide for those in need around the world; and, in the summer, we collect supplies for school kits that are assembled on God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday for young students around the world. Handmade quilts are also sent out twice annually for LWR distribution.
Camp Lutherwood—Our members support work days scheduled by Camp Lutherwood in the spring; on Thursdays throughout the year, a dedicated small group helps regularly with the on-site needs of Camp Lutherwood. If interested, contact Peter Kugler.
Letter-Writing Advocacy for Bread for the World — Letters are written to advocate for resources and legislation to support hunger issues in our country and the world community and then sent to various legislators. Contact Lynn Kahle with questions.
Hosea Youth Services Dinner—Once a month, we establish the menu and prepare and serve the dinner meal to the vulnerable and unhoused youth at Hosea House. It’s a team effort—we do the serving and the Hosea staff does the clean up!
First Place Family Center — Each October, we collect a resource that is most needed by vulnerable families. We do a Diaper/Blanket Drive, Toilet Paper Challenge, Diaper/Sheet Sets Drive, along with other needed items.
FISH (Friends In Service to Humanity) —We collect shelf-stable, protein-forward food items for a local, Christian food distribution effort known as FISH. Donations are received regularly throughout the year, with active drives in September and November.
Support the Eugene Mission—
The Mission provides training, guidance, and support for the homeless and needy in our community. We support the Mission by gathering and donating needed items.
Toiletries Collection—Near the kitchen, we collect hotel shampoos and soaps for good use by donating them to Hosea Youth Services! Linda Henry is our contact person.
Giving Tree — Every year during Advent we choose a charity to collect for and donate toward either physical presents or monetary donations that are then given to aid those families and people in need.
Eyeglass Collection — Used glasses are collected on behalf of the Lions Club and then distributed to those in need worldwide.
Cards —We make and send cards for our Emmaus community to cheer and brighten their days.
If you’re interested in any of the service projects, please contact Donna Miller.
