Aug. 9, 2022
Dear Friends,
We know our neighbors locally, nationally and abroad are struggling with war, natural disasters and economic uncertainty. But God shows us there are things we can do to help our neighbors and care for creation. Here are some things you can do right now to get involved and carry out our calling to be the hands and feet of Christ.
Give to Interfaith Outreach
We’ve all noticed how food prices in the grocery stores have been rising this summer. Global and economic stresses are always hardest on our neighbors who have fewer resources. We can help by making sure that our local food pantries have the food that our neighbors need.
Interfaith Outreach is a vital ministry in our area, reaching thousands of families and individuals each year who face financial vulnerability and homelessness. You can help by ensuring that their food pantry is stocked with urgently needed items. Interfaith Outreach is accepting donations to their food shelf at their 1605 County Rd. 101 service center on Mondays and Fridays 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Wednesdays 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Visit iocp.org/foodshelf to make a monetary donation, or download a PDF list of grocery and other items that are most needed at this time.
Let’s Fill Our Grocery Carts!
This month of August, let’s fill up our grocery carts! You’ll find the carts in the atrium at Door A and at our east entry at Door E.
When you make your weekly grocery run, pick up a few extra items that you can bring to church on Sunday.
All the groceries, cleaning supplies and paper products collected here at St. Philip the Deacon go to stock the food pantry shelves at Interfaith Outreach.
Help Flood Victims in Kentucky
As the waters recede from flooded eastern Kentucky, and the full scope of the damage is assessed, Lutheran Disaster Response will work with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod and local communities to focus on long-term needs. We anticipate that the response will include rebuilding homes, replacing lost household items and providing emotional and spiritual care to survivors. Your gifts will support storm survivors. Gifts to “U.S. flooding” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by floods.
Ongoing Support for Ukraine
Our neighbors in Ukraine continue to suffer as the war with Russia drags on. Families are leaving behind everything they own and fleeing for their safety. They need immediate aid including food, water, shelter, clothing and medical care. Your emergency gift to Lutheran World Relief will deliver urgent support and care, like critically needed items for families who fled their homes, and medicine and supplies for clinics.
Give Blood, Save Lives
The need for blood donations is at an urgently high level right now, and all blood types are needed. We encourage you to schedule your blood donation at MBC.org/donate-blood.
And to help you encourage others to do the same, we invite you to take a selfie of yourself donating blood, and email it to us at social@spdlc.org, along with a sentence about why giving blood is important to you. We will post these on our Facebook page, so that you can help encourage others to donate as well!
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ in this time and this place. I give thanks to you for your partnership in the Gospel, and for all the ways you make a difference in God’s world.
Gratefully,
Tim Westermeyer
Senior Pastor