Bright Spot: Feeding Shelter Church

A 2022 Food Ministry Grant Recipient

Submitted by Ben Geer of Grace Lutheran in Mankato

Grace Lutheran Church continues to provide ways to feed the Mankato community. Every Sunday over the last two years, they have hosted “Shelter Church” in the basement. Shelter Church is a ministry of Connections Ministry in Mankato, MN. Some people attending may be experiencing homelessness or other ways of poverty. Some people may have been hurt by the church in the past. Shelter Church provides a safe space for all people to gather. Each week a meal is served to the 25-40 people that attend. Volunteers gather to make and serve the meal. Grace provides the meal on the 2nd and 4th Sunday. Although most of the food items used to make the meal are provided for free by South Central Minnesota Food Recovery, additional items are sometimes needed to round off a great meal. With the help of the SEMN Synod Hunger Grant, extra supplies have been purchased to assist with the meal...

The Office of the Bishop is glad to work with LMM, helping to share their ministry with and for men with regard to the events and resources they provide. One of LMM's strategic plan goals is to "Reach More." One of the efforts related to this goal is to obtain information regarding men's ministries in our congregations and to identify the leaders or contacts. This will also identify congregations without an active men's ministry that want to know more about LMM events and resources.

Therefore, on behalf of LMM, we join synod offices nationwide in sharing a brief online survey created by LMM. Anyone may complete this survey, and multiple submissions from the same congregation are welcome.

The 2023 EcoFaith Leadership Retreat will take place August 27-29th at Camp Onomia in Onamia, MN. The theme of the retreat is Cross+Pollination in this Kairos Time (which flows from the 2023 EcoFaith Summit theme, "The Pollinator Plot: Cross+Pollination in a Time of Ecological Crisis.")

Register and learn more at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScf1E6yN2tkbAahVVy1uMmnFiZS93D2LFhcJf1k5odcyMRV9A/viewform?usp=send_form

• Sep. 10: God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday (10th Anniversary!)
• Oct. 1: Continuing Ed. Grant Deadline
• Oct. 6-8: BONUS! Add-on retreat time option for Fall Theological. (Learn more.)
• Oct. 8-10*: Fall Theological Retreat 2023 in Okoboji, IA
• December 14: Power and Boundaries Workshop for church leaders