Social Ministry

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

St. John’s engages in many mission-driven endeavors and responds generously in the name of Christ.

Hunger
St. John’s manages and stocks a Little Free Pantry for those living in food insecurity. It is a free-standing, outdoor structure, open 24/7, near the entrance to the church grounds just off Newfield Avenue. Because of the colder weather, we are shifting to the “winter stock” for the Little Free Pantry until spring when it no longer freezes.  So, please note the desired food and kitchen/toiletry items to round out our inventory:

• Food items needed are protein bars, pouch protein (i.e. tuna/chicken), spices, dried milk.  We can always use dried soup mixes and pasta.
• Personal care items needed are shampoo, conditioner, bars of soap, toothbrushes and pastes, floss, feminine care products, and lotions.
• Cleaning products neededare small containers of laundry soap and dish soap

Bring the above items to the church – do not place them directly into the Little Free Pantry because we are trying to monitor inventory. Thank you for supporting our 24/7 access, outdoor pantry!  To volunteer to monitor the LFP, click here to access a SignUpGenius and to access volunteer instructions, please click here.

St. John’s also collects food and raises money regularly for the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and Family Centers. Thanksgiving Baskets are assembled and distributed to families through Family Centers. Dollars are raised for Souper Bowl for Caring, and donations are made to ELCA World Hunger.

Homeless
Members of St. John’s serve meals the second Sunday of every other month at Pacific House Shelter, a homeless shelter in Stamford for men. Food preparation is done at the church, food is transported to Pacific House, and volunteers serve the meal to the men at the shelter.

Other Mission Opportunities
St. John’s also collects school kits for Lutheran World Relief, provides Christmas gifts and vouchers for Family Centers, Heifer Project International, makes quilts distributed through Lutheran World Relief, and gives away thousands of dollars from the annual Pumpkin Patch, divided between a Navajo Lutheran Mission in Arizona and a number of local charities in Stamford with a special emphasis on Building One Community, a charity that supports immigrants. The Congregation is also a member of the Stamford Interfaith Collaborative which undertakes a number of joint efforts with other congregations and synagogues. We support a missionary in Jerusalem and have a relationship with a fifth-grade class in Ramallah, Palestine. St. John’s partners with other churches for an annual tag sale in the spring, the proceeds of which are distributed to charities.