Outreach & Service

Reaching Out to the needs of people with understanding and compassion, and nurturing spiritual growth is part of Trinity’s Mission Statement.   We strive to accomplish this mission through on-going support of local organizations, our SERVE Weekends, and partner relationships. Below are some of the ways we reach out to the local community.
 

Click here to see the Current Announcements and Projects

Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack—- FINAL NUMBERS!
1,000 volunteer shifts were filled on Serve Weekend packing 287,928 meals for the children at Love a Child orphanage. This was equivalent to feeding 789 children for a year! Thanks again for your wonderful support of this event and especially to the HS youth who were part of the 30-Hour Famine helping us to purchase an additional pallet of 7,776 meals. It was quite a weekend seeing the church and community come together to help feed God’s children.

“Blessed are those who are generous, for they feed the poor.” Proverbs 22:9

SERVE Weekends
Twice a year, Trinity has a SERVE Weekend with over 250 individuals coming together to serve in the community.  Each weekend offers 24-26 various service projects where individuals sign up to help. Some of the projects include:  playing BINGO at a local nursing home, local clean up projects, serving a meal at a shelter, packing meals at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) or 363 Days—making sandwiches for the homeless. The projects vary and opportunities are available for all ages to participate. Our next SERVE Weekend is April 13-15, 2012 which will be a mobile FMSC packing event hosted by Trinity.

Simpson Housing
Located in Minneapolis, Simpson’s mission is to house, support and advocate for people. Trinity supports Simpson throughout the year with donations to the people at their transitional housing and shelters as well as providing and serving a monthly meal. On the first Saturday of each month, Trinity provides and serves breakfast to the 65 guests at the shelter.  10-12 volunteers (any age) are needed each month to help.  Volunteer now. 

Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners
Located in Plymouth, “Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) is a nonprofit provider that changes the odds for families in need.” IOCP serves people living in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata. Trinity supports IOCP in various ways: through donations of cash and food for their food shelf, donations of school supplies and Thanksgiving Meals, as well as their annual Christmas Adopt a Family program. New this year is Wednesday Church Night. Trinity will provide volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month to help in the Food Shelf or the ReSale 101 shop. To learn more about Trinity’s involvement with the ReSale 101 store, see article in Star Tribune from February 7, 2012.   Volunteer now.

Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
“Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery works in partnership with parents in crisis and the community to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.” Trinity supports Mpls Crisis Nursery in various ways throughout the year, including donations of items as well as by providing and serving breakfast for the children six times a year (Jan, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov).   Six volunteers (ages 12 & older) are needed each month to help.   Volunteer now.

Thrivent Builds- Habitat for Humanity
Each year, volunteers help for two Thrivent Build days on a local Habitat for Humanity project in the Twin Cities. Dates for 2012 to be announced.

Jordan New Life Community Church
Jordan New Life (JNL) is located in North Minneapolis in the Jordan neighborhood and is a partner congregation of Trinity.   Throughout the year, Trinity supports and volunteers at JNL with:

• Financial support
• Providing and serving three community meals (February, July & October)
• Providing gifts and volunteering at their annual Christmas store
• Food donations

Lutheran Social Services/ Catholic Charities
Trinity supports LSS through “adopting” several families each year for their “Sponsor a Family” Christmas program as well as providing clothing donations for their Homeless Youth program. 

Our Saviour's Outreach Ministries
From homelessness to concentrated poverty to the marginalized immigrants and refugees, the inner-city is full of challenges and opportunities.  For over 25 years, the programs of Our Saviour's Outreach Ministries have been joining hands with our neighbors to address these challenges.  OSOM empowers people through innovative programs that respond to vital human needs, improve quality of life, and provide opportunities for growth.  Trinity has supported OSOM through providing sandwiches and serving meals at the shelter.

Global Outreach Projects
During the spring and summer of 2011, twenty members from Trinity participated in three exploratory trips—one to Argentina and two to El Salvador to explore new global relationships for Trinity. Our goals for Global Outreach projects include the following five core values: kinship, transformative, relational, foundational and sustainable. Each trip provided different types of mission/service experiences.

• Argentina—members of the trip explored beginning a relationship with the Lutheran congregation of San Pablo and their mission.
• El Salvador, Thrivent Builds—Members of this trip participated in a Thrivent Builds/Habitat for Humanity build in the community of Los Buenos (“The Good Ones”) which was located in the mountains about 1½ hours from San Salvador.
• El Salvador, San Salvador—Members of this trip partnered with Family of Christ Church in Chanhassen to learn about their partnerships developed with several Lutheran churches and their school sponsorship program. A sistership with a church in El Salvador is being explored.

Quilters
Every other Monday morning Trinty's quilters meet to tie and sew quilts together to be donated to various local and global organizations such as Sojourners, Simpson, and Lutheran World Relief.  New members are always welcome.

Prayer Shawl Ministry
The first Tuesday of the month a group of knitters and crocheters show prayerful concern to people who are in need of care, healing, support and love by making shawls and chemo caps.  These become a sign of God's love and visible sign of our church community's support. 

In addition to these opportunities to reach out to the needs of others, there are many more opportunities to share God’s love right here at Trinity.    Some include helping as an usher, greeter, refreshment host, helping with projects around the property, helping as a confirmation or high school small group guide, being a Sunday school teacher or workshop leader, helping in the nursery, being a confirmation mentor, helping with altar care, helping serve meals on Wednesday nights or at funerals. The possibilities are endless. How do you feel God calling you?  Volunteer Now.
 

Current Announcements and Projects:

Welcome Pastor Brian Fragodt & Volunteer Celebration

Pastor Brian Fragodt's first Sunday is May 20. We will have a celebration in the Great Hall after each service to welcome Pastor Brian and his wife Kim. We will also celebrate our wonderful volunteers. There are so many people who serve at Trinity in a variety of ways: music choirs & ensembles, Trinity Kids, Confirmation, High School, Sunday morning assistants, property, home visits & meals, office support, committees, prayer shawl & quilting and so much more. Come to the Great Hall for special treats and festivities. Thank you all for being a vital part of this church community.  Sign up here to be part of a Cottage Meeting with Pastor Brian sometime this summer.

IOCP Opportunities

Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners has opportunities at the ReSale 101.  You can shop, donate, or volunteer.   All proceeds from this shop will help support IOCP’s programs.  To volunteer regularly, go to www.iocp.org to complete an on-line application and indicate “resale” shop, high school and older.

Wednesday Church Night
The second Wednesday of every month, Trinity is responsible for providing volunteers for either the food shelf or ReSale 101. We’ll be sharing this night with St. Phillip the Deacon youth and adults. Volunteers can be MS youth and older. 10-15 volunteers will be needed each month. Sign up and find details on the poster in the Narthex.

Mpls Crisis Nursery Breakfasts

Looking for 5 volunteers each month who are willing to serve breakfast.  Meet at church at 6:40 am and return by 9:30 am.  Volunteers must be 12 or older.   Upcoming date is May 12.  Sign up in the Narthex or here.

Outreach and Service Collections

Soap for IOCP
During the month of February we will be collecting soaps (hand, laundry, dish) for IOCP.  Please consider a generous donation.

Used Cell Phones
We are collecting used cell phones and cell phone batteries.  For each phone or battery donated, Home Free Shelter for battered women and children will receive money.  Drop off bin is by the Fireside Room.

Help at Simpson Housing

Help serve breakfast at Simpson's.  10-12 volunteers of any age are needed the first Saturday of each month.   We meet at Trinity at 4:30 am and return by 7:30 am.   Upcoming date is May 5.  Sign up in the Narthex or here.