community impact
Jesus said His followers would be known by their love. So, we know it's important not just to talk about our hope in Jesus, but to live it out in love. Below are some of the ways we seek to have an impact in our community, whether nearby or far away.
For more information about these events and partnerships,
contact our Community Bridge Builder, MJ Cornelius.
care POrtal
CarePortal bridges the gap between child welfare workers and local churches. When a family is going through a crisis and working with a case worker, their case worker can post identified needs on CarePortal (furniture, car seats, etc.) so that local churches can meet that need.
We started partnering with Care Portal in 2017 and have loved going into our community to give needed items to local families.
For more information, contact MJ Cornelius.
produce on wheels
Produce on Wheels Without Waste is a produce rescue event offering 60 pounds of fresh produce for just $10. The produce comes directly from the same warehouses the grocery stores use. This is a great way to eat healthy without breaking the bank!
These events happen on various Saturday mornings. For more information, and for the date of the next event, contact MJ Cornelius.
love our city
Great things happen when someone serves their community. Serving others develops humility and creates a heart of genuine concern and love. So, on Love Our City weekends, teams from our church volunteer at local aid agencies like AZ Brain Food, Project C.U.R.E., Child Crisis Center, and Feed My Starving Children.
For more information watch the recap video below or contact the church office.
habitat for humanity
Each year, we team up with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona and other Lutheran churches to build a home for a family in need. During the cooler months, volunteers work on Saturdays from about 7am-2pm with a free lunch.
Contact Brandon Smith or Steve Cramer for more information.
Night in bethlehem
What was the first Christmas like? Our free, annual Night in
Bethlehem is a family-friendly, interactive experience that
recreates the sights and sounds surrounding the birth of Jesus.
Try your hand in the shops of Bethlehem. Have fun petting live
animals. Enjoy free hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies. You can
even talk with Mary and Joseph. And don't miss the Songs &
Stories music experience in our worship center.
For more information, contact our church office.
i-help
As part of our goal to embrace our neighbors with unexpected love, we partner with Lutheran Social Services to regularly host their Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program, known as I-Help. Single women are given an evening of shelter with a nice dinner, then breakfast and a sack lunch on the following day.
For more information, contact Terri Ewert.
stephen ministry
Life isn't easy. So, we offer Stephen Ministry to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to people who are going through a difficult time. A Stephen Minister is a well-trained, volunteer caregiver who listens, cares, prays, encourages, and offers the love of Christ during a time of need.
For more information, contact Kathleen Hoffmann.
international partnerships
We partner with Groundwork Ministries in Guatemala and Germany. Our volunteer teams lead camps for kids, make home visits, and distribute needed medical, faith, and school resources.
For more information, contact MJ Cornelius.
