I sat in the Narthex – waiting for a young man –

Who would speak to the congregation on how our church

has impacted his young life.

I greeted him as he passed through and went outside

as if he was not sure quite what to do – the first service had started

In a email I had told his person of contact

He would speak at the end of the first service

and the beginning of the second service.

We went inside and found seats in the back –

Then it was time for him to speak –

He had told me that 2 or 3 minutes – the time he was to speak –

Was not nearly enough time – he could go on for hours !

You see – our church is a outreach church –

In the Community – in the area and beyond – Rwanda.

The young man spoke from his heart – no notes –

How when he walks through these doors twice a week –

He is safe – he is home – he is with people who love him.

The young man described his lows and highs –

In the Granger room where they meet

and in the fellowship hall where they gather.

All in Community Lutheran Church – his safe place.

He has been sober for over a year – he is once again felt wanted.

The outreach also goes to another Christian denomination

A congregation who had no home –

A congregation who holds services each Sunday afternoon

And also during the week.

They also call this home.

A place where God gathers all his children

A place that is safe – a place of solitude –

Outreach has its many forms –

Taking place each and everyday within these walls.

All Gods children are welcomed –

Open arms- open doors – open hearts – where it is safe.

The classrooms are full – all 7 or 8 of them –

each school day – full of children

not only from the congregation

but from the Community

A safe place – a outreach – a Community .

There are Icon classes – every Tuesday night.

Book club every first Tuesday of the month.

Two groups of quilters – one from Community

and one from the Community.

There are Boy Scouts -once a month.

Youth group – Choir groups – Wednesday choir for the youth

and Dinner for the congregation –

Once a month – during the above – Green Meadows –

A group with disabilities for dinner and sing along’s after.

Bible study and adult education each Sunday.

Numerous committees meeting weekly or monthly.

Sunday school and nursery

For years our outreach knows no borders –

We support a school in Rwanda –

each year sending two students through school until they graduate

paying all their costs – and then two more are selected.

Donating money for buildings –

Water – necessities of life – watching the campus grow

watching the increase in students

where genocide wiped out almost all adults.

And then each Sunday – the collection of LOOSE CHANGE

by the children from the Congregation

into the bucket –

allowing for Community Lutheran Church

to write a check last week

THE NOISY OFFERING as it is called

For BACKPACK BUDDIES

A program for children to have food on weekends

Where as the only meal they get are school meals

The September and October offering results of this children’s gathering

resulted in a check for $1655.25 for food for low income children

to take home on weekends.

Prior to that -the offering went to WGB –

WOMEN GIVING BACK – a non profit in Sterling ( Community’s neighbors)

Helping Women and children in crisis

by distributing clothing at no cost.

The outreach goes on –

Link food pantry where the first Sunday of every month

is brought in on both services and taken to the food pantry

Low income family’s bags of food delivered by our volunteers

to people in need.

Coffee and conversation between services

New – THE WELL – once every 1st. and 3rd Wednesday evening –

to gather to pray for the community – neighborhood and the World.

The mitten tree -where toys are distributed for families in need.

Gifts for Hope – Sweats for Vets –

There are many more –

A Festival to benefit MOBILE HOPE –

For children who have no home who live in tents

in the woods –

some have no parents or guardians

They are provided with coats – jackets – toilet articles -hygine

They have been deserted

left alone to fend for themselves

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

where friends meet family

Today – Community Lutheran Church

Sterling Va.

WHERE COMMUNITY MEETS COMMUNITY

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