In July, 2009 , members of Holy Shepherd went to the Su Casa Catholic Worker House for "hands on" work. Su Casa is a house of hospitality that provides a space of healing and hope to displaced Hispanic families. Responding to the Gospel call to compassionate action, the community workers are committed to a simple, non-violent lifestyle as they live and work among the poor. It is located in the "Back of the Yards" neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. A group from Holy Shepherd participated in a work day in June of 2008 and Su Casa received 3% of Holy Shepherd's operating contributions during the second quarter of 2008.
Old Firehouse Community Center, located in the Black Oak section of Gary, is a Christian Neighborhood outreach center that seeks to serve Jesus through serving others. Members of Holy Shepherd recently donated gently worn prom dresses and accessories for a "Cinderella Day," enabling teen-age girls to choose their own dresses for the prom. The center was supported during the first half of 2009 as Holy Shepherd's major mission focus.
Each month the congregation collects funds for a local person, family, or charitable organization in need of special assistance. The local Trustee office helps to identify families and persons for the Mission of the Month.
Holy Shepherd Church also contributes on an annual basis to the Tri-Town Fund to help support area families in need. The funds are dispersed through the St. John Trustee's office.
The Hook and Needle Discipleship (HANDS) knits and crochets Afghans for babies and adults and caps for people undergoing chemotherapy. The completed projects are given to St. Jude House, The Women's Center of Northwest Indiana, and local area hospitals. Donations of yarn are always welcome and may be placed in the container in the Mission Center in the church lobby. Patterns and instructions are available on the Mission Table.
Members of Holy Shepherd have teamed with other area congregations to assist those living in a nearby Illinois community with hands-on projects. Recently the group assisted a homeowner with replacing the siding on her house, chopping firewood, and other related projects. For additional pictures, click here.
The Mission Center in the church lobby is home to many ongoing and annual collections. Items brought in can be placed in the labeled bins under the tables. Be sure to check out the information about the various missions, available at the Mission Center. Click here for the current month's collection.
Look for the following seasonal collections near the Mission Center in the lobby:
854 Million people are hungry in our world. That is an astounding 13% of the world's population. Holy Shepherd Church actively seeks to alleviate the ongoing world hunger crisis through our support of the the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and through World Vision's 30-Hour Famine.
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod supports seven campus ministries throughout Indiana and Kentucky.
I-K Campus Ministries states:"the mission of campus ministry in the ELCA and the Indiana-Kentucky Synod is to invite people in academic settings more deeply into Jesus Christ and the community that bears his name, so that they can discover and fulfill their vocation as disciples."
Holy Shepherd Church supported Campus Ministries during the second quarter of 2007 and the thrid quarter of 2008 by contributing 3% of our operating contributions. During 2009, we will again support Campus Ministries with 3% of the operating contributions during the third quarter of the year.
Holy Shepherd tithes 10% of the Operating Fund contributions to the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, of which, 51.5% is forwarded as benevolence to the chuchwide Evangelical Church in America.
Plans are now being made for another mission trip in July of 2012. For additional information, contact Nancy or Jim Winiecki.
On July 18, 2008, ten members of Holy Shepherd traveled with Hearts in Motion to Zacapa, Guatemala for a 10-day mission trip. The group assisted with Bible School, construction projects and medical and dental clinics. The group returned in 2010.
