Tuesday, 01 December 2009 21:24
Ascension Lutheran Church
Riverside, Illinois
Monthly Missions for 2010
January - ELCA Missionary Sponsorship:
Karen Anderson
Ascension is one of the first congregations in the ELCA to support Karen Anderson in her work with EPES (Popular Education in Health) and AHA (Action for Health in the Americas) in Chile. Karen has master’s degrees in education and public health, and founded the EPES in the early 1980s. The group trains local health promoters who study the needs in their communities, advocate for improvements, and work directly with their neighbors and local authorities to address the underlying causes of poor health: poverty, violence, powerlessness, discrimination and other injustices faced by the most vulnerable members of society. The Hone Global Mission Fund helps support our sponsorship. For more information: http://www.elca.org/globalmission
February - PeopleCare, Inc.
An ecumenical, community-based agency, PeopleCare and its volunteers serve people who are homebound, providing friendship and support through telephone and in-person visits and transportation for essential appointments and errands. For more information: PeopleCare, Inc., 60 Akenside Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Phone: 708/442-1223. Web: http://stpaulsparish.org/PeopleCare.pdf
March - ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response provides immediate relief (food, medicine, drinking water, cleaning supplies) and long-term care (pastoral care, rebuilding volunteers and supplies) to victims of natural or human-caused disasters in the United States. For more information: http://www.elca.org/disaster or 800/638-3522.
April- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI)
LSSI is one of a network of 300 Lutheran social agencies providing service to 6 million people in 3,000 communities, and serving one in 50 Americans every year. It is one of the largest social networks in Illinois, serving in the fields of counseling, mental and physical health, adoption, pregnancy and foster care, family ministries, prisoner ministries, advocacy with the Illinois legislature, etc. In addition to our September giving, Ascension usually adopts 50 foster children for whom we provide Christmas gifts in December. For more information: http://www.lssi.org/
May - Bread for the World
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. It works in a bipartisan way and is supported by many different church bodies and collaborates with other organizations to build the political commitment needed to overcome hunger and poverty. Ascension members participate annually in a letter-writing Sunday, when we write to our senators and congresspeople about pending legislation related to hunger issues. For more information: http://www.bread.org
June - Rett Syndrome
Rett Syndrome is a neurological condition in which people exhibit autistic-like behavior, including loss of use of the hands and lack of the ability to speak. It strikes female infants, and the funds received through our offerings go to support research and development of orthopedic, developmental and nutritional treatments. Our member Michelle Borchardt, daughter of Kay and Mike Borchardt, has the syndrome. For more information: Kay Borchardt for the Rett Syndrome Association of Illinois, 630/572-7315, or http://www.rettsyndrome.org
July - Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem
This major medical facility was built in Jerusalem after the 1948 war to care for Palestinian refugees. Since 1950 it has been staffed and funded by the Lutheran World Federation. It continues to provide services for those in social need, with priority services to Palestinian refugees today, and also is providing land for a new housing project for Christians in Jerusalem to help alleviate the critical shortage of housing and strengthen the dwindling Christian presence there. For more information: http://www.avh.org
August - Lutheran Campus Ministry of Illinois
ELCA's campus ministry provides an ELCA presence at more than 180 state and private colleges and universities, with cooperating congregations in campus ministry at an additional 400 campuses nationwide. The Illinois chapter supports ministry through worship, intellectual inquiry and fellowship at University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Northern Illinois and Illinois State universities. For more information: http://www.elca.org/campusministry
September - Zion Cristo Rey Lutheran Church
Our mission partner in Chicago, Zion Cristo Rey congregation is in ministry with the Latino community in Logan Square. Its mission statement says it is "To be a church where the power of God's love transforms our lives and our community." Its members share the gifts of the Holy Spirit through children and youth ministry, music ministry, community involvement and organizing, weekly worship in English and Spanish, Bible study, Christian education and prayer. For more information: Zion Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, 2255 North Lawndale, Chicago, Il 60647. Phone: 773/782-9022. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
October - Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC)
One of eight ELCA seminaries, LSTC provides education and training to enable dedicated Christians to become pastors, educators and other lay leaders, able to witness through their lives and ministries to the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, and to provide care for God's people. Ascension has been blessed by assisting in the training of leaders over the years, including having Paul Busekist as our seminary intern in 2009. For more information: http://www.lstc.edu/
November - ELCA World Hunger
ELCA World Hunger is a comprehensive and sustainable program that uses multiple strategies -- relief, development, education, and advocacy -- to address the root causes of hunger and poverty among our neighbors around the corner and around the world, working with Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran World Federation. For more information: http://www.elca.org/hunger
December - B.E.D.S. PLUS
"Building Ecumenical Discipleship through Sheltering” PLUS is a volunteer organization, providing food, shelter, and help for becoming self-sufficient for the homeless in Riverside and surrounding communities between October 15 and April 30 each year. In addition to our monetary contribution, Ascension provides a shelter meal on the fifth Friday of any month that has five weeks, and Ascension members are welcome as volunteers to care for the homeless on-site in shifts. For more information: 708/354-0858, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
