Opportunities for Local and Global Outreach

to the Glory of God

                                                                   “God’s Work – Our Hands”
 

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY – Prayer Shawls are crocheted with love and
         prayer by St. Mark’s members. Many of the prayer shawls are given
         locally but some have  even gone as far as Russia and Tibet.

 

PIECEMAKERS - This group of dedicated ladies meets every Tuesday,
         September through March, to make over two hundred quilts, which are
         donated to Lutheran World Relief.

 

BREAD and BOWL – Every Friday evening, a hot meal is served at the First
         United Methodist Church for anyone in need.  St. Mark’s, along with six other
         churches, takes turns preparing and serving this meal.  Volunteers
         donate salads and desserts, prepare and serve the meal, and visit with
         the guests.

 

LOCAL FOOD PANTRY – non-perishable food items are collected on the
         first Sunday of each month and donated to the community food
         pantry. The women’s circles take care of delivering the food each
         month.


FOOD PANTRY GARDEN -  fresh vegetables are planted and cared for by
           St. Mark's and the harvest is donated to the local food pantry.

 

VAN WERT BLESSINGS – Each Thursday, backpacks are filled with food
         for one child for the weekend.  Backpacks are then delivered to the local
         schools to be passed out to children needing nutritional support.
        Volunteers help shop for food, assemble food and backpacks, and deliver
         backpacks to the schools.

 

KIDS AGAINST HUNGER RICE KITS -  Each fall,  200,000 meals are
         assembled, with 6 meals in each Rice Kit.  Kits include rice as well as
         other ingredients necessary for good nutrition. Seventy-five percent of
         the kits are sent to areas in the world that have been devastated by
         national disasters, to help the populations affected survive until things
         return to normal. Twenty-five percent are kept and used in the local
         area food pantry.

 

GLOBAL MINISTRY – St. Mark’s supports global missionaries through the
         ELCA and supports individual global missionaries through monetary
         and prayer support.