Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Following a request by ServiceLink, the program of the Christian Reformed Church in North America that links volunteers with outreach opportunities, members of City Grace also decided to do an event last Sunday. Called Feed 500, church members made lunches to hand out to the homeless or hungry in their neighborhood, especially Washington Square Park, according to a report the church sent in to ServiceLink.
Other CRC congregations, as well as denominational offices, also took on service projects as part of the event initiated by ServiceLink as a remembrance of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Called "Day of Service – be the hands and feet of Jesus," the ServiceLink program coincided with the 9/11 Day of Service as designated by President Barak Obama in which people would remember and pay tribute to those who died in 9/11, as well as honor those who rose in service in response to the terrorist attacks. People across North America, including in CRCNA congregations and offices in Grand Rapids, MI, Burlington, ON, and Palos Heights, Ill, pitched in and volunteered in a wide range of ways. Members of Trinity CRC in St. Louis, MO, for instance, went door-to-door in their neighborhood, asking for outside (yard, repairs) tasks they could do for people. They received six requests. On Sunday after worship, members had sandwiches at church. A deacon led a prayer after a team of 40 persons were assigned to the six tasks. The community members served were deeply touched by the help, the church reported to ServiceLink. Employees at the CRC denominational buildings in Burlington, ON, Grand Rapids, MI, and Palos Heights, Ill, also had the opportunity to volunteer on Sept. 9 for all or part of their lunch hour for the Day of Service. In Grand Rapids, tables were set up in the entrance to the building last Friday and staff could come and decorate a supper bag for Kids Food Basket in Grand Rapids, create an encouraging poster for at-risk teens who stay at Arbor Circle in Grand Rapids, or assemble toiletry bags with donations that had been brought in during the weeks leading up to the event for the Guiding Light Mission in Grand Rapids. In Burlington, staff brought in donations for children’s snack packs and assisted in putting the packs together last Friday. Additionally, others travelled to Sew on Fire Ministries, where they assisted in packing bags with items that would be sent overseas with missionaries or mission teams to support the poor and suffering in the world. At the Back to God Ministries International office in Palos Heights, employees collected canned and boxed food which was distributed to the Operation Blessing food pantry in Crestwood, Ill. This organization serves communities in the south and southwest suburbs but also reaches into the southern communities of Chicago. Each month more than 800 families are provided with food from Operation Blessing. Approximately eight boxes of food were collected and delivered during the week and Back to God Ministries International is considering plans to take up another collection later in the year. The Day of Service is a new ServiceLink program that will continue after the 10th anniversary of 9/11. These will be short, single-day events that churches, individuals and staff will have an opportunity to be involved with their own communities. For more on the CRC's volunteer program, visit: ServiceLink. —ServiceLink, CRC Communications Back to 'Stories' |
