During the forty days of Lent, we are called to walk together with Christ and reflect on the self-giving love of his death on the Cross. As we take this extraordinary journey, we remember the "least of these" whom Christ calls us to serve. This Lent, all who are part of the St. Ansgar community are invited to join us as we collect supplies for Lutheran World Relief's Baskets of Promise Lenten Appeal. Our congregation has chosen to assembled Personal Care Kits. These supplies provide basic hygiene tools to our brothers and sisters in need around the world. Each Sunday during Lent, we will collect a different item that we will use to assemble Personal Care Kits. These kits will give people around the world tools to stay healthy in life's most challenging situations.
Following worship on Palm Sunday, March 24th, we will provide a soup luncheon and join the Sewing Group as they show us how to assemble the kits. Here is a list of items we ask you to bring on each Sunday in Lent. Please note that with the winter weather and busy schedules, this is a loose guideline. As long as we have items in time for Palm Sunday, your donation will be put to good use. Don't let the worry of being "off schedule" deter you from making a donation.
2/17 - Bars of Soap (4 to 5 oz, any brand in original wrapping)
2/24- Bath Towels (new, light weight, maximum 52" x 27", dark color)
3/3 - Toothbrushes (adult size in original packaging)
3/10 - Combs
3/17- Nail Clippers (metal, attached file optional)
3/24 (Palm Sunday)- Bars of Soap (4 to 5 oz, any brand in original wrapping)
St. Ansgar Members and Friends may donate to Lutheran World Relief online or in an offering any Sunday. Be sure to designate your gift to LWR with a note on your envelope or check. Below is a letter from the CEO of Lutheran World Relief about the crisis in East Africa.
Dear Friends,
The crisis in the Horn of Africa is worsening by the day. Lutheran World Relief needs your help. To respond to this crisis, and make a long-term impact on hunger in East Africa, LWR needs to raise $2 million by the end of this year.
Right now more than 11 million people are at risk of starvation. Lucia Muvili Ngotho is one of them. Holding out her hands, she shows a few meager beans. “This is the last of my food,” she reports.There’s been no decent rain in her area for years. Now she has to buy food for her family— at drastic price hikes — because she can no longer grow it. “We only have enough food for one meal a day,” she says. But the sad reality is Lucia’s family is a lot better off than many others in East Africa. Many have nothing to eat and no way to grow or buy food. Will you reach out to them with a gift to the East Africa Drought fund?
With our partner, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), we’re already working to reach thousands of vulnerable families in Kenya and Ethiopia with food, water, shelter items and other critically needed assistance. Your emergency gift will help LWR reach even further.
With your help we’ll work with communities to help families earn money to buy food, preserve and protect their farmlands and become less vulnerable to future droughts. Please support this work with a gift today. If Lucia’s family runs out of food they, too, will be left with nothing. Pray for them, and for all the people of East Africa. And please give generously so that LWR can stay with them for the long haul.
In Christ’s Mercy,
John A. Nunes
President and CEO
Your gifts to the East Africa Drought fund will be used to respond to this crisis until needs are met. Gifts received after that time will be applied where needs are greatest.
The Sewing Group recently shipped 25 layettes to Lutheran World Relief. Each layette contained enough clothing to give a newborn’s family and the newborn a great start. (Pictured above is a layette being given to an Afghani mother.)
We thank Thrivent for the financial support. The next project is school kits. A goal of 20 has been set. The spring project will be Health Kits.
You are invited to help. Come to an upcoming meeting or contact the church for more details. To find out how The Sewing Group's efforts combine with those of other Lutheran churches around the world, view this video from Lutheran World Relief, Ordinary to Extraordinary.
The sewing group has been very busy. This Sunday they will have on display the many dress kits and school kits that they have been working on for Lutheran World Relief. These kits will be shipped on October 24th making it possible for women in need to sew their own dresses and provide school supplies for their children.
All are welcome to sew for a better world the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month 10AM-2PM.
St. Ansgar's Sewing Group has a rich history and a strong sense of mission. It meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM for sewing, food, and fellowship.
The sewers range in ability from novice to seamstress. Together they construct school kits, layettes (kits for newborns), and sewing kits for Lutheran World Relief. They also craft quilts which are either donated to Lutheran World Relief, sold to provide funds for the kits, or donated to local charities such as the Training Resource Center and Gary's House.
This work has a huge impact. If you have high speed Internet, click on the following link to watch the Lutheran World Relief video, Ordinary to Extraordinary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHFuY2w97RA&list=PLG3PYu6_CExbAbzVVFnrlc12hIzACvLCF&index=1&feature=plpp_video
If you would like to attend a Sewing Group meeting bring a sandwich for yourself and a snack to share if you plan to lunch. Know that you can attend for any part of the meeting, arriving late or leaving early if necessary. Sewing ability is not required. There are always projects for beginners and/or non-sewers. Also, if the meeting times are not convenient, but you would like to sew for Lutheran World Relief at home, call St. Ansgar and someone will contact you.
Anyone can help the Sewing Group by donating the following:
1. Used clean blankets or sheets (for use as quilt stuffing)
2. Spools of thread
3. Buttons, preferably in matching sets of 6, but family button jars are also helpful
