Community Outreach

Members of St. Paul’s Glenside are active in many Community programs, primarily through the Good Works Project Team. The Good Works Team continually seeks out opportunities to share Christ’s love by offering a helping hand to those struggling with poverty, experiencing hunger, recovering from disaster, or facing some other difficult circumstance.

ONGOING WORKS (some highlights)

Seminarian Support
Each year cost-of-living support is extended to a student at LTS-Philadelphia. Seminarians and their families are also welcome to take groceries from St. Paul’s pantry and to shop our rummage sales, courtesy of the GWT.

Pantry
Throughout the year non-perishable groceries donated by our congregation are delivered to Feast of Justice, to Interfaith of Montgomery County, and to the LCFS Christmas ingathering. Groceries are also made available to St. Paul’s members and to recipients from the surrounding community. The scouts’ food drive helps to fill the pantry to capacity in November but the collection of groceries is on-going. Please remember to stock the shelves throughout the year as there is constant need. Also take note of Tidings messages that call for any items that may be in short supply.

Support of Missionaries
The GWT lends support to our missionaries through gifts and prayers. Currently that support goes to Miriam Schmidt and Jeremy Blyth. Miriam’s call as pastor of the Bratislava International Church brought her and her family, husband Jeremy and daughter Ursula – to Slovakia in February 2012. Miriam also coordinates the work of ELCA young adult volunteers serving in Central Europe and Jeremy participates in the ministries of the congregation.

Meals for the Homeless
The GWT coordinates and prepares meals for the homeless community served by the Welcome Center at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion in center city Philadelphia. These meals are served in February, May, August, and November, with November’s being a traditional Thanksgiving feast. Menu items are solicited from our congregation as well as monetary contributions to help offset the purchase of various meal necessities. Members of the GWT team and other St. Paul volunteers travel to Holy Communion to serve these nourishing and delicious meals. St. Paul’s is well-received at the Welcome Center by as many as 120 dinner guests. Their appreciation and gratitude is always expressed.

OTHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH

  • Tanzanian outreach -Irente School of the Blind
  • Share and Care Collection for homeless
  • Blanket Sunday
  • Baby Manna
  • ELCA World Hunger Appeal
  • Lutheran World Relief health kits
  • Quilts for Lutheran World Relief (made by members of Elizabeth Circle)
  • Knitted hats and scarves for Seamen?s Church Institute (made by members of Lydia Circle)
  • Homeless Meals
  • Memorial Flowers & Cards
  • Bread for the World Membership
  • The Welcome Church
  • ELCA Good Gifts/God’s Global Barnyard
  • ELCA World Hunger
  • CROP Walk
  • Feast of Justice
  • Center for Victims of Torture
  • LCFS – Family Empowerment Services
  • Seamen’s Church Institute
  • Aid for Friends
  • Habitat for Humanity – Philadelphia

Mission trips to:

  • Nicaragua
  • Rocky Boy Chippewa-Cree reservation
  • New Orleans
  • Guatemala