ELCA Congregations work to improve community
Edgemont, AR,–(ELCA) – Peace Lutheran Church in Edgemont, AR is one of nearly 10,000 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) participating in “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, Sept. 10. Across the country, thousands of ELCA members are engaging in service work to make a positive change in their communities, build and deepen relationships and share God’s love.
Members of Peace are working to build “Birthday Bags” for four area food pantries. Each bag includes a bowl, whisk, spatula, baking pan, cake mix and icing along with plates, napkins, cups, plastic wear, and party treats for up to 8 people. Everything a person would need to have a small home birthday celebration. The sixty bags will be evenly divided between Cleburne County Cares, Greers Ferry Food Pantry, Van Burnen County Food Pantry, and Shirley Food Pantry. Originally started over three years ago, Birthday Bags are a project that the congregation maintains throughout the year. Everyone should have a chance to celebrate the day they were born but for some the $10 plus worth of supplies is just not affordable. Peace believes that the Bible teaches that God is a God of abundance and love most clearly seen in Jesus Christ and is brought to life in people who do the work of the Holy Spirit. The hope of Peace is that those who receive the bag would know God’s love and celebrate the gift of life given to the person whose birthday it is.
Congregation President Kristi Edwards says, “Gods Work, Our Hands is something we try to do not just on one Sunday but in all our ministry. It is wonderful to see the whole congregation working together to accomplish one task that will carry ripples of joy and God’s love throughout our community. As a congregation, we each do our own ministries in everyday life but rarely all together in a common ministry, that makes this day extra special.”
Peace welcomes people of all ages, races, gender, orientations, and walks of life to join them as they work together to make Christ known to the people of the Greers Ferry Lake area and throughout the World. Peace worships weekly at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays with a fellowship hour following. They have a seasonal Bible Studies that meet weekly, a weekly mission group, and a biweekly senior exercise group. The people of Peace pray that you will join them for Peace Lutheran Church worship and let them know how they can help you live out God’s Work.
For more than 25 years, the ELCA has been a church deeply rooted in faith and in sharing its passion for making positive changes in the world. Peace joins with other ELCA congregations across the country to boldly participate in God’s work in the world – restoring and reconciling communities, and pursuing peace and justice.
More information about the ELCA is available at ELCA.org.