The Mission Committee consists of two parts. The first part is the formal committee members who develop ideas on possible mission opportunities, investigate outside agencies that are involved in mission work, and support local area programs that try to make life a little easier for those who are less fortunate. Over the years, we have developed a resume of mission activities in which we as a congregation have participated. Some have their own catchy names and some names we invented ourselves.
We have gathered men and women’s business clothing for Dress for Success; this is an organization that collects and gives away this clothing to people who are job hunting or who have landed a new job. Coat Closet Clearance is our name for a mission program for collecting good used coats to be distributed by organizations involved in inner city mission work.
The Holy Underwear program is our name to remind you at Christmas time to pick up an extra pair or two of underwear, socks and tee-shirts. When we go to Nast Trinity where we serve dinner, we give these things away with the used clothing that we bring to distribute. No one ever donates used underwear, so fresh new underwear is most appreciated.
Twice a year we launch the Feed the Five Thousand program to help stock the Life Pantry food distribution program. At Christmas, we sponsor the Samaritan’s Purse to provide children around the world with shoe boxes full of items that we take for granted, such as pens, pencils and erasers that become treasures to those who have little of these things.
Also at Christmas we sponsor the Life Christmas Tree to provide presents to children and families in need for something to brighten their Christmas. At the beginning of the year we provide a monetary gift to provide a few extras for the Head Start program here at LPC. Then at Christmas time we provide these children with a “book and a bear”; these are children’s books that we give that feature some animal; we also give them the stuffed animal that is featured in their book.
Sometimes we are involved in special programs. When the Haiti disaster occurred, we gathered items to make up personal care kits. Thirty five of you showed up on a Saturday morning and we walked around a set of tables full of these items and assembled approximately 250 personal care kits.
Sometimes the mission ideas come from others. Over 25 years ago, Jan and Dan Dryer introduced us to the Nast Trinity Methodist Church in Over the Rhine, which served dinner to local residents once a month when their support checks ran out. For the first few years, it was our youth group who led the way in this mission activity. The experience became so meaningful, that LPC adults wanted to get involved. Today, Nast serves a sit down Sunday dinner every Sunday of the year, and LPC is on their banner of organizations that support their mission work.
Again last year, the youth led the way again in a mission project travelling to Pikeville KY to work on a project to help repair a lady’s trailer. Many of the youth had never lifted a hammer or used a saw, but they got some hands on training before they left, and they came home not only with new skills but with a sense of accomplishment of helping someone in need.
As you may have guessed, the second part of the mission committee is you. The formal committee sponsors these programs to give you the opportunity to participate is mission work. Without your support they would not be the successes that they are. It is appropriate that the signs over the doors as you leave the sanctuary read “Servants Entrance”. It is through your support that LPC meets its credo, “A Congregation of Believers Serving Like Christ.”
