Because we are called to “love and serve God by loving and serving people,” we are very active in Mission Outreach.
We believe in reaching out to share God’s love in service to others on a local, synod wide, and global level. Keep scrolling down to learn more about what we are doing and how you can be involved!
Noisy Offering
Noisy Offering for World Hunger- the 2nd Sunday of every month, kids pass cake pans around the congregation during our worship service to collect change for both local (Second Harvest Food Bank) and global hunger (ELCA World Hunger). Many congregation members save their pocket change all month long to bring for these special collection! A little change can and does make a big difference.
ELCA GOOD GIFTS
Every Christmas, St. Andrew’s puts up a very special tree, and on it are some very special gifts! ELCA Good Gifts is a program that allows people to give gifts of hope and change. Gifts range in price from $10 to $500 and include buying animals for families living in poverty, sponsoring missionaries and seminary students, and paying school or medical fees for children around the world. Stop in mid-November to early December and pick an ornament to buy; it’s that easy! Click the picture below to learn more about ELCA Good Gifts!
Companion Synods
As a member of the ELCA and the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, St. Andrew’s is blessed to have partners in ministry in both Honduras and Russia. You can learn more about our partner synods by clicking on the links below.
Grace House
St. Andrew’s proudly supports Grace House, a local homeless shelter in Grand Rapids that provides assistance to people without housing. Click HERE to learn more about Grace House. St. Andrew’s supports this wonderful organization by serving as an overflow site several times a year, volunteering to make meals and donating food, and contributing to the homeless prevention fund. Many members of St. Andrew’s also volunteer at Grace House as hosts.
Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Every Holiday Season, the Grand Rapids Area is filled with the sounds of bells reminding us to remember those who are in need. St. Andrew’s proudly supports the Salvation Army Bell Ringing program each year by signing up volunteers to ring bells at sites around Grand Rapids!
Hosting Bike and Build Riders
St. Andrew’s has proudly provided meals and overnight accommodations to the Bike and Build Program a few in the past and hopes to be able to do so again in the future. Bike and Build is a group of college students who devote themselves to the task of raising funds and awareness for affordable housing programs by biking across the USA on a variety of routes each summer. They depend on churches, schools, and other organizations to help with housing and food along their route and offer free Bike Safety Programs and Community Rides at the locations they stay at! Learn more about Bike and Build by visiting their WEBSITE
Habitat For Humanity
The third Thursday of every month is St. Andrew’s day to roll up our selves and volunteer with the Itasca County Habitat for Humanity. Habitat helps build affordable housing for local residents and we can’t do it with out you! Join us for a build day, no building experience is required. Contact the church office to sign up!
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
The fourth Thursday of each month, St. Andrew’s volunteers gather at the Food Bank to sort, pack, assemble, etc. food items. This once a month activity is a great way to help alleviate hunger in our area. Everyone welcome to patriciate. Contact the church office to sign up!
Salvation Army Pencil Tree and ‘Fill the Boat’ drive
St. Andrew’s is honored to work with the salvation army several times a year to help provide school supplies and Christmas gifts for families that would struggle to do so on their own. Watch for information to be available in August as the Pencil tree blooms in our fellowship hall with colorful requests for backpacks, notebooks, folders, and other school supplies.
Then in November, we collect gifts to support the Sheriff’s Department ‘Fill the Boat’ drive and help us play secret Santa to children and adults in need. These simple acts of kindness go a long way in sharing God’s love with others!
2022 Open Door Coat Rack
Please check your closets of coats and boots you no longer need and bring them to St. Andrew’s. CLEAN, gently worn coats in good repair would be appreciated. Please no jackets with advertising on back. All sizes from infant snowsuits to adult jackets are needed. We also will be collecting hats and mittens. Homemade items welcome. (In the past, there has been a shortage of children’s snowpants, boots, waterproof mittens & adult extra large sizes).
Distribution takes place at United Methodist Church, 1701 SE 5th Avenue in Grand Rapids MN in October each year.
Itasca Community Connect “connecting people to the services they need” Held typically in October at IRA Civic Center Arena in Grand Rapids. All are welcome! A gathering of service providers from the Itasca County area will be present. Free meal served. For further information: please call First Call of Help 2-1-1 or 218-326-8565.