Ministry – Serving Others
This team’s mission is caring for others, especially beyond our church.
Ministry Team Leaders:
Committees and Organizations within the Ministry Team:
Social Ministry Committee
Christ the King has made help for those in need a “core conviction” in our church. The Social Ministry Committee is at the heart of CtK’s efforts to reach out in our congregation, in our community, and throughout the world by means of financial aid, service and advocacy.
Social Ministry hard at work: click for more info
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Our Congregation: A “Love Fund” is used to help members of the congregation in emergency situations where other help is not available. Members requiring financial help can contact the pastor who will provide the funds with the confidential review and approval by Social Ministry. You may donate to this ministry any Sunday in the offering plate; just note “Love Fund” on the check or envelope.
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Our Community: The church allocates 5% of its budget for community needs. This money is distributed by the Social Ministry Committee to local organizations such as Manna Soup Kitchen, The Durango Food Bank, Volunteers of America (the shelter and safehouse), and Habitat for Humanity. Individual CtK members contribute additional funds beyond the church budget, and bring non-perishable goods for the Food Bank, as well as home-grown vegetables for the Soup Kitchen. CtK members regularly volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, the Soup Kitchen, and the Durango Food Bank. Congregation members of all ages pitch in to make stuffing for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner each year (our recipe serves 700!) We support other activities like Christmas bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, and Project Merry Christmas.
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Our World: The church allocates 3% of its budget for world hunger. This money goes to the ELCA and is then sent to Lutheran World Relief, a highly respected international relief organization, which works directly with hungry people worldwide. Not included in the budget are contributions by CtK members who give generously to the annual Lenten hunger drive and to disaster relief. Many of our members serve in missions in other countries (Mozambique, Kenya, Cambodia, Nicaragua and Mexico).
The Social Ministry Committee feels that advocacy must be viewed in a congregation with the same importance as charitable giving and service. Advocacy means letting our voices be heard regarding legislation at the federal and state levels, especially regarding policies that affect the neediest people. To this end, we work with our partner, Bread for the World. Through our “offering of letters”, we urge members of Congress to support legislation aimed at reducing poverty in our country and throughout the world.
The Social Ministry Committee also serves as a clearing-house for congregation members with ideas for ministry. Springing from the passion of one or two individuals at a time, CtK has supported causes like the Clean Out Your Desk campaign for Nicaraguan school children, the Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research, and the Olive Oil project to support a children’s hospital in the Jerusalem.
“Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
Finley Peter Dunne
Social Ministry Contact Information:
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Social Ministry – The team meets monthly but day and time vary based on members’ schedules. Jigger Staby and John Condie.
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Habitat for Humanity – Rap Fairley coordinates CtK’s contributions of time and money to the annual Habitat building projects. Contact: Rap Fairley.
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Durango Food Bank – Members donate food regularly and one member (Cheryle Brandsma) delivers the food periodically.
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Manna Soup Kitchen – CtK serves the mid-day meal on the second Monday of every month. Volunteers are needed to prepare, serve and clean up. Sign up online or Contact: John Condie.
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Disaster Relief – CtK supports various appeals from ELCA Disaster Response in Chicago. Contact: Jigger Staby.
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Special Needs – a variety of one-time donations are made to various organizations, both locally and across the country/world. The Social Ministry team reviews requests as they are submitted.
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Angel Tree — we work with Project Merry Christmas to adopt several families each year, then CtK members purchase gifts requested by the family members. Volunteers are needed to deliver the gifts before Christmas (a great family activity!) Contact: John Condie.
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Community Thanksgiving Dinner – Several area congregations work together to prepare a great meal for more than seven hundred community members every year. CtK volunteers of all ages gather on the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving to prepare stuffing for the dinner. This is a lot of fun and very rewarding – another great family activity. Contact: John Condie.
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Salvation Army – CtK volunteer bell-ringers work a variety of locations around town the first week after Thanksgiving. Contact: Wanda Ellingson
CtK Serves at Manna Soup Kitchen
Stephen Ministry Committee
Stephen Ministry is an organization providing confidential lay Christian care to people in need. Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised lay volunteers, not professional counselors or therapists. They care by listening, supporting, and encouraging.
Stephen Ministers meet privately once a week with their care receivers. Care may last from a few visits to a long-term relationship. The ministers are dependable, trustworthy, and maintain confidentiality. The Stephen Ministry group meets monthly, but days and times vary. Only Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders attend the meetings.
Please put the gifts and talents of our Stephen Ministers to good use by asking for the care of a Stephen Minister. Contact Interim Pastor Neal, 970-247-5310, or Carol Thurman.
If you are interested in training to be a Stephen Minister, please contact one of the individuals listed above.
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