Habitat for Humanity/Thrivent Builds

Calvary is meeting with representatives from Habitat for Humanity, Thrivent and other Lutheran churches in our area to discuss building a house (or houses) in the Federal Way area this coming spring.

Thrivent Builds Homes is a national effort which began about three years ago, and we are in the fourth and final year of that program. Thrivent has furnished Habitat with $125 million to assist in building or remodeling homes for low income families, and two homes will be built this year in our area - one in Federal Way and one in West Seattle. An effort is being made to have members from King County Lutheran congregations participate by supplying volunteers and financial assistance (requirements for funding include 65% from Thrivent, 25% from Habitat, and 10% from congregations). In-kind gifts are also welcome.

Habitat for Humanity Seattle/South King County has purchased a home in the Westway neighborhood in Federal Way. With the support of the Thrivent Builds grant program and Lutheran volunteers from the Federal Way area, this home will be renovated to provide a decent, affordable home for a South King County family. This home is part of Habitat for Humanity’s 21st Century Housing Challenge. The goal of this unique initiative is to eliminate substandard housing in an entire community. Habitat for Humanity is working in partnership with a coalition of agencies to provide neighborhood improvements and partnering with existing homeowners and landlords so that everyone in Westway will have a decent place to live.

This initiative is far-reaching in that rather than building for a few families, the vision is to eliminate substandard housing throughout the neighborhood. Habitat began work in the Westway neighborhood several years ago on this multi-year program and has already constructed two new homes and provided home repair and renovation for 12 additional households.

Members of Calvary have an opportunity to contribute to this effort in several ways: by participating in the actual work and by contributing financially. The official construction began on April 19th with a “ground breaking” event. Work is now taking place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Persons of all skill levels are welcome and may volunteer to work as individuals or we can volunteer as a group if there is interest in doing that. You can volunteer for one day or for the duration of construction. Anyone interested in volunteering (there is an age limit of 16 or older) or for more information please contact Phil Sell.  There is also a table in the church lobby with the information you need. In addition, financial gifts can be made through Calvary by marking your offering envelope Habitat Project.
 

Calvary is putting together a work party to work together at the site. We will meet at the site on June 14 and work from 9:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m. Visit the informational table in the main church lobby. Pick up Volunteer Application (bring to site), driving directions and enter the drawing.

For some general background information, check out the Thrivent Builds website at www.thriventbuilds.com.

Reach Out Program Calvary's council is considering a resolution for Calvary to participate in a local program to shelter homeless. We are hoping to begin in October  2008 and will need a coordinator and Congregational backing for Calvary to take this on. The plan is to provide a hot dinner, packaged breakfast and sack lunch, and a place to sleep from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. for 25 pre-screened men (plus food for a supervisor) for one month a year. The church could accept responsibility for food and sleep spots at different times during the year, or provide both for one month.

Food for the Poor, Inc. 

Pastor Ron Starenko  preached at Calvary last summer and shared with us the gospel and information on a ministry providing direct relief to the poor throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Pastor Starenko shared what he as witnessed about Food For The Poor’s mission to care for the destitute as a means of living out the Gospel mandate to love one another. Pastor Starenko was ordained in 1955 for the Florida-Bahamas Synod. For more information contact him at (800) 568-8124 or visit http://www.foodforthepoor.org. A portion of Calvary's Thanksgiving offering was donated to Food for the Poor, Inc. as will a portion of our Christmas offering.
 

Dentists and Hygienists

St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way has a dental van ready to go that will offer dental services one day a week in Federal Way. The only thing needed is dentists and hygienists. Not only would they be providing a much needed public service, but you can earn 7 hours of continuing education credit annually for offering their talents to help those who cannot afford to go to the dentist.

Please share this request with any dentist offices you know. For more information contact Kelli O’Donnell, CDBG Coordinator
City of Federal Way
(253) 383-3056, ext. 117
 

Calvary Leadership Continues Mentoring Project

Members of the church council and other leaders met in a follow-up session to the 2007 Leadership Retreat to choose a project for the congregation. The project would establish an ongoing service to the community, fulfilling one of the four goals set by the congregation in its strategic plan.

Calvary members have been working hard to develop this program. It will provide coaching and support to create self-sufficiency and self-determination in people who are working to bring permanent change to their lives. The goal is to help individual and/or families make decisions and perform actions that can effectively change their lives and empower them to move beyond poverty. We have had several people sign up to be coaches and resource people. It is with confidence that we approach this new ministry.

A second mentoring training session has been scheduled at Calvary on June 12 at 6:00 p.m. in Learning Center #1. For more information, contact Sandy Harley.

Living Stones Ministry

Last April, Pastor Wangen-Hoch told us about Living Stones, an ELCA congregation within the walls of the WA Corrections Center in Shelton.  Take a look at their newsletter.

We traveled as a group to the prison and worshiped with the members on January 12, 2008.   Take a look at some reflections from members of that group on the experience.

We plan to worship with this congregation again on February 15, 2009.

 

Red Wagon
 

The Red Wagon will roll July 13.  Calvary has been involved with Thrivent Builds With Habitat for Humanity’s home renovation in Federal Way’s Westway neighborhood. The Red Wagon will collect renovation items.

Items to donate:
Drive screws              Electrical switches

Outlet plates              Dust pans

Brooms                     Wood putty
Caulking Nails (regular & finish) Work gloves
Money

Emergency Food
Calvary serves as a drop-off facility for the Emergency Feeding Program. People in need can go to several locations (one being the Federal Way Multi-Service Center) to sign up for the program. They will receive an order card, which they bring to Calvary and then receive the food.

Sack Lunch Ministry  

Our neighbors who are hungry can come to Calvary Monday through Thursday and receive a free sack lunch between 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

 Read more information about our Sack Lunch Ministry.

 Would you help hand out these lunches? Help is especially needed on Wednesdays or Thursdays. You could help each week, occasionally, or as a substitute.  If you would like to help distribute these lunches, please contact the church office.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry blends prayers, talents and gifts.

Watch this site for our next meeting.

This is something that can be done by persons who are homebound, also. We would gladly deliver the yarn and pick up the completed shawls from you.

The recipient of a prayer shawl wrote, “Have you ever wondered what a prayer looks like? I have a prayer that is warm, soft, and pink that wraps around me. It is a prayer shawl. While it was being made, each stitch was filled with prayers for me, and every time I savor its warmth, I feel those prayers. It was a gift of God’s love to me through the skill and the prayers of the person who made it.”

Persons wanting to help in this ministry, but do not knit or crochet, could donate yarn or deliver the completed shawls to the recipients. Most shawls can be knit with three skeins of washable yarn that are six ounces each. Also, coupons for JoAnn’s store in Federal Way would be useful. These items may be left in the church office in a bag with Deanna Kaasa’s name on it.

If you have a person on your heart and mind that you feel needs to be surrounded with God’s peace and love woven into a prayer shawl, please contact Deanna Kaasa through the church office.

Community Supper
Calvary is a host church for the Thursday night Community Supper. Come and enjoy a hot, home-cooked meal. Volunteers are also available to direct you to assistance you may need.

Help our Community Supper Guests. We are seeking donations of tampons, feminine hygiene pads, razors, toothpaste, blankets and deodorant. We give these on Thursdays to our guests in need. Please bring your donations to the church office and mark them SOS.
 

The first week of the month 2 cleaners (4:45-7:00 p.m.)
2nd week of the month- 1 cleaner
3rd week of the month- SOS person (gives out items to the folks that come to the supper 5:15-6:15 p.m.)
4th week of the month-registrar (helps get everyone signed in, tallies up the numbers 4:15-6:00)
5th week of the month- (only a few times a year) server (4:30-6:00) and cleaner

 If you would like to help with the Community Supper contact Heather Anderson.

How you can help our guests in need  The SOS Program of the Federal Way Community Caregivers Network has a table at the Community Supper held weekly at Calvary in which they distribute goods and information to our guests in need. You may help by donating the following items:

Handiwipes (in small, individual envelopes)        Razors                      Small Combs

Sleeping Bags                                                Warm Blankets          Warm Coats

Warm Hats and Gloves

The following in small travel-sizes:
Shaving Cream                                               Toothpaste                 Kleenex
Bandaids                                                       Toilet Tissue             

Both Target and WalMart have good travel-size shopping areas.

Our SOS table equips our guests at the Community Supper with necessary items, in addition to providing them with information on community services. If you can help replenish these supplies, please label them SOS and leave them in the church office. Thanks so much!
 

You Can Make Placemats The Thursday Community Supper has lost the services of a long time volunteer group from the Mormon church who have been making table centerpieces for all of our holiday meals. We are looking for a creative person(s) who would like to take on this ministry that brings a lot of joy to our guests. Each holiday requires 12-14 centerpieces delivered to the church by the Thursday the meal is served. There are some supplies, so it wouldn't be starting from scratch. The holidays we look for decorations are: Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. For more information, contact the church office.
 

Do you Shop at Albertson's? Food Lifeline, the area food distribution center that supports the Federal Way Community Caregiving Network's Community Suppers, including the Thursday Supper served at Calvary every week, is a "Community Partner" with Albertson's grocery stores. If you shop at Albertson's and use their Preferred Savings card, the store will send a small percentage of purchase prices to Food Lifeline! All you have to do is take your card to a store and have a clerk register it to link to the agency. The Food Lifeline's Community Partner ID # is 4900010144290. It won't cost you an extra penny and whatever is contributed helps feed the poor in our local communities.

Calvary Care Connection

One of the functions of the Calvary Care Connection is to make personal connections between those with a need and finding help on a short-term basis. It may be a home maintenance task, a meal for someone following illness or surgery, transportation, or making a phone call to check on someone. Care Connection specializes in creative use of resources within our church and our community. If you have a need and aren’t sure where to turn … call us!! We can be contacted through the church office at (253) 839-0344. Watch this site for notice of our next meeting.

Calvary's Project Biloxi

The eye wall of Hurricane Katrina hit southern Mississippi, near Biloxi, and this is an area that received severe damage. Whole communities and towns were leveled.

Calvary sent a team to Biloxi in July 2006.

Calvary Lutheran Church
2415 S. 320th St.
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 839-0344

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