SERVING GOD AND COMMUNITY
Emanuel is committed to serving "beyond the church walls" and reaching out to the community at large. Emanuel members serve both individually and collectively: through donations of material goods and time resources to the Food Bank and Christian Soup Ministry, Community-wide Thanksgiving Celebration and gifts to national and international missionary activities.
We also participate in a pair of ministries available to anyone, regardless of membership status: Stephen Ministry and ChristCare. Both were developed by Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D., a pastor and clinical psychologist.
The Stephen Ministry Program helps people experiences challenging or crisis situations by providing an encouraging companion for the journey. Stephen Ministers receive special training to support and encourage the care recipient for however long is needed. Learn More Learn more →
ChristCare groups are ongoing, small-group ministries that focus on four principles of discipleship and Christian growth. Learn More Learn more →
THANKSGIVING DINNER
More than 700 persons were served dinner on Thanksgiving Day, 2009 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hutchinson.
The congregation annually provides this traditional Thanksgiving meal to share God’s love with the Hutchinson community. The dinner is open to all those in the community, but is especially for those who would otherwise spend Thanksgiving Day alone or without a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
The attendance has grown significantly since the dinner began six years ago.
Although originally conceived by Emanuel’s Stephen Ministry group, it is now an outreach project that touches nearly every member of the congregation. An army of volunteers prepare food, distribute flyers, arrange free transportation for indigent guests, wait tables, restore the Parish Hall for weekend services, and handle a myriad of other duties.
This year’s financial contributors included Dillons, Hog Wild, and Earthgrain Bakeries. Thrivent Financial also provided a $1,200 support grant; a local radio station’s Project Concern shared donations with the Thanksgiving meal ministry. Many dinner guests also left unsolicited freewill offerings.
SOUP KITCHEN
Emanuel also assists at the community’s Soup Kitchen on the fifth Saturday of the month. Meals are typically served to more than 120 people, with additional meals delivered to persons homebound or without transportation. In 2009, members donated more than 4,500 cans of soup.
DISASTER RELIEF
Emanuel is a congregation that extends its mission efforts beyond the local community. Our volunteers have traveled to Mexico to build houses and to Mississippi to assist with reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Katrina. We have also helped with clean-up and rebuilding after devastating tornadoes in Greensburg and Chapman, Kansas.
SECOND SUNDAY SHARING
Our Social Ministry Committee helps organize charitable giving and inspires social advocacy within the congregation. One popular program is Second Sunday Sharing. On the second Sunday of the month, members place items for the Food Bank in the center aisle so the children may bring them forward during the Children’s Time. The collection focuses one month on cleaning supplies; another month, on personal care items; another month, on canned goods.
SOUP COLLECTION
As the Super Bowl approaches, the congregation is challenged to bring cans of soup for the Food Bank. In 2008, members donated more than 5,000 cans of soup.
MIDWEEK SOUP SUPPERS & SPECIAL OFFERINGS
During Lent, Emanuel has soup suppers on Wednesdays hosted by Fellowship Groups. The suppers are a wonderful time of fellowship for the whole family. A free-will offering is taken, supporting a different community social service agency each week. The agency also receives the loose offering from the Lenten service which follows the soup supper.
09.03.2010
"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." -- God (Mark 1:11)
