Social Ministries & Outreach

Messiah Social Ministries Outreach logo that reads "Serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13, NIV"

The mission of our Outreach Ministries is to be Jesus’ hands to our church, city, national, and international community. We do this through weekly opportunities for hands-on service such as those listed below and also through contributions to community charities such as Network of Community Ministries and the Assistance Center of Collin Country, wonderful organizations who are equipped to deal with the long-term needs of struggling individuals.

The mission of our Outreach Ministries is to be Jesus’ hands to our church, city, national, and international community. We do this through weekly opportunities for hands-on service such as those listed below and also through contributions to community charities such as Network of Community Ministries and the Assistance Center of Collin Country, wonderful organizations who are equipped to deal with the long-term needs of struggling individuals.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  I am encouraged by those words and want to encourage you. Acknowledging the importance of reading more than just a Bible verse below is Ephesians 2: 4-10 providing background.

Messiah Social Ministries Outreach logo that reads "Serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13, NIV"

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Current Activities & Announcements

Messiah’s Service Day

Messiah’s Service Day takes place once a year on a Saturday. Check out the announcement guide for the next service opportunity!

I look forward to this particular event each year as it provides an opportunity for our church to put our Social Ministries & Outreach mission statement into action. The mission of our Outreach Ministries is to be Jesus’ hands to our church, city, national, and international community. We do this through weekly opportunities for hands-on  service such as those listed below and also through contributions to community charities such as Network of  Community Ministries and the Assistance Center of Collin Country, wonderful organizations who are equipped to deal with the long-term needs of struggling individuals.

Meals on Wheels (MOW) Needs You

Pray for Local Pregnancy Centers

Pregnancy centers are on the frontlines of preserving the sanctity of life; they provide women and couples the help they need to choose life, prepare to be parents, or place for adoption.

  • Pray for continued guidance and for the necessary resources needed to reach the women and couples that are seeking answers and need to know the truth regarding the sanctity of life.
  • Pray for the Lord’s protection, provision and wisdom for local pregnancy centers as they guide clients to make God-pleasing choices.
  • Pray for clients of pregnancy centers to receive peace and courage in making God-pleasing choices.

Ongoing Projects

Food Network Drive

You can drop off non-perishable food in our two grocery carts. There is a clear file attached to one of the carts containing the list of non-perishable food items needed. Plastic Shopping Bag – The NETWORK often needs to purchase plastic bags for families to use when picking up supplies from the food pantry. Please consider donating your plastic bags to the NETWORK.

The Food Pantry

  • Canned Meats
  • Macaroni & cheese
  • Rice
  • Canned vegetables
  • Cereal
  • Cooking oil
  • Baby food
  • Pasta & sauce
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned beans
  • Jelly
  • Non-refrigerated cheese
  • Sugar
  • Baby formula
  • Hearty soups
  • Dry pinto beans
  • Peanut butter
  • Tuna
  • Flour 
  • Powdered milk

Box Tops

Box Tops coupons benefiting our Lambs School. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents to the Lambs School. Clip out the coupons and drop them off.

Hotel & Travel Size Toiletries Drive

Donated hotel and travel size toiletries are collected to support the efforts of community organizations helping our neighbors with basic needs. Donations are also delivered to The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. www.rmhdallas.org

Lutherans for Life

Lutherans For Life believes that the Church is compelled by God’s Word to speak and act on behalf of those who are vulnerable and defenseless. The crisis of our times is the repudiation of biblical truth manifested in the wanton destruction of innocent human life through legalized abortion-on-demand and the growing threat to the lives of others through legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia. Therefore, as Lutherans For Life, we will strive to give witness, from a biblical perspective, to the Church and society on these and other related issues such as chastity, post-abortion healing, and family living. Spring 2012 ~ LifeDate, pg. 31.

Serving as our LFL’s Life Ministry Coordinator (LMC) here at Messiah I hope to share and provide relevant information and resources to you concerning these moral issues, which are threatening the value of human life. Genesis 1:27 tells us that human beings are created in the image of God.  Further, Genesis 1:31 states, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good…” God ascribed value to His creation of mankind.  Even after the Fall, God still valued humanity enough to send His Son to redeem us.  As Christians, we are to set our minds on the things of God.  Since we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor.  2:16), we need to convey the truth that all of us have worth as God’s image-bearers.

Ministry Opportunities

Braille Work Center

Messiah Lutheran Church is one of the commissioned Braille work centers by the Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc., a Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS. Each month teams of volunteers come to the work center to produce large print Portals of Prayers, a quarterly devotion book, to be distributed to over 470 of those in need. This work can’t be done without faithful volunteers. 

Nancy Huett
972-596-6450

Habitat for Humanity

Messiah is a member of the Interfaith Partners for Habitat which supports Habitat for Humanity of South Collin County. We’re also part of the LCMS effort being funded by Thrivent Builds, which has dedicated over $125 million dollars to Habitat projects. This is an outreach designed to improve the quality of life for deserving, caring, sharing, and committed families in our own neighborhoods. This is a wonderful way to put your hands and hearts to work.

If you’d like to volunteer contact:
Dave May
972-596-4778
EMAIL DAVE

Messiah Military Outreach (MMO)

Those who serve in the military face uncertain days, and many struggles. MMO’s goal is to show them the love of Jesus, and let them know we are thinking of them daily and praying for them. A few examples are:  Collecting donations and shipping them overseas; hosting a military moms baby shower; trips to DFW to Meet and Greet troops, or be there when they deploy; providing a free Veterans Luncheon once a year; trip downtown in December to support Snowball Express, which cares for children who have lost a parent to combat.

For more information, you can contact:
Ellen Thorne
972-398-7508
EMAIL ELLEN

The Network of Community Ministries

The Network is an outreach ministry of Richardson area churches assisting those in need of food, counseling and financial aid. Messiah members bring donations of non-perishable food items to be delivered to the food pantry. We also participate in the Angel Tree program which gathers Christmas gifts for needy children.

For more information, you can contact:
Dawn Johnson

EMAIL DAWN

The Prayer Shawl Ministry

The prayer shawl ministry of Messiah is a group of caring and creative women who meet together to knit or crochet shawls and lap robes.  As they are being made, prayers are said for the intended recipients, those in need of comfort as they experience loneliness, illness, or loss.

If you knit or crochet, please contact us.

Joyce Laux

Email Joyce

Sewing Ministries

There are two ministries that use the sewing talents of God’s people here at Messiah. From September to May, the second Tuesday of each month, a group of ladies come together to do hand sewing of items that are then delivered to cancer patients. Following each meeting there is a potluck luncheon. There is also a group that meets during the same period of time to sew quilts which are shipped to underdeveloped and devastated areas around the world through Lutheran World relief.

If you would like to put both your heart and your hands to work, you can contact the church office for information at 972-398-7500.

Sunshine Committee

Members of this committee are responsible for arranging for the delivery of the altar flowers on Sunday mornings.  Following the services, the flowers are delivered to hospital patients, those at home following an illness, or those celebrating a special occasion.  This is truly a way to bring a touch from the Light of the World as we “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.”

For more information please contact the church office at 972-398-7500.