Make an Impact

You Can Make an Impact!

Messiah is a church of compassion and community outreach, supporting local, national, and global missions. From serving at the local food shelf to traveling to developing countries, we serve through mission — and there is a place for you to get involved!

Messiah Church is committed to supporting several organizations consistently and long-term — these are our Community Partners. In fact, even on your first visit to Messiah, you can make an impact because we will make a donation on your behalf to one of these organizations. We also have two Covenant Mission Partners — organizations that have grown out of Messiah Church, and with which we have ongoing covenants to support with our prayers, presence, and financial giving. And each month we collect a special Second Mile Offering to support a specific organization through financial and in-kind donations. Learn more about each of these below.
Give to Second Mile Offering
Meet Our Covenant Partners
Meet Our Community Partners

Second Mile Offering: Interfaith Outreach Sleep Out

Our November Second Mile Offering supports Interfaith Outreach and their Sleep Out campaign — a community-wide effort to raise awareness and funds for struggling families in the west suburbs. Each year, gifts to the Sleep Out help more than 2,000 local families not only with food and housing, but also with life-changing support in areas like employment, clothing, early childhood education, and transportation. Thanks to the Sleep Out, families move from surviving to thriving. For more information on the Sleep Out, visit the Interfaith Outreach website at iocp.org/donations/sleepout.

You can support Interfaith Outreach and their Sleep Out campaign through the end of November with a monetary donation and/or by volunteering:
  • Give! Give online by selecting “Second Mile Offering,” or by mailing a check (indicate “Sleep Out” in the memo) to: Messiah Church, 17805 County Road 6, Plymouth, MN 55447.
  • Volunteer! Interfaith Outreach is always in need of volunteers. Click here to register for New Volunteer Training or to view current needs.

Current Opportunities & Needs

Emergency Food Drive

Due to the recent government shutdown, millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients are still not receiving their benefits. In response to this urgent need, Messiah has launched an Emergency Food Drive to support local families facing food insecurity. We will continue this effort until SNAP Benefits are reinstated and the need for emergency assistance has passed. You can help in three meaningful ways:

Donate funds to support the Bloom Totes for Hope, Interfaith Outreach, and ICA food shelves. Give online by selecting “Emergency Food Drive,” or by mailing a check (indicate “Emergency Food Drive” in the memo) to: Messiah Church, 17805 County Road 6, Plymouth, MN 55447.

Donate grocery gift cards. Gift cards to Aldi, Cub, or Hy-Vee will be distributed to Bloom Early Learning & Child Care families as needed. Please write the dollar value directly on the card. Gift cards can be dropped off in the offering box on Sundays or in the church office during office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-4 pm). (To avoid scams, NEVER email gift cards to the church.)

Donate non-perishable food. Most needed items this week are:
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil (24 oz.)
  • Canned chicken
  • Hearty soups (cans)
  • Spaghetti sauce (jars)
Food donations can be dropped off in the round marked bins in the atrium on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-4 pm) and Messiah volunteers will deliver your donation promptly. OR drop off your donation directly at Interfaith Outreach (1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth) or ICA Food Shelf (11588 K-Tel Dr, Minnetonka) during their donation hours — visit their websites for donation hours.

Together, we will do our part to ensure no one in our community goes hungry during this uncertain time!

Deck the Halls

Help deck the halls of Messiah for Christmas! On Sunday, November 23, we'll meet in the sanctuary at noon to set up and decorate the Christmas trees that set the scene in the sanctuary and atrium for the Advent season. (Advent begins on Sunday, November 30!) A pizza lunch will be provided for all who lend a hand. Please RSVP to Nikki Christensen, Director of Worship, to let her know you are coming at nchristensen@messiahchurch.org or (763) 473-6968 ext. 113. Many hands make light work!

ICA Food Shelf Day at Maynards

Round off your Thanksgiving weekend by supporting ICA Food Shelf while eating a delicious meal at Maynards (685 Excelsior Blvd, Excelsior)! On Monday, December 1 from 11 am-11 pm, come for lunch, happy hour, dinner, or order take-out and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to ICA to assist our neighbors in need. To make a reservation, call (952) 470-1800. If you can't come but would like to make a donation, or to learn more about the ICA Food Shelf, visit www.icafoodshelf.org.

Volunteer at Jingle Bell BINGO & Soup Supper

On Sunday, December 7, let's ring in the Christmas season together at Messiah's Jingle Bell BINGO & Soup Supper! From 5-6 pm, enjoy a warm soup supper served with fresh bread and Christmas cookies; then at 6 pm, join us for festive BINGO with fun prizes, special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus, and plenty of holiday cheer! This is a FREE community holiday event where everyone is welcome!

A few hands are needed to host this event and welcome the community and Messiah family alike. Click here for a list of serving opportunities and to sign up today. Volunteer shifts are set up so that you can help serve AND attend the event. Consider signing up for a shift with a family member, friend, or fellow faith group member. Would you like to bake Christmas cookies for this event? A sign up to bake cookies is available on Sunday mornings at the name tag station, or contact Heather. Questions? Contact Heather Felt at hfelt@messiahchurch.org or (763) 473-6968 ext. 114.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Make a difference in the lives of others by giving blood. Please consider donating blood at the American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 12-6 pm in Heritage Hall. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “MessiahPlym” to schedule an appointment or click here.

Did you know that you can give one super-powered blood donation that may have the same impact as two regular donations? This is called a Power Red donation. Click here for more information on being a Power Red donor.

Ways to Help Simpson Shelter

Can you help with some much-needed items for Simpson Shelter? Current needs include:
  • Hair care products for natural, textured, or curly hair
  • White crew socks for men & women
  • Men's t shirts
  • Shower shoes
  • Combs
  • For the shelter kitchen (new, unopened, and not expired): mayonnaise, 20 oz containers of sugar/sweetener, napkins, and paper plates

Simpson is currently accepting ONLY these specific items. Donations can be purchased from their Amazon Wish List and delivered directly to the shelter, or dropped off in the marked bin in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-4 pm). For more information on Simpson Shelter, visit simpsonhousing.org.

BYOCT (Bring Your Own Coffee Tumbler)

Every Sunday morning, we generate A LOT of trash with coffee cups during coffee hour after worship. In an effort to reduce our trash and spend less money on disposable cups, we invite you to bring your own coffee tumbler on Sunday mornings. Please be sure your tumbler is labeled with your name, and we’d prefer if it has a lid to prevent spills. Then wash out your tumbler at home & bring it back again next week! Don’t worry, we still have paper cups for guests and regulars who forget. What a difference we could all make in caring for our creation with this small act! 

Recycled Eyeglasses Can Give New Life

Did you get a new pair of eyeglasses? Great! You can donate your gently used ones to the Lions Club of Wayzata! They are known throughout the world for their work to improve the lives of the visually impaired and to help prevent future blindness. Over one billion people worldwide live with a vision impairment that can be prevented or corrected. When you donate used prescription glasses (including sunglasses) to the Lions Club of Wayzata, you will be making a difference in the lives of many! Glasses and eyeglass case donations can be dropped off in the marked bucket in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-4 pm). Click here for more information on this program.

Calling all Knitters & Crocheters

Messiah’s Prayer Shawl Ministry is seeking knitters and crocheters to make handmade shawls that the Congregational Care Team will distribute to those they serve through prayer, care, visits, and compassionate support. Through a grant from Messiah’s Living Ministry Endowment, yarn has been purchased for these shawls. Patterns are available for both knitting and crocheting. If you are interested in learning more or getting started, please contact Heather Felt at hfelt@messiahchurch.org.

Little Free Libraries

Got books? Did you know there are Little Free Libraries in the parking lots at Messiah and Interfaith Outreach (1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth)? The library at Interfaith Outreach is maintained by Messiah members Phil & Sue Zietlow, and they are especially in need of children’s books to add to that library! Children’s book donations (in good condition) can be dropped off in the marked location in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-4 pm), or email Sue Z to schedule a pick-up. We’ll be sure to get these books to the Little Free Libraries for local families to enjoy!

Volunteer at Interfaith Outreach

Interfaith Outreach is a valuable resource to our community, addressing critical needs of our neighbors. Volunteers are always needed at the food shelf and Resale Select store. Can you help? Current needs include:
  • Food Shelf Shopping Assistant
  • Resale Select Store Support: Shifts are open Monday-Saturday mornings, afternoons, and evenings
  • Resale Select Treasure Hunter: Shifts are open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings and afternoons
  • Donation Door Greeter: Shifts are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning and afternoons

If you are interested in any of these opportunities at Interfaith Outreach, visit iocp.volunteerhub.com to sign up online. Sign up for a New Volunteer Meeting to learn about all open volunteer opportunities. Interfaith Outreach is located at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth. For more information on Interfaith Outreach, visit iocp.org.

Habitat for Humanity Work Days

Among the many ways to serve our local communities, Messiah Church supports Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCH4H). Opportunities exist in several ways but primarily in the construction of housing for eligible applicants. No special skills are required to participate on a build, just a willingness to serve! Messiah volunteers have been participating in a multiple structure project on Niskanen Circle in Chaska. If you would like to help with this build project, visit tchabitat.volunteerhub.com/lp/chaska. At this link, you can register as a new volunteer and sign up for upcoming serve dates that fit your schedule. (Volunteers must be 16 and up to serve on a build team.) If you have questions regarding TCH4H volunteering, contact Marv K. For more information about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, visit www.tchabitat.org. 

Decluttering? Donate to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Looking to donate large items (or a large quantity of items) but don’t have a vehicle big enough to transport them? Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore can come to you! All you have to do is request a pickup. For questions about this service, please contact Habitat for Humanity directly at (612) 588-3820 or visit restore.tchabitat.org/donate. Please do not drop off donations at Messiah. For more information about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, visit www.tchabitat.org.

Serve at Messiah Church 

Every week, hundreds of people enter Messiah Church. You can be part of our servant volunteer teams who share God’s love. Here are just a few ministry areas where you might serve:
  • Sunday Worship - welcoming guests into worship, reading scripture, arranging flowers, or praying over and tidying the space between services
  • Communion Prep - these servants shop for bread and juice, prepare for communion (cube bread and fill cups), and clean up after the service, the first Sunday of each month. You can serve for just the 8:30 or 10:30 service, or prep for both. Training will be provided!
  • Sunday Hospitality - greeting guests, serving coffee, and ushering
  • Wednesday Hospitality - greet guests attending evening activities
  • Kids & Youth - build lasting relationships and nurture the faith of the next generation (background checks and references required)
  • Gardens & Grounds - no matter the time of year, lend your green thumb or handy skills toward decorating, maintaining, or organizing our grounds

For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Heather Felt, Director of Community Engagement.

Other Serving Opportunities

Looking for other opportunities to serve our neighbors? Check out the following organizations:

Missions Team

Bethany Nelson
Associate Pastor

Mary Beth Mazzocchi
Missions Chair

Jess Baker
Secretary

Kevin Bowman
At-Large

Shirley Buehler
At-Large

Lorie Hoekstra
At-Large

Jon Kehberg
At-Large

Pam Lundgren
At-Large

Peggy Russett
At-Large

Linda Seaton
At-Large

Gail Stone
At-Large

Darcy Weldy
At-Large

Questions about Missions at Messiah? Contact Mary Beth, Missions Chair.

Contact Mary Beth

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