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!

Share the warmth by donating a winter coat! Avenues for Youth is collecting black (or dark colored) winter coats in adult sizes, especially men's large or XL and women's small or medium. Coats should be new, or very gently used, and suitable for Minnesota winters. Coats will be collected through Sunday, November 24 and can be dropped off in the marked bin in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm).

For more than 28 years, Avenues has supported youth ages 16-24 in Hennepin County. Whether a young person needs someplace to stay for just one night or for a year, Avenues supports youth to find their path out of homelessness (which disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, youth of color, and the LGBTQIA+ communities). They do that by providing a stable home, building trusting relationships, and navigating the youth’s education, career, health and wellness, and housing goals. For more information on Avenues for Youth, visit avenuesforyouth.org.

Round off your Thanksgiving weekend by supporting ICA Food Shelf while eating a delicious meal at Maynards (685 Excelsior Blvd, Excelsior)! On Monday, December 2 from 11 am-11 pm, come for lunch, dinner, or order take-out and 100% of sales 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.

As part of our Fa La La Festival in December, we are collecting new socks and underwear for Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP). Especially needed are:

• Children’s Socks & Underwear (all sizes)
• Men’s Underwear (S, M, L)
• Women’s Underwear (XS, S, M, L)
• Women’s Socks (all sizes)
• Women’s Bras (XS, S, M)

IOCP (located in Plymouth) is working to strengthen our local community by meeting the daily basic needs of our neighbors as well as equipping individuals and families for longterm stability.  For more information on IOCP, visit iocp.org. Donations will be collect during the Fa La La Festival on December 8 and through the end of December. Items can be dropped off in the marked bin in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm).

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 14, 2025 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.

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! 

Next time you go shopping, pick up something extra to donate to Interfaith Outreach and ICA. Most needed items:

• Pull-Ups (size 3-4 & 4-5)
• Baby wipes
• Baby diapers (size 3)
• Adult diapers (size XL & 2XL)
• Boxed cereals
• Canned chicken
• Vegetable oil (24 oz. bottles)
• Paper towels
• Can openers
• Reusable grocery bags (new)
• Paper grocery bags

We are always collecting food shelf donations in the round marked bins just inside the front doors at Messiah – drop off on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm). OR drop off your donation directly at Interfaith Outreach (1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth) during their donation hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10 am-5 pm; or ICA Food Shelf (11588 K-Tel Dr, Minnetonka) during their donation hours: Mondays 10 am-6:30 pm, Tuesdays 10 am-3:30 pm, Wednesdays 9 am-3:30 pm, Thursdays 10 am-3:30 pm, Fridays 10 am-12 pm, and Saturdays 10 am-12 pm (1st & 3rd Saturdays only). For more information on the Interfaith Outreach food shelf, visit www.iocp.org/outreach-services/food-shelf. For more information on the ICA food shelf, visit www.icafoodshelf.org.

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.

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-5 pm), or email Sue Z to schedule a porch pick-up. We’ll be sure to get these books to the Little Free Libraries for local families to enjoy!

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.

Can you help with some much-needed items for Simpson Shelter? Current needs include:

• Men’s boxers and t-shirts
• Women’s bras and briefs
• Hair ties
• Personal care items (especially hair care products for natural, textured, or curly hair and baby oil; please no full-size items – travel sized only)
• Ketchup
• Pickles
• Salad dressing (especially Ranch)
• Drink mixes (canister size)
• Sugar/sweetener packets

Simpson is currently only accepting these specific items. Donations can be dropped off in the marked bin in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm), or email Lavinia P to schedule a contactless pick-up. Lavinia can also answer questions about appropriate items to donate.

Simpson is also looking for groups to make sandwiches in their kitchen. (Food items must be made/assembled at their site and cannot be prepared off site.) Gather a group, or serve individually. To schedule, contact Lavinia.

For more information on Simpson Shelter, visit simpsonhousing.org. Instructions for monetary donations, links for shopping their Amazon Wish List or Target Wish List, and a complete list of current urgent needs can all be found here.

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. 

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.

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.

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

• Interfaith Outreach food shelf and Resale Select store: www.iocp.org
• Second Harvest Heartland: www.2harvest.org
• Feed My Starving Children: www.fmsc.org
• Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity work sites and ReStore locations: www.tchabitat.org
• Bundles of Love: Meets at Messiah at 6 pm on the first Thursday of each month