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 is sending a team to serve at Re-Member on the Pine Ridge Reservation and one of the projects they will work on is building bunk beds and delivering them to families. Twin sheet sets and children's story books are also given with each bed. If you would like to support this project, we are collecting new twin sheet sets and new or gently used children's books. All donations will be collected through Sunday, April 20 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). These items will be delivered to Re-Member when the team goes at the end of April.

Re-Member is a nonprofit organization that works with the Oglala Lakota Nation on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They work to improve the quality of life for those who live there, and provide meaningful opportunities to serve and learn for those who volunteer. For more information on Re-Member, visit www.re-member.org.

Imara International invites artists of all abilities to their annual spring Paint & Sip evening Thursday, April 24 from 5:30-8 pm, at St. Martin's by the Lake Church (2801 Westwood Rd, Minnetonka Beach). Tap into your creative spirit and learn the meditative art of mandala stone painting! Absolutely no painting, artistic skill, or experience needed. Paintings will be done on a hand cast 4-inch stone or wood plaque. You will be surprised by how easy dotting techniques lead to gorgeous painted stones! Appetizers, refreshments, supplies, and step-by-step painting instructions are all provided for $85/person. Ages 14 & up. This is a great opportunity to bring a new friend to an Imara event and share their mission: to provide education and life skills for Kenyan teenage mothers, and early childhood education for their children, so that they may achieve their full potential in their communities and the world. Click here to register by Sunday, April 20. For more information on Imara International or to make a donation, visit www.imarainternational.org. 

Make a difference in the lives of others by giving blood. Please consider donating blood at the American Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, April 30 from 12-6 pm in Heritage Hall. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “MessiahPlym” to schedule an appointment or click here. Save the date for these upcoming blood drives at Messiah: Tuesday, May 20; Tuesday, July 8; Monday, August 11; and Monday, October 6.

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.

Each summer, Messiah Youth (and adult leaders) have two opportunities to spend a week together serving others:

Youth in grades 7-12 will be serving at STORM Camp Prior Lake (Service To Others in Relational Ministry) July 13-17. We do two things at STORM Camp: work and worship. Projects include things like painting, yard work, minor construction, and demolition jobs - but we also work to grow in relationships with those we're serving and those we're serving alongside. STORM Camp is a great experience for youth who want to work hard, serve with a small group, make a few friends, and get to know the people you're serving. Click here for more info and to register.

Youth in grades 9-12 are headed to Benton Harbor, MI, for a YouthWorks Mission Trip, July 26- August 2. While in Benton Harbor, we'll partner with local organizations that serve the underserved in their community. On the way to Benton Harbor, we'll cabin camp at the Warren Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan, and on the way home, we'll spend a day exploring Chicago. The YouthWorks Mission Trip is a great experience for youth who are interested in learning more about what they can do to serve the underserved and contribute to the greater good. Click here for more info and to register.

Registration is now open for both of these mission opportunities — for students and adult leaders. For questions or more information about these trips, contact Sami Tierney, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, at stierney@messiahchurch.org or (763) 473-6968 ext. 116.

Are you planning a home garden or participating in a CSA or community garden this summer? As you plan and plant your garden, please consider sowing an extra row or two for our local food shelves - Totes for Hope, Interfaith Outreach, and ICA.

The food shelves love fresh fruits & veggies! Homegrown produce is an incredible joy to the families who utilize these resources - it flies off the shelf as fast as it's stocked. When you are ready to share your harvest, all sorts of fruits, veggies, and herbs are welcome!

Totes for Hope is a food shelf ministry of Messiah Church to help minimize food insecurity for Bloom families, located right here at Messiah. This self-select food shelf is available throughout the week, all year long, allowing families to take what food they need, when they need it. Totes for Hope is fully funded by donations.

Interfaith Outreach and ICA food shelves are valuable resources to local families. These organizations are committed to providing a wide variety of healthy, nutritious food to our neighbors.

Doing some spring cleaning? Keep Interfaith Outreach and Resale Select in mind! They are currently in need of the following: 

• Pots and pans, everyday dish sets, cooking utensils, and silverware
• Small kitchen appliances (coffee pots, slow cookers, blenders, etc.)
• Women's accessories: purses, shoes, jewelry
• Men’s clothing (all sizes): casual wear, active wear, jeans, shoes
• Children’s shoes (all sizes)
• Spring/summer clothing and shoes (all sizes and genders)
• NEW underwear, bras, sports bras, and socks (all sizes)
• Patio & outdoor furniture and decor (please send photos of furniture to resaleselect@iocp.org for pre-approval)

Drop off any donation directly at Interfaith Outreach (1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth) during their donation hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10 am-5 pm. Please do not leave these donations in the Messiah atrium.

Interfaith Outreach is a human service nonprofit that strengthens our Plymouth community by meeting basic needs and equipping families and individuals for ongoing stability. When you donate and shop at Resale Select, you make an impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and families as 100% of the store's net proceeds support IOCP's services and programs. For more information on IOCP, visit iocp.org. For more information on Resale Select, visit iocp.org/resale-thrift-store.

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! 

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-5 pm). Click here for more information on this program.

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 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 urgent needs include:

• Men's boxers - sizes M and L
• Men's t-shirts - sizes 2XL and 3XL
• Women's bras - sizes 36, 38, and 40
• Women's briefs - sizes 11 and 12
• Personal sized toiletries (people carry belongings with them so full sized items are not helpful) - baby oil, nail care kits, deodorant, and body wash
• For the shelter kitchen (new and unopened) - 20 oz containers of sugar/sweetener, napkins, and paper plates

Simpson is currently accepting ONLY 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 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 Aaron Ramos, Simpson Volunteer Engagement Manager, at aramos@simpsonhousing.org.

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