Social Ministry at Grace
Grace Lutheran Church supports many local, national, and world-wide ministries
and their services through prayer, volunteering, and with financial resources through the generous
giving of our congregation. Our outreach into the community and wider church through our benevolence
budget is overseen by the Social Concerns committee.
A brief description of some of these ministries along with links to their web
sites follows.
Breaking the cycly of poverty and homelessness
Each year Urban Ministry of Palo Alto provides 22,000 free hot meals, 17,000 bags
of groceries and 4,800 nights of housing through a rotating emergency shelter program. Other
supportive services include housing referrals, a clothing closet, a money management service
and transportation vouchers. The Drop-In Center near the main train station in downtown Palo
Alto is the only center of its type in the Mid-Peninsula and serves as the point of entry for
those who are newly homeless or have recently decided to break the cycle and are searching
for shelter and transitional housing. The agency works closely with other community groups
to avoid duplication of services and to leverage additional materials and services. Urban Ministry
receives much of its food at little or no cost from Second Harvest Food Bank. A substantial
amount
of canned food for distribution at the Food Closet is collected through community food drives.
Sunny View retirement community provides quality housing, care and services to elders.
Sunny View retirement strives to provide: Feelings of home in a place that is comfortable and
inviting. Reassurance that neighbors and caregivers are caring and loving. Comfort in a community
that gives joy and meaning to life. Sunny View has been a leader of quality care amoung the
California Associations of Homes and Services for the Aging. Founded by the holistic approach
to promote the well being of residents’
body, mind and spirit. They are accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.
Voice of the Children provides street children with food, clothing, shelter, education
and medical treatment through its Christian* orphanage, soup kitchen, and other programs in
and around St. Petersburg, Russia. Voice of the Children serves all children regardless of
race, religion, or background.
Bayshore Christian Ministries (BCM) serves youth in the East of Bayshore community,
meeting practical and spiritual needs through leadership training, spiritual development and
life skills application. BCM programs continue to grow and effectively serve over 250 youth
participants each year in small group settings with individualized attention. An emphasis on
long-term, deeply committed mentoring relationships results in a profound impact for the youth.
Founded in 1984 and incorporated in 1987, Bayshore Christian Ministries is a non-profit, 501(c)(3)
non-sectarian organization, whose programs are open to any East of Bayshore youth regardless
of disability, race, religion or ethnic origin.
Friends of Global Health Ministries (GHM) help provide a gift of life -- both physical
and spiritual -- through Lutheran health care work across the world. GHM goals are met by providing
financial support, shipping of urgently needed medical supplies, assisting in recruiting of
medical personnel and funding for training of national heath care givers.
Mount Cross is a beautiful campground and retreat setting located in the Santa Cruz
mountains of California, combining the beauty of nature with the contemplation of religious
life.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) commitment to supporting people
who live with chronic hunger and poverty around the corner and around the world is carried
out by ELCA World Hunger through relief, development, education, and advocacy.
Kyros (KIR-os) is the Greek word for a power that is legitimate, but limited and
compassionate. Using scriptural wisdom, social research, and extensive experience, Kyros Ministry
develops leadership within the religious community to create healthy power relationships within
congregations, prevent misuse of power, and protect those at risk of abuse. The "what" and "why" of
Kyros’ work is found in its Affirmation of Faith and in the social justice work that it does.